Why Facial Rolling is an Instagram Trend Worth Trying

This ancient Chinese skincare ritual might be the “it” beauty device of your IG feed right now, but its glow-boosting and tension-releasing abilities have been around for literal centuries. Best part? This low-tech skin staple is crazy simple—no ingredient decoding or PhD-level application necessary. Just sit back, relax, and roll. Okay, there’s a little more to it, but (we promise) you’ll be on your way to a glowing complexion in no time. 

To get an expert’s take, we sat down with Daphne Lim, the holistic health guru and celeb facial acupuncturist (with clients like Jessica Alba) of LA’s facial hotspot The Things We Do, for everything you need to know about this trendy tool.

Let’s start with the basics: facial rollers are de-puffing tools, shaped like a tiny rolling pin, made of a precious stone designed to give your face a mini massage. Originally practiced with jade on dry or minimally prepped skin, these days, facial rollers are used with serums or moisturizers to help your skin absorb all those complexion-loving vitamins. With products in the mix, Lim recommends using a quartz roller—we love the GRACE & STELLA Rose Quartz Facial Roller in this month’s Glam Bag Ultimate. “Since jade is a porous stone, it absorbs the product and can be less hygienic,” says Lim.

It feels amazing, thanks to the naturally cool temp of the stones. Just like a body massage, facial rolling works out all those overworked jaw-clenching, brow-furling muscles. And it gives real-time results by stimulating blood flow and helping drain lymphatic fluids (the main culprit of puffiness), so skin instantly appears glowy and lifted. But it’s more than just skin deep—in traditional Chinese medicine, facial rolling is intended to circulate your Qi, aka energy, to clear up energetic blockages. “I’ll use face rolling if I’m having negative thoughts, my head feels cloudy, or if I’m having a hard time focusing on work,” says Lim. Consider this your road to the ultimate lit-from-within glow.

According to Lim, facial rolling should be the last step of your skincare routine, right after moisturizing—but the face isn’t first. “Start in the soft tissue just below your collarbone and work your way up to encourage the flow of lymph and fluids,” says Lim. Using medium pressure and two-inch strokes, roll in an upward motion toward the jaw (Lim says long strokes are a-okay on the neck). 

Now that you’ve made it to the face, use firmer pressure in the spots that hold tension (hello, jaw) and lighter pressure on the more delicate areas around your eyes and temples—the smaller side of the roller is perfect for this. And don’t forget about your lips! “When lips are feeling dried out and deflated, this can really bring volume to the area,” adds Lim. Finish up with your forehead (home of the third eye) and visualize those bad vibes melting away.

Consistency is key. If that future dewy selfie isn’t motivation enough, creating a daily facial rolling routine will also maximize the benefits on a holistic level. “Facial rolling mindfully reminds you how unique and beautiful each part of your face is, how present you are, and how much you care about yourself,” says Lim. 

Still need a little inspo to get started? Try pairing your rolling routine with a fave face mask—we’re big fans of the SWEET CHEF Fresh Pressed Sheet Mask Trio. Rolling can help keep sheet masks in place and boost the absorption of all that hydrating goodness.

Have you tried facial rolling? Let us know @IPSY with #IPSYFeelTheLove