Flair Magazine Jade rollers have been en vogue for a while but the pros and cons of this popular trend have left some people wondering if this lavish type of treatment is really for them. Similar to many cyclical health and beauty trends, jade rolling comes from ancient China where it has been a common beauty routine since the 7the century. Dr. Lamees Hamdan, the genius behind the Shiffa brand swears by the ancient method that she discovered on a trip to China, “There were jade face rollers in the museum dating back centuries, so that got me very interested because I always thought of jade as being decorative and protective but not as a beauty tool.” A picture of Friends star Courtney Cox aka Monica Geller recently went viral when the star was spotted jade rolling while dining out in New York City. The star sat at the bar waiting for her table and took the time to jade roll which was quickly captured by paparazzi. The picture renewed the conversation around jade rolling and Flair Magazine researched the facts so you can decide once and for all if you want to love jade rolling or leave it behind?
A jade roller sounds super fancy but it is really just a handheld mini-massager that is typically made from green jade or pink quartz. The roller is small but mighty and believed to have healing properties that have many benefits for the skin including improving circulation and reduction of undereye circles. The physical roller is easy to use with a piece of jade or quartz that rolls at the top of the handle with a smaller piece on the opposite side for smaller and more delicate areas of the face. The most typical way to use the device is to roll it over a clean face giving yourself a pampering massage.“Just a few minutes of massage is very anti-aging. We overuse the muscles in our face—whether we bite our teeth or stare at the computer for too long. The roller can break through the blockage” says Dr. Hamdan. Simply, wash and roll!
So, if doctors and Courtney Cox says jade rolling is an important part of a self-care routine then what are some of the tangible benefits? If you stayed up too late watching Netflix or out late with friends having one too many drinks then it is common for skin to be dehydrated, puffy, inflamed, and generally looking less than picture-perfect. The rolling motion of the jade helps the skin to become stimulated resulting in more blood circulation and rejuvenation of the lymphatic system. This important and targeted stimulation directly onto the face helps to brighten the skin’s complexion, tightens pores, eases skincare absorption, and reduces under-eye darkness. The movement of blood in the face is beneficial as this is an area of the body that is rarely directly stimulated but constantly strained. From squinting to frowning to RBF; twenty-four hours can take a toll on the delicate muscles of the face, hence the “You look tired” comments from friends and co-workers. The self-drive massage allows the stress from the day to melt away and a few moments of rest and relaxation in a busy world. If the actual act of jade rolling doesn’t accomplish as much as doctors or fans say it does that’s probably okay. We can’t argue with a few moments of zen in order to steal some time for self-care.
Amy N. Pugsley
