Lockdown has got the better of many of us. We have spent a whole year staring into our webcams for Zoom calls, which isn’t always the most flattering angle. Not to mention turning to food and snacking for comfort… because, what else have we had to do for entertainment other than eat good food? These factors have created a huge rise in demand for aesthetic treatments, especially ones that give us a contoured look and slim our faces, such as the “zoom facelift”. There has been two supposedly “magic” tools circulating that claim to give you this sculpted and contoured look at home, with minimal effort or cost: the Gua Sha and jade roller. In this Blog Post, we’re going to be exploring where these tools have come from and whether they actually work.

What Is a Gua Sha and a Jade Roller?

Originating from Ancient Chinese medicine, the practice of Gua Sha is used to improve blood circulation, energy flow and aid lymphatic drainage in the body to eliminate toxins.

Similarly to a Gua Sha, the jade roller also originates from Ancient Chinese medicine. Typically made out of jade stone or rose-quartz, they are designed to reduce puffiness from the face through the massage of the skin’s tissues and lymphatic systems. The jade stones are thought to have additional benefits, as the crystals are said to defend against negative energy. Due to the cool and smooth surface, they can also help to alleviate skin redness. Many people put theirs in the fridge for an extra cooling experience to awaken those tired eyes in the mornings. Jade rollers come in a double-ended style, with one smaller end that can be used around the eye area and the larger side for larger areas of the face.

The Gua Sha and jade roller have risen to fame with some people claiming that they have helped them to sculpt their face, reduce their double chin, eliminate dark circles and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

How Do You Use Them?

gua_sha_tool

There is a beauty blogger on everyones feed at the moment showing you how they use their Gua Sha and jade roller. It is worth checking out some tutorials online to master your technique before you start using yours. We particularly like this tutorial from Sandra Lanshin Chiu.

Here are our top tips for use:

  1. Use a facial oil/hydrating serum so that the tool glides and doesn’t tug on the skin
  2. Practice the method for a few minutes each day
  3. Start from centre of the face and work outwards
  4. Use upwards and outward motions to give that lifted effect
Do They Work?

With any new beauty trend, there is always some scepticism about whether it actually works, or whether it’s just a fad. At the end of the day, like many new beauty practices, it is all down to individual results. Despite this, a lot of the dramatic transformations that you see online may not be all that they are cracked up to be. Remember that a lot of the times, images are re-touched and edited. Check out this Blog Post where we help you to detect which images from the aesthetics industry are real and fake online.

In addition to this, some of the people showing the dramatic results may have lost weight in the process, which can contribute to the dramatic change, especially around the chin and jawline area. If you have stubborn fat underneath your chin, we have a treatment called Aqualyx which safely and easily dissolves the fat in this area through the use of fat-loss injections.

For achieving that contoured and sculpted look, it has not been officially proven that these tools can give you the results that you desire. For a more noticeable look, dermal fillers are your best option. You can see from the image below how Doctor Youssef Haffar has been able to balance and sculpt this clients profile beautifully through the addition of nose filler and chin filler. Another highly requested dermal filler treatment to achieve a sculpted and contoured look, is cheek fillers, which can help to plump and lift the face.

facial_balancing_profile_before_and_after

There are also claims that jade rollers are able to eliminate dark circles from underneath the eyes. Unfortunately if you have dark circles, these will not magically disappear through the use of a jade roller. Dark circles are caused due to the area being hollowed and lacking in volume, which results in the darker shadow. They are also often caused by genetics and occur from a young age. In order to improve the appearance of dark circles, tear trough filler is the best treatment option. If you would like to find out more about our tear trough filler treatment, you can read this blog post and also check out Doctor Haffar’s work here.

Many people who use these tools do so for the supposed anti-wrinkle benefits and to increase the production of collagen within the skin. Unfortunately, many wrinkles are caused by dynamic muscle movements, so unless you never smiled, laughed or frowned again, these wrinkles will still come through! One of the only ways to prevent wrinkles is through the use of anti-wrinkle injections.

Our latest treatment Profhilo is another anti-ageing treatment that increases skin hydration and elasticity by encouraging collagen and elastin production within the skin. You can also have this treatment in conjunction with anti-wrinkle injections for an incredibly effective result.

Overall Verdict?

Overall, we think that using a Gua Sha and a jade roller daily makes a great addition to your skincare routine. It gives you an excuse to spend some extra time on self-care and to unwind.

Results wise, whilst it may not be as effective as in-clinic aesthetic treatments, it is a good at home treatment. It can also be a helpful tool to relieve tension and puffiness from the face, which may also prove beneficial for those who suffer from tension headaches. At the end of the day, it won’t do any harm to add it into your routine.

 

GOOD NEWS! Our clinics have now re-opened! You can now book in with us for a treatment with our therapists or for aesthetic treatments with Doctor Youssef Haffar– we can’t wait to see you soon. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @simplyclinics & @dryoussefhaffar for any updates.

Back