Level up your skincare routine
Skincare used to seem a lot more straightforward, didn’t it? You simply washed your face, applied a bit of moisturizer and you were good to go. While that’s certainly a start, times have changed, and people are a lot more aware of the different ways to enhance how they care for their skin. Skin is, after all, the largest organ in the body, so it deserves a bit of extra care and attention.
Enhancing your skincare routine doesn’t have to involve a visit to a dermatologist or skin clinic. Some of the top skincare trends are not only effective, but are also affordable, and can be carried out at home.
Gua Sha
Facial massage tools are booming in popularity. In 2022 it was third most popular beauty trend searched for on Tik Tok and Instagram, and had almost 12.5 Million Google search hits, making it the top beauty trend search overall.
Gua Sha is based on an ancient Chinese healing technique involving a gentle scraping motion across the surface of the skin with a flat, pebble-like tool to encourage blood flow and lymph to the surface. Practically speaking, this means less facial puffiness and smoother, brighter skin.
Jade and rose quartz rollers
Similar to Gua Sha stone, a jade or rose quartz roller is a facial massage tool aimed at stimulating circulation to brighten skin and reduce puffiness. The gemstones have a cooling effect – it’s not the jade or rose quartz specifically that delivers the benefits, but the nature of the materials and the way in which they are used. Like Gua Sha, it’s the massage element that stimulating the lymph nodes and encourages fluid to drain.
Modern living can cause facial puffiness in a number of ways and simply laying or sitting down for extended periods can cause fluid to collect in the soft tissues. Many people notice that their skin is puffier in the morning for this reason. Hormone fluctuation and diets containing too much salt or processed foods can make you thirsty but also cause water retention – again leading to puffiness.
Ice rollers for extra cooling
Jade and rose quartz feel naturally cool to the touch, but for an extra cooling sensation you might like to try an ice roller. The process and benefits are similar to jade or rose quartz rolling but the added coolness offers some additional benefits. If you suffer from hot or itchy skin, or have sunburn, an ice roller can bring relief and help minimize redness.
Ice rollers are usually kept in the fridge, but you can also buy stainless steel ice rollers than are filled with gel or water to keep them cooler for longer. If you’d like to mimic the effects of an ice roller without the need for a special tool, simply place a spoon in the freezer for three to four hours before use. With the rounded back of the spoon against your skin, move it slowly across your forehead, along your cheeks and jawline, and gently against your closed eyelids.
How does Gua Sha and facial rolling work?
The gentle movement over the skin encourages drainage to lower fluid retention and decrease inflammation and the feeling of tightness. Using these tools on the jawbone and cheeks can also help to release muscle tightness and create a more sculpted appearance.
How do you use a Gua Sha stone or facial roller?
Importantly, the benefits of using Gua Sha stone and facial rollers come from the lymphatic drainage they promote. For this reason, you need to clear the lymphatic pathways that lead to your face before starting on your face itself.
Your lymphatic system is just beneath the surface of your skin. It doesn’t require the same level of pressure that a traditional massage would. Too much pressure can also break capillaries and irritate your skin. Use a light touch and let the Gua Sha stone or roller do the rest.
- Start at your neck
Be careful not to press or scrape too hard. Sweep up and down on your neck if using a roller. With a Gua Sha stone, sweep up the side of your neck with the inward curved side using a feather-like stroking motion.
2. Move on to your jawline
Switch to a back and forth rolling motion with your roller. With a Gua Sha stone, turn it on its side and rest the indent of the heart shape on your jaw. Sweep up your jawline towards the ear, then repeat on the other side.
3. Massage the cheeks
If using a roller, continue massaging back and forth across the cheeks, then repeat on the other side. With a Gua Sha stone, turn it onto its longest side. Start above the mouth and to the side of the nose, lightly scraping it upwards towards your hairline. Repeat on the other side.
4. Go gently around the eyes
Roll gently or use the long curve of the Gua Sha stone to gently sweep from the inner corner of the eye, out towards the hairline.
5. Finish on the forehead
When you reach your forehead, roll vertically from the center of your face and moving out towards your temples. If using a Gua Sha stone, use the longest side and pull it upwards from your eyebrows to the top of your forehead.
Want to level up your skincare even further? You can add layers of hydrating serum or moisturizer to help the tools glide and encourage the products further into your skin.
