Skincare is self-care, and that’s become extremely evident with the rise of at-home face massage tools. A few minutes spent moving one of the rollers, stones, or wands over your skin can leave your complexion looking firm, lifted, and bright. Plus, it just feels really good and is a great way to unwind tense muscles.
“Facial massage promotes blood circulation and lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and under eye circles,” says Suzanne Friedler, M.D., board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. (In case you’re unaware, lymphatic drainage refers to moving the fluid that can build up in the soft tissue of the face and around the eyes—a.k.a. the stuff that makes you look swollen.)
Massage may be even more important as you get older, adds board-certified dermatologist Sapna Palep, M.D., founder of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. “With age, lymphatic drainage gets backed up, and you’re more likely to wake up with a puffy face,” she says. That can happen after common habits like drinking alcohol or sleeping on your face.
While rolling won’t directly stimulate the production of collagen (the building blocks of your skin), it may indirectly help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Sending more blood flow and oxygen to tissues will also help prevent loss of collagen and elastin, the support structures within skin that give it its bounce, says Dr. Palep. What’s more, a facial massage tool physically presses active ingredients (like retinoids, vitamin C, or hyaluronic acid) into skin, which can help them be more effective.
Finally, think of a face massage tool as a facial relaxer. “We’re all on so many Zoom calls right now, and looking at a computer screen all day encourages muscle flexion and tension. When done at the end of the day, these tools can release the tension of the muscles of the lower face,” says Dr. Palep.
That said, there are so many different tools available for facial massage, and the truth is that one type of stone, shape, or device won’t perform better than the other, says Dr. Friedler. Ultimately, use the one that works and feels the best for you.
Need help narrowing them down? We found the top-rated versions of various types of face massagers at all price points. Because it’s time to take a few minutes for you!
1 Facial Cooling Globes
SEPHORA COLLECTION sephora.com
$25.00
The great thing about this set of face massage tools is that there is liquid inside the roller balls that gets cold when placed in the refrigerator. Moving a cool surface across skin will help chase away puffy under-eyes—much like an old-school cold spoon, says Dr. Friedler.
2 Rose Quartz Gua Sha
Herbivore sephora.com
$18.00
Similar to a stone roller, gua sha will also increase circulation and lymphatic drainage, says Dr. Friedler. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a certain type of stone (they also come in jade), but this one from Herbivore is beautiful and well-priced. There are different edges on this tool, which you can experiment with to get the massage you enjoy. Happy reviewers say regular use helps give the appearance of a more lifted face, while also relieving tense facial muscles.
3 Rose Quartz Crystal Facial Roller
SKIN GYM nordstrom.com
$21.00
The smooth stones on this rose quartz facial roller easily glide on skin. It’s dual-sided, so you can use the larger stone for rolling your cheek area, and the smaller for around the eye area and other smaller facial contours.
4 Mini De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller
Mount Lai sephora.com
$30.00
While they have a standard size, the mini version is easy to pop in your purse and tote wherever you’re going. The smooth jade stone is soothing on skin, well-made, feels substantial when you hold it, and is an overall gorgeous skin accessory.
5 Face Trainer Beauty Roller
SKIN GYM nordstrom.com
$58.00
Five minutes a day spent rolling on your face and neck encourages puffiness to dissipate. This tool is a true multitasker: It can be used across brows, underneath eyes, and along your jawline—as well as on your body, like the legs and chest. All that’s needed are quick strokes in an upward motion. so it’s easy to use.
6 Luna 3
FOREO amazon.com
$199.00
This splurge-worthy product does double duty by functioning as a cleansing tool and facial massager. The silicone bristles are soft, easy to keep clean, and the head can be programmed to cleanse at 16 intensities. Plus, you’ll love how you can access the app to control it through your phone. This device is for normal skin, but it also comes in models for sensitive and combination complexions.
7 NuVibe RX Amethyst Massaging Beauty Roller
Nurse Jamie dermstore.com
$95.00
Think of this like a sonic toothbrush—but for skin. Apply your favorite serum or moisturizer, switch it on, and the tool vibrates the amethyst head at 6,000 pulses per minute while you move the tool around your face, paying special attention to any areas of concern, like jawline, eye area, brows, neck, and cheeks.
8 Face Sculptor
SKIN GYM nordstrom.com
$69.00
This barbell-shaped tool looks like something that would exercise your face. As you glide the dual, naturally cool aluminum rollers across skin, it feels like a real massage. Not only do users say that it helps relieve jaw pain and provides a temporary lift to skin, but it also boosts a natural glow.
9 Lapis De-Puffing Face Roller
Herbivore herbivorebotanicals.com
$58.00
Lapis is another type of stone, and as you can see, it’s a beautiful marbled blue. The roller is dual-ended, with a longer oval stone on one side and a smaller rounded stone on the other. There’s also a beautiful gold-plated handle to make your facial massage feel even more luxe.
10 Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device
PMD Personal Microderm amazon.com
$99.00
Users like this facial cleanser and massager because the handle is easy to hold. The head is made with silicone bristles that are suitable to clean all skin types. Seven thousand vibrations per minute removes dirt and bacteria from acne-prone skin. For aging concerns, the massage action will help bring blood flow for a glow before you head out the door.
Jessica Migala Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io