Facial Rolling Science: Jade vs. Rose Quartz Benefits

Skincare treatments are numerous, especially in a society where a new fad is as common as breathing. There are dozens of cosmetic treatments available today, fueled by an ever-shifting beauty standard that many believe is unattainable. Nevertheless, the beauty industry has grown beyond its original scope and is now one of the most powerful industries in the world. 

Unfortunately, the industry's treatments are not inherently beneficial and are occasionally used to earn money from desperate people. That said, some treatments are highly effective and can improve the quality and health of our skin when executed properly. Some of these treatments require an expert to apply them, while others can be done from the comfort of your own home if you have the right tools.

One skincare treatment that falls into the latter category is facial rolling, which not everyone uses but might benefit them. You might not have heard of facial rolling since it is a niche treatment that only people dedicated to skincare use. While facial rolling is not essential to skincare, it can effectively keep your complexion healthy. T

he problem is that new users might not know what benefits it offers and might overlook it because of that. Furthermore, those who want to try it might be confused by the different types of rollers used in the treatment. Specifically, there is confusion about whether to use a jade or rose quartz roller.

What is Facial Rolling?

Facial rolling is a skincare technique that seems deceptively modern but is actually centuries old. The practice has existed since the 17th century, originating in China under the name "Yushi Gunlun." Despite its ancient origins, the tool used in facial rolling has remained largely unchanged, and the process is almost identical to its original incarnation as practiced by the Chinese. 

That said, the Chinese used it as a form of holistic medicine rather than a cosmetic treatment, though evidence suggests that those benefits were valid. Facial rolling treatments involve taking a roller (a wand with a cylinder that rolls along surfaces) and massaging the skin on your face with it. The rollers are made from various materials, some more common than others, but the most common materials are jade and rose quartz. 

However, you will also find stainless steel and amethyst facial rollers. That said, we will revisit the materials later since there are certain details you must consider.

Insofar as the treatment is concerned, the process is fairly simple once you have your roller in hand. You must follow these steps if you want to perform the treatment correctly:

1. The first step of facial rolling is to clean your face by washing it in warm water, but avoid heavy or harsh soaps. 
2. Once your face is clean, apply any skincare products you use in your routine to the roller. The roller can be used as an applicator for moisturizers, serums, and oils to expedite your skincare routine and ensure the product is applied evenly.
3. The next step is using the roller by pressing it to your skin and rolling it. This might sound easy, but you need to consider what direction you are rolling it. Ensure you roll down and out and do not go back and forth. Rolling the wand back and forth impedes the treatment and reduces the benefits.
4. After you are finished using the roller (5 minutes maximum), make sure to clean it. Failing to wash between uses allows residue to build up (which can jam the roller) and promotes bacterial colonization.

Facial rolling is relatively simple once you have the tools and instructions, but there is one question you probably have: What benefits does facial rolling offer that makes it worth the effort?

What Are the Benefits of Facial Rolling?

Facial rolling is primarily used as a cosmetic treatment these days, but it was originally medicinal and employed by Chinese society to improve health. While these concepts are different, there is a connection insofar as facial rollers are concerned. Facial rolling provides certain health benefits that improve bodily function and complexion. As a result, facial rolling is one of the few cosmetic treatments with legitimate health benefits. 

Of course, this begs the question of what specific benefits facial rolling provides that make it so popular. The biggest benefit of facial rolling is the improvement in blood circulation. You might not have known before, but several veins in the face are essential for transporting blood cells. Facial rolling can apparently improve this circulation and maximize blood flow.

Improved blood protects our skin from acne breakouts and other blemishes and prevents dry skin. According to a 2018 study, facial rolling actively enhances blood flow in the face, which allows it to reach the rest of the body faster than normal. The study assessed the effects of short-term and long-term massage treatments and how they improved circulation. 

The study discovered that a single 5-minute massage improved blood flow to the immediate area, whereas consistent massages for 5 weeks improved vasodilation (dilating blood cells resulting in reduced blood pressure) in heat. Maintaining a consistent facial rolling regimen enhances overall circulation, ensuring healthier skin.

That said, facial rolling offers a more direct benefit for skincare that is directly linked to cosmetics rather than health. One of the biggest cosmetic issues is puffiness, which usually affects the face and makes it look strange. Puffy skin usually occurs when fluid collects in certain body parts, pushing against the skin and making our skin bulge outward, making it look puffier than it really is. 

Facial rolling has been used to correct this issue since the roller can redistribute the fluid and reduce its effect on the parts of the skin that were puffed up. Moving the fluid through the rest of the body reduces the puffiness since the fluid concentrations are lessened and not pushing against the skin as much. Unfortunately, this particular benefit is one of the temporary advantages of facial rolling.

The effect of facial rolling on puffy skin can apparently be enhanced by chilling the roller beforehand. This can be accomplished by allowing it to sit in the refrigerator for several minutes before use, but the benefits of a chilled facial roller tend to fade when the skin warms up again. Fortunately, there are other advantages to using facial rollers that are longer lived than those of a chilled roller for puffy skin. The most significant skincare benefit of facial rolling is the ability to tighten the skin, which is extremely important for people who suffer premature signs of aging. 

In 2017, a laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of facial massages on the skin, which led to an interesting discovery. The study determined that 1-minute massages twice daily increased the protein concentration of the skin after 10 days.

Increased protein concentration in the skin provides it with additional raw materials it can use to produce skin layers. These extra layers help the skin stay tight and firm, allowing it to look and feel younger. This was confirmed by an additional study in which 20 women were divided into test and control groups. One of the test groups applied an anti-aging cream and used a roller every day for 8 weeks. The study showed that the women in the group that used both had fewer wrinkles on their skin.

What Are the Benefits of a Jade Skin Roller?

We mentioned that skin rollers are made from different materials, with many using stones like jade or amethyst as the main structure. When the treatment was first created, the rollers were made from jade, which was plentiful in ancient China. Nowadays, it is still possible to find jade skin rollers, which remain popular. However, some are curious about the benefits of using jade rollers over other materials. 

The key reasons for jade's use in skin rollers are the stone's physical characteristics rather than any synergy with skincare products. Jade has an interesting response to the environment that lets it adapt, meaning the temperature is more easily influenced. The main advantage is that jade rollers automatically get warmer when applied to the skin. This makes it easier to enjoy a warmer skin rolling treatment and use light heat on your pores.

This is not to say that jade stones reach hot temperatures but that the stone warms slightly in response to skin contact. Unfortunately, jade stones have a disadvantage that makes them slightly less effective than they used to be. Jade is fairly delicate because it has a soft, smooth surface and is primarily decorative. As a result, extended use of a jade skin roller usually results in wear and tear that ultimately breaks the roller and renders it useless. 

While rollers can be replaced, those made from jade have a limited lifespan compared to those made from hardier materials. This is part of why modern rollers are made from various materials rather than exclusively made from jade.

What Are the Benefits of a Rose Quartz Skin Roller?

Rose quartz is one of the most abundant gemstones on Earth, making it extremely easy to acquire and relatively cheap compared to jade or amethyst. As a result, rose quartz products are easier to find since the gem is more easily replaced. Despite being more accessible than jade, rose quartz seems to be one of the more effective materials for skin rollers. Like its rival, rose quartz's physical properties impact its value as a material for skin rollers. 

Unlike jade, rose quartz is not adaptive and does not get warmer when exposed to human skin. As a result, the roller stays cool and makes it harder to feel warmth on your skin when using the treatment. Rose quartz is a naturally cool stone and is harder to heat regardless of the context, but keeping a cool temperature means there is less risk of inflammation or irritation due to temperature changes. But the most drastic difference in physical traits is the durability of rose quartz rollers compared to jade ones.

Unlike jade, rose quartz is not a smooth stone and has jagged, protruding edges and crystals, which have naturally hardened the gem. This means rose quartz rollers are naturally more resilient than jade rollers and are less likely to break after extended use. In this sense, rose quartz rollers have greater value since they do not have to be replaced as often. 

Despite these differences, there is one advantage of rose quartz rollers that does not necessarily relate to their physical traits. Most reports indicate that rose quartz rollers are more effective at reducing skin blemishes like wrinkles. Its ability to outperform jade rollers has made rose quartz skin rollers the default option for most modern skincare enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, one challenge with skin rolling is becoming more difficult to overcome. Finding a vendor that sells quality rose quartz rollers can be difficult since mass production has led to declining product quality. Fortunately, there are still vendors who focus on quality as a priority.

Finding the Right Blend

Choosing the right material for your skin roller can be a big deal, but the main focus is always ensuring it can do the job properly. While rose quartz rollers are more durable and effective, jade rollers have been effective for hundreds of years and provide naturally warm massages. If a rose quartz roller is unavailable, jade is an excellent second choice and might be easy to come by. Ultimately, rose quartz rollers should be the first choice, but getting ahold of one can be difficult if you do not know where to look.

We at Teami have always believed in natural products for cosmetic purposes. We have created a catalog of skincare products made from natural ingredients rather than harsh pharmaceuticals. While we offer moisturizers, creams, and oils, we also have applicators. Among our top-selling products is our Rose Quartz Facial Roller, designed for maximum performance while retaining all the advantages rose quartz offers. We encourage you to try our roller for yourself. After all, finding the right blend (and tool) is a Teami effort.