Jade Rollers have exploded in the health and beauty market in recent years. But what are they supposed to do, and do they actually work? The truth is unfortunately not what these beauty marketers would like you to believe, and instead they’ve capitalised and made money on people’s (let’s face it, mostly women’s) desperation to appear younger and have more flawless looking skin while selling a product that can actually cause severe long-term damage to your skin.
Want to find out the truth about Jade Rollers? Read on!
Beauty companies and marketers have spent years pushing out the message and unsubtantiated claims that Jade Rollers help to de-puff your face, aid in lymphatic draining and lymphatic ease blockages, increase the production of collagen, and so much more. Scientifically this makes no sense.
Jade & Rose Quartz Rollers
A Jade or Rose Quartz Roller is a stone, so it’s a heavy object with some weight behind it. Although Jade Rollers date back to seventh-century China, it doesn’t mean they’re scientifically all they claim to be. They can also transmit bacteria if not cleaned properly, which can do more harm than good, and can cause acne and irritation on the skin from improper usage.
Do Jade Rollers aid lympathic drainage?
Because of how heavy the stone is, when you hold it to your skin, even with no pressure it will cause an indent as you hold it against your skin. This is actually compressing the lymphatic vessels because they’re very superficial and very close to the surface of the skin. When professionals do manual lymphatic drainage on patients, they do it by using very gentle and light pressing with slight pulling movements from your skin towards the ear, because they’re pulling on these little fibres that are attached to the lymphatic vessel.
When you’re rolling on your skin with the Jade Roller, you’re compressing the vessels and rolling over the fibres because the roller is too heavy and you’re likely applying too much pressure. This can actually cause issues with the skin and increase inflammation.
Do Jade Rollers aid product absorption?
Many Jade Roller sellers also claim that they aid product absorption, which is also scientifically untrue. As an example, Serums are designed to go somewhere within the dermis, they always will even without a Jade Roller! But if you use a Jade Roller to ‘roll the product in’, the product is not going to go into your dermis, it’s going to go on the roller and be washed away down the sink and wasted!
Do Jade Rollers de-puff your skin?
It’s actually probably not the Jade Roller itself de-puffing skin, but the coldness of it. Because it’s a stone it’s naturally cool, even if it hasn’t been in the fridge. I’ve heard stories of grandmothers who have spent decades putting spoons in the fridge and holding a cold spoon to their skin to de-puff. And of course we all know about the spa stereotype of a cold cucumber on your eyes. So it’s most likely the coolness on the skin de-puffing it rather than some sort of magical Jade Roller. Also most puffiness is caused by lymphatic blockage.
Do Jade Rollers help collagen and elastin production?
The third claim is that Jade Rollers will help you achieve collagen and elastin production. Unfortunately that’s not how it works. If you want collagen and elastin production you need to target the dermal layer, which is the one underneath the epidermis that you roll on. So the only things that will help with this are things like laser, needling, acupuncture etc. You can also take collagen supplements and powder like this Dose & Co Collagen Powder to help your body naturally increase it’s collagen.
Use these products, but lightly, and for soothing massages rather than scientific skincare reasons
Now, of course you can still use these products, but do so very lightly and with very little pressure on the skin! Knowing how to use jade rollers effectively is crucial to reaping any kind of benefit. You should use three light pressure strokes on one side of the face at a time.
Begin by very lightly rolling out and up toward your ear from the centre of your chin. Then move the roller up to your mouth’s side and repeat. Repeat, beginning from the side of the nose this time. Roll it under your eye and across your eyelid, moving it horizontally toward your temple. Roll it up from your brow to your hairline on your forehead. Then, horizontally, roll it out toward your temple. Finally, do the same thing on the opposite side of your face.
A much healthier and better alternative, is to actually use half-cut grapes like organic skincare brand Caudalie do in their spa facials. Keep your grapes in the fridge, and each time you need a little self-soothing and relaxation, cut a grape in half and slowly move it over your skin. I promise you it feels so much more relaxing than a Jade Roller, is better for the environment, more sustainable, and being soft and full of antioxidants it’s far better for your skin!
