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ELLE Edit: 14 Face Massage Tools For Sculpting And Soothing
From shifting puffiness to preventing breakouts, there are so many reasons to try these smart tools.
Incorporating a facial massage tool into your regular beauty routine might just be the secret to supermodel contours – and now, you don't need to be a professional to reap the rewards.
So, what exactly are the benefits of these facial sculpting devices? Generally speaking, massaging your face can alleviate tension in overworked muscles, (jaw-clenchers, we're talking to you), which not only feels heavenly but can also de-puff, tone and lift your complexion. Plus, some of the latest innovations simultaneously tackle different skincare concerns, be it fine lines or breakouts.
How do facial massage tools work?
By kicking your lymph system into gear, a jade roller or gua sha stone (more on that later), can shift toxins and blockages, meaning those long-lost cheekbones will soon reappear, higher and sharper than ever. Alternatively, pick a device enhanced with vibrational technology, and it'll aid absorption of all those lovingly applied serums and creams, ensuring you see optimal benefits from your products.
According to expert facialist Sarah Chapman, working frequent massage sessions into your skincare routine will deliver welcome cumulative results. 'Regular use brightens, tightens, drains toxins and reduces puffiness by boosting the supply of vital nutrients and oxygen to your skin, giving you that immediate, fresh glow,' she says.
‘There are so many benefits to facial massage,’ agrees celebrity facialist and TCM expert, Ada Ooi. ‘One of the best skincare hacks that you can do easily from home is to use a facial massaging tool to stimulate acupressure points for tension release and drain the lymphatic system to give a firmer, brighter complexion,’ she adds.
If all that hasn't got you convinced, consider the soul-soothing benefits too. Face massagers and sculpting stones are packed with stress-busting power. Try sitting down with one after an anxious day, and you'll soon see what we mean.
How to do a facial massage at home
First up, choose your facial tool of choice, whether that's a gua sha tool, facial roller or a high-tech alternative. ‘Then apply your favourite non-comedogenic face oil to give slip and roll the massager up and out to lift the skin,' says Ooi. If using a facial roller, she says you can cool it by storing it in the fridge, or warm it up by soaking it in warm water before use. 'This is great to use around the eyes to reduce puffiness in the mornings or after a late night out,' she says. Ooi suggests gently tapping across the forehead to the outer edge of the face, working your way down the face to go across the brows, orbital bone, under the cheekbone and onto the chin along the jawline as this helps warm up the skin.
'A great quick jaw-sculpting technique is to anchor the tool or hand in the middle of your chin, gently glide upwards to the front of the ear where there are acupressure points; press and wiggle, go to the back of the ear and glide downwards to the neck, ending at the collar bone,' she says. 'Press and wiggle again there and repeat 3 times to stimulate the area and boost circulation while it drains stagnated elements.' Her top tip: Don't forget to take deep breaths during your facial massage, either.
From the traditional jade rollers to Angela Caglia's A-list tech and Chapman's own cult contraption, all manner of beauty brands are now jumping on board, crafting tools from jade and rose quartz or using sonic technology to bring salon-standard results to you, at home.
Here, we've rounded up the best face massage tools, jade rollers and vibrating wands to start practising with now, along with exactly how to use them, and the results you can expect.
The best massage tools for your mid-week facial
FaceGym Facegym Pro EMS Facial Device
FaceGym Facegym Pro EMS Facial Device
Famed for its facial workouts, this tool created by buzzy brand, FaceGym, does all the heavy lifting for you. It works by harnessing Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to help tone all (forty) of the muscles in your face.
Best used as a weekly or regular treatment rather than a daily staple, ensure you apply a serum first and use the low setting to allow your muscles to get used to the sensation.
It's the distinctive, hard-to-miss cube that's caught the attention of the TikTok world. But this icing tool is actually as good as those countless videos (a cool 2 billion views) proclaim, working to de-puff and brighten up your skin.
Bonus: you can fill it with ingredients like cucumber or rose water to mix up your at-home cryotherapy routine. Pretty cool, eh?
Dr Vali Cutis: The Ultimate Micro-Contouring Tool
Dr Vali Cutis: The Ultimate Micro-Contouring Tool
Promising clinical-grade results from the comfort of your sofa, Dr Vali's Cutis is a high-tech, at-home alternative to a professional sculpting facial.
With five different settings, including LED, it delivers sonic waves to the layers of skin to help tighten and lift.
This gua sha tool by French-born Sisley makes light work of de-puffing and toning, thanks to its unique shape, which has been designed specifically to hug the contours of your face.
Apply your favourite Sisley oil, or the SISLEŸA L'Integral Anti-Age, on your face and neck and use the curved edge to sculpt and lift.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis The Facialift
Sarah Chapman Skinesis The Facialift
Sure, it looks a little scary, but this celeb-approved contraption is the holy grail for any habitual jaw-clencher.
Studded with nodules, the four massage wheels treat the jawline using a firm but comfortable kneading technique, which mimics the fingertips and knuckles, bringing blood to the surface and unravelling tight muscles.
Angela Caglia Vibrating Rose Quartz Face Sculpting Roller
Angela Caglia's rose-quartz roller is the A-list massage tool of choice (Courtney Cox loves hers so much, she's been papped using it on a dinner date).
Turns out, our favourite Friend might be onto something: the 6000 sonic vibrations it emits per minute can undo tension in the tightest of jawlines, coaxing your natural bone structure back to the fore. Think of it as super-charged lymphatic drainage.
If you're not on a Hollywood star's salary, the brand's manual non-vibrating roller is excellent, too.
FOREO IRIS Anti Wrinkle Eye Massager
Don't buy this one for the 'anti-wrinkle' promises (it won't erase lines, nor does it need to), but invest for the way it shifts puffiness and bags while feeling really rather nice, too.
RéVive RéVolve Contouring Massage Roller
RéVive RéVolve Contouring Massage Roller
This smart massage roller is crafted from Zamac metal, so stays cool as you run it over tired eyes and puffy cheeks. The double-pronged top is precisely crafted to grab and lift the facial muscles, draining fluid while lifting and sculpting, and the tiny individual roller is perfect for use around the eyes.
This is definitely the best value jade roller on the market, and it makes a great option for those new to face rolling. It's sturdy enough to deliver a satisfying massage, and glides perfectly over a calming face oil (like this one).
Gatineau Contouring Facial Roller
A pocket-sized option, this mini roller is ideal for taking on weekends aways. It's two-pronged, so lifts and drains brilliantly, and can be used with any facial oil for maximum pampering appeal.
This set is a great introduction to the circulation-boosting benefits of cupping. Simply place the silicone 'cups' over your face, before gently moving them in outwards motions to kick-start that all-important lymph flow.
Facialist Ada Ooi is famed for her transformative face-sculpting powers, and now you can reap (some of the) benefits at home with her line of gua-sha stones, face massagers and cryotherapy tools.
These chilly globes are designed to boost blood flow around the eyes without proving too cold for the delicate skin. Fresh from your fridge, they'll be just the right temperature to shift toxins and brighten dark circles.
Odacite Mon Ami Acupressure Facial Beauty Tool
This tiny yet effective tool is brilliant for tension relief, both at home and on the go. It's specifically shaped to be pressed against the face's key acupressure zones, relieving stiffness and lymph blockages. A great one for gifting.
Skin Gym Face Sculptor Beauty Roller
For serious lifting effects, opt for a double-pronged roller, as they'll 'grab' and manipulate the skin much more effectively. This cooling metal device mimics the action of an expert facialist's knuckles, firmly kneading your skin to firm and tone for that post-pro facial lift. Simply roll over clean skin or after applying a serum to help tired skin defy gravity.
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