Face rollers 101: How to use one and their many skin benefits
We tapped dermatologists to learn exactly how face rollers work, what their benefits are and how to properly use one.
This double-sided jade face roller makes it easier to target both large and small surfaces of your face, according to the brand. The large end can be used on the face and neck while the small end is meant for hard-to-reach spaces like around the nose and in between the eyebrows. This roller also helps with lymphatic drainage, skin brightening and depuffing, the brand says.
What sets this roller apart from the others is the textured nubs, which Camp said can help to improve circulation. "It's also larger in size so that it can be used on the body as well as the face," he noted. With consistent use, the brand says that the roller helps promote softer, more glowy skin.
Plum Beauty's Amethyst Facial Roller targets tired under eyes and dark circles. It also works to tighten the skin, minimize the look of pores and increase the efficacy of your other skin care products, according to the brand. Though it's one of the more affordable products on our list, the brand says it boasts a high-quality design that'll last.
Face rollers come with a slew of benefits, and anyone — no matter their skin type — can use them. Camp said that those with a special interest in addressing puffiness or swelling or those who are seeking a calming, almost meditative approach to skin care can especially benefit from integrating a roller into their routine. Below, dermatologists break down some of the benefits of using a face roller regularly.
If you’re dealing with facial puffiness due to excess salt consumption, alcohol or anything else, a face roller may be able to help. As Green explained, we all have a lymphatic system that transports cellular waste and toxins and leaves behind nutrients and white blood cells. "The flow of the lymph can be interrupted for various reasons, such as dehydration, lack of exercise, consuming too much sodium and lying down for a prolonged period, and this fluid and waste can build up in the lymph nodes, which leads to puffiness of the face," Green explained. "Correctly using a face roller can promote lymphatic drainage to decrease puffiness as well as drastically reduce the appearance of a puffy face caused by fluid retention overnight."
Over time, your lymph nodes may get clogged with fluid and waste. This prevents nutrients from reaching the face and can result in dullness. Green said that "the movement of face rollers on the skin dilates blood vessels and promotes circulation, therefore allowing the increased blood supply to transport more nutrients to the face." The result is fresher, plumper-looking skin.
Face rollers can help improve the penetration of skin care products — serums especially — by helping to spread the product evenly over the skin surface, said Camp. "This may facilitate the integration of active products into the skin," he explained.
Just like a back massage, massaging the face via a face roller can be a calming, meditative experience. One study found that a 45-minute facial massage improved the moods of and reduced the stress levels of participants. Camp recommended pairing your face rolling with breathing exercises to ground yourself and improve your skin at the same time.
Giving yourself a facial massage with a roller is like bringing the spa to your home — but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here's how to use a face roller properly, according to Green.
Avoid moving back and forth with the roller, as Green said this won't improve the flow and drainage of lymphatic fluid. Camp said that rollers can be used right after application of skin care products to help its penetration, but they can also be used separately from your routine at any point during the day to calm the skin and reduce swelling. Just make sure to use face rollers in conjunction with some type of skin care product like a serum, oil, or moisturizer, as using them alone can contribute to the formation of wrinkles, warned Green.
Select writer Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. Rostamian has tested dozens of skin care devices over the years, including face rollers. For this story, Rostamian spoke to two board-certified dermatologists. Based on their guidance and recommendations, Rostamian reviewed the features of several face rollers from brands like Plum Beauty and EcoTools.
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