Face Rolling: How To Do It and Its Many Benefits

Keep your skincare routine on a roll by adding a face roller.

The trendy tool, made with stones like jade or rose quartz, has been known to help reduce inflammation and puffiness in the face.

“They’re gently used to massage the face,” says dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD.

But the technique isn’t all that new. In fact, the roots of using cool stones on your skin can be traced back thousands of years to ancient China.

Dr. Khetarpal shares the best way to use a face roller and explains what kind of payoff you will see.

What is face rolling?

Using a tool, which typically has a roller at each end made from jade or rose quartz, you massage or roll the skin away from your face. You may also see face rollers made with other materials like stainless steel or amethyst.

You can use your face roller every day for about 5 minutes to give an immediate boost to your appearance, but the results aren’t long-lasting. Most people see results for just a few hours after treatment.

“It’s a temporary improvement in the overall texture and color of skin,” says Dr. Khetarpal.

Benefits of using a face roller

While using a face roller may feel good against your skin, it may also provide the following benefits:

• Improves lymphatic flow and drainage.
• Improves blood flow.
• Reduces puffiness.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Cools and soothes skin.
• Provides relaxation.
• Reduces stress.
• Distributes skincare ingredients more evenly.

“The lymphatic system is your body’s way of getting rid of toxins and unwanted bacteria in the body,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “So by rolling in a certain direction, you can improve the lymphatic flow and drainage of the face.”

How to use a face roller

When looking to purchase a face roller, Dr. Khetarpal says you should make sure you’re buying an authentic, natural stone rather than something that’s synthetic.

Once you get it home, here’s how to use your face roller:

1. Wash your face. A face roller works best on freshly clean skin.
2. Don’t overlook the fridge. If you want that cooling effect, place your face roller in the fridge to keep the stone cold.
3. Add skincare products. You can use your face roller to apply moisturizer, serums or oils to your skin more evenly.
4. Roll down and out. The direction you roll in matters — roll outwards from the center of your face. Around the eyes, for example, roll away from your eyes to decrease puffiness.
5. Don’t go back and forth. Resist the urge to roll back and forth as that doesn’t help improve blood flow to the face.
6. Keep track of time. Dr. Khetarpal says that you only need 5 minutes a day or every other day. Using a face roller for longer won’t give you different results.
7. Clean your face roller. Dr. Khetarpal strongly suggests cleaning your face roller with rubbing alcohol after each use. “Our skin does have bacteria on it,” she says. “There’s also product residue that can build up.”

For those with mature skin, Dr. Khetarpal says to be extra careful with your skin and not roll too aggressively. “If the skin is more fragile, you can get bruising,” she says.

If you think a face roller is right for you, give it a roll. Using a face roller can come in handy for big events when you want to look your best. But like with any new product, proceed with caution at first.

“Start slow and see how things go,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “See if you like it and see what the benefits are before you make it a part of your routine.”