Susan Bard, a dermatologist with Manhattan Dermatology Specialists, says that people need to be wary about the potential for jade rollers to transmit bacteria — if you're not disinfecting your roller, you may wind up doing more harm than good — and about overly aggressive usage.
Benefits of using a face roller
Improves lymphatic flow and drainage. Improves blood flow. Reduces puffiness. Reduces inflammation.
One of the most surprising benefits of using a face roller is that it can help tone your facial muscles and reduce sagging skin. The act of rolling the device over your skin helps to increase blood circulation, which in turn helps to tone your muscles and give your skin a more youthful appearance.
“Regular massage or face rolling really will change the shape of your face,” she says. Just like the muscles in our body, face muscles get tight, hold tension and become lax through lack of use.
For example, a 2008 study found that four microneedling sessions resulted in up to a 400 percent rise in collagen , a protein that makes skin firmer. You may not be able to produce these results at home. However, derma rollers can allow skin care products to penetrate deeper, producing more powerful effects.
They're often touted as an “anti-aging” tool (a phrase some beauty circles, such as Allure magazine, have banned). In reality, explains Suzanne Friedler, a Manhattan-based dermatologist, jade rollers are about as effective as any form of facial massage when done correctly.
Rose quartz stays cool whereas jade is adaptive in nature and tends to warm with skin contact. Rose quartz is better known for its wrinkle-reducing benefits. Because jade is a soft stone and can encounter wear and tear with repeated use, a rose quartz roller may last you longer (trust us, we did a drop test).
Skin damage is a risk that commonly occurs with microneedling devices. The damage may include bleeding, bruising, redness, tightness, itching and peeling, and these typically go away without any treatment after a few days or weeks.
You really can't overuse a jade roller (as long as you're not applying too much pressure). Michelle recommends using a feather-light touch, “gently rolling upward and outward on clean, bare skin or over a luxurious facial oil.”
Better product absorption
Engelman recommends always applying a serum or moisturizer before using a jade roller. “Rolling or massaging the face after applying topical product can help the product absorb into your skin,” she says.
Added to that, the beneficial effects of face tools like jade rollers and gua sha knows no bounds. When used correctly, a little massage with these tools can sculpt and frame your face while curbing a double chin. A gua sha drains the face muscles of lymphatic tension whereas a jade roller helps reduce puffiness.
Ultimately, frequent, careless use of heated rollers will cause long-term hair damage. Despite these risks, several safeguards can be put in place so that you can continue styling your hair with these handy devices.
“I would also avoid using the roller if you are having any types of skin rashes or cold sores, and also acneic skin should avoid it, since the jade roller can spread bacteria around,” says Krueger. “You should also make sure you sanitize your roller with mild soap in between uses.”
And as I suspected, the answer is yes. The head of your facial roller is made from semiprecious stones, such as jade or quartz that are fragile like the fine hairs of a makeup brush. Dust particles can gather on the tool - plus, you don't want to spread any bacteria back onto your skin.
"Jade rollers can be a source of bacterial spread if there are any open, infected areas on the skin," she explains. This can also be an issue for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin because "if used vigorously it can traumatize active acne bumps," spreading bacteria and increasing facial redness.
Rivas expressed that quartz and jade rollers can have a real effect on reducing facial puffiness and fine lines, but the tools are not the quick-fixes and miracle cures people seem to expect.
The benefits of jade rolling are said to include smoothing and sculpting the skin, relieving facial tension, sinus pressure and headaches, stimulating blood flow and oxygen, and reducing dark circles and puffiness under your eyes. It can also help your skin absorb creams, serums and oils.
While not tons of research has been done on their effectiveness just yet, dermatologists do seem to agree that derma rollers can stimulate collagen production and, in turn, improve the appearance of skin.
Answer: Microneedling
Microneedling should NOT make your lines or wrinkles worse. It takes a series of treatments to get the best results so I recommend giving it some time. You definitely should not have significantly aged only 5 days post treatment.
Any natural stone, including rose quartz, jade, and amethyst used in rollers and other tools, can be porous and hold onto bacteria that cause breakouts.
Jade Roller has been known as an ancient anti-aging tool in China that can make your face skin smoother and looks younger.
Short-term reports show that using rose quartz rollers for at least 5 minutes can significantly increase blood flow by up to 25%. Using the roller around your face stimulates the cells, and boosts blood circulation which is responsible for making your skin glow and more revitalized.