Facial tools and massagers: how to choose

How to choose facial tools and massagers

Begin with the movement you enjoy. A roller moves over the face on a frame and suits a light grip and slow passes; a gua sha board gives you a flat edge, a curve and often a point to follow the cheek, jaw and brow. If you like warmth and choice, a rechargeable tool with modes may suit you better than a single stone. The amethyst set brings a roller, a heart-shaped gua sha and a claw-shaped scraper together, while the microcurrent roller offers negative ion, positive ion and ultrasonic functions in a smooth ABS body.

Think about hand feel. Polished stone such as amethyst, jade, bian stone, opal and rose quartz has a cool weight, while resin boards are smooth and even in the hand. A heart shape is easy to hold and gives broad strokes along the cheek plus a tapered point for detail; a board with curved edges follows the jawline and brow. If you want a set that includes something to glide with, look at the jade and rosehip oil set or the electric bian stone board, which comes with three essential oils.

Match the tool to your routine. A compact heart-shaped board lives easily on a dressing table, a rechargeable warming tool adds five warmth levels and three modes, and an LED tool pairs warmth and vibration with five light settings. If you prefer a simple, quiet object, a single stone board or roller is enough. If you like a ritual with several steps, a set gives you more than one shape to work with.

Formulas, finishes and shades

Facial tools in our range come in polished stone, smooth resin, ABS and plastic. Stone pieces such as amethyst, jade, bian stone, opal and rose quartz feel cool at rest and have a natural weight; resin boards are smooth and even; ABS and plastic bodies keep rechargeable tools light in the hand. Finishes are polished and smooth, with rounded edges on many boards so the tool sits softly against the face. The rechargeable warming gua sha and the LED tool add gentle warmth, while the microcurrent roller keeps a calm, uncluttered look in pink or white.

Colour is part of the choice. You will find white, pink, red, green, black, blue, rose, gold and purple across the pieces. The heart-shaped resin board comes in five colourways, from soft pink and clean white to deep black, with green and purple for something less expected. The electric bian stone board comes in black or red, the microcurrent roller in pink or white, and the amethyst set is unique in colour and veining from piece to piece. Opal, rose quartz and jade each bring their own natural look.

Some sets include a formula to use with the tool. The jade and rosehip oil set pairs a cool jade gua sha with a moisturising rosehip oil that leaves skin feeling moisturised and comfortable; the jade and massage oil set includes a bottle of facial massage oil. The electric bian stone board comes with three essential oils. If you already have a serum or moisturiser you like, use that instead and keep the tool as the constant part of the routine.

How to apply and wear them

Start with clean skin. Press a few drops of facial oil or serum over the face so the tool glides freely, then hold the board flat against the cheek and sweep gently upward and outward. Work along the jaw from chin to ear and down the side of the neck. Keep the pressure light and let the tool do the work; short, slow passes are easier to control than long, quick ones.

With a roller, hold it with a light grip and move it slowly over the face in gentle passes. With a stone board, start on clean, dry skin only if the piece is designed for that, and hold the stone at a low angle; if you are using oil or serum, begin with a clean face and a layer of product so the board glides freely. The jade set and the massage oil set give you a formula to use with the stone, while the electric bian stone board comes with three essential oils.

For a rechargeable tool, choose one of three modes and set warmth across five levels. The warming gua sha warms to about 45 degrees, and the LED tool pairs warmth and vibration with five light settings. Use either with your usual serum or moisturiser and follow the product page for the piece you have. Keep strokes gentle along the jaw, cheeks and neck, and use the tool before makeup or at the end of the day as part of your routine.

Hygiene, storage and shelf life

Clean your tool after each use. For stone and resin boards, wash with mild soap and warm water, then dry fully with a soft cloth before putting it away. For rechargeable tools, keep the electrical body away from running water and wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth, then dry it. Clean the edges and the point of a heart-shaped board as carefully as the flat face, since those are the parts that sit along the jaw and brow.

Store pieces dry and separate. A travel pouch, such as the one in the jade and rosehip oil set, keeps a stone from knocking against other objects; a drawer divider or a small dish works too. Keep rechargeable tools charged according to the product page and store them where they will not be knocked. Do not leave a stone board loose in a bag with keys or metal objects.

For the oils and serums in a set, close the cap after use and keep the bottle away from direct sunlight and heat. Check the packaging for the shelf life of that formula and follow it, and use the oil or serum only as directed on its label. If your skin is sensitive or you are unsure about a formula, ask a professional before adding it to your routine.

Standout pieces

• Amethyst Facial Roller and Gua Sha Set: Three hand-polished amethyst tools, a roller, a heart-shaped gua sha and a claw-shaped scraper, each unique in colour and veining.
• Resin Gua Sha Facial Massage Board Set: Two smooth resin boards with rounded edges glide coolly over the face and neck, and one can stay by the mirror while the other travels.
• Rechargeable Three Mode Warming Gua Sha: Three modes and five warmth levels let you choose the pace, and the compact body warms to about 45 degrees for a slow massage along the jaw, neck and shoulders.
• Jade Gua Sha and Rosehip Oil Set with Pouch: A cool jade gua sha, a bottle of rosehip oil and a travel pouch make this a complete set for a calm facial massage at home or away.
• Electric Bian Stone Gua Sha Board: A polished bian stone edge sits in a rechargeable ABS body with USB charging, and the set includes three essential oils in black or red.