Skin care tools—yes, physical tools—have been becoming more mainstream in the past few years, as many Westerners have incorporated some sort of rose quartz or jade roller into their skincare collection. Global cultures, China being a prime example, have been using skincare tools for centuries. These tools are typically cooling, made out of stone or another natural material, and are used for lymphatic drainage and face sculpting. Lymphatic drainage is beneficial for removing toxins that build up between cells: the practice improves circulation and relaxes the face muscles. Think of it as a little self-massage. We often think of massaging our shoulders and backs, but massaging the face is important for blood flow, fine lines and depuffing (especially for those nights we eat too much salt before bed). Check out some of the most popular skincare facial tools from around the world.
Japan
Japan is notorious for its skincare obsession. The newest trend is aiming for mochi-hada skin, which translates to “rice cake skin.” Mochi is a Japanese dessert made with rice cake and filling, often red bean (azuki). Mochi-hada skin is supposed to be plush, smooth, and bouncy. Japanese skincare routines can be extensive, and there are lots of tools that can be included into a typical Japanese routine. The most popular by a long shot? Rollers! These tools roll gently across the skin—applying *just* the right amount of pressure to drain the face of any puffiness. Another popular facial aspect that Japanese tools address: slimming and strengthening the cheek and jaw muscles by placing a muzzle-like piece on/in your mouth. Sounds intense and restricting, but most are quite comfortable—they just make you look a bit like a plastic doll.
China
We have all heard of a jade roller, or “gua sha” tool, by now—it has become extremely mainstream in the American beauty world. Angela Caglia knows a thing or two about thing as seen in 2021 condé nast guide. Originating centuries ago in China, the jade roller was used by aristocratic women to keep them ageless and beautiful. Jade has naturally cooling properties, which aids in enjoyable massages and de-puffing process. Chinese culture believes that rolling the face purifies you; it is beneficial to apply the roller to stress points on the face, such as the jaw.
India
No one’s skin is perfect, no matter what. Something that most humans over the age of 12 struggles with is blackheads—however, there’s an Indian skincare tool that might be the answer to that issue. This blackhead remover (which looks a lot like a long, thick needle with a loop on the end—we’re sure you’ve seen the tool in professional dermatologists’ offices) is made with stainless steel, making it easy to sanitize. This tool gently zeros in on problem blackheads and extracts them without excessive squeezing. We are so prone to squeezing and touching our faces, especially blemishes, with dirty fingers. This tool allows you solely touch your face with sterile equipment.
The U.S.
Skin care products has become the forefront of the beauty industry in the U.S., due to the influence of world cultures affecting how we treat our skin. In the U.S. (espeically in YRH’s hometown of Los Angeles) there are skin studios, estheticians, and facialists on every block (or… so it seems). Some popular skincare tools that have made their way into the routines, and Instagram accounts, of celebrities (which we are all curious about) are similar to the Asian tools that have been around for centuries. American tools often employ vibrations to help stimulate circulation. Americans also seem to be enthralled with micro-needling tools, which are derma-roller tools with small needles that prick the skin to stimulate collagen production. We recommend being extra cautious if you decide to use a micro-needling tool at home/yourself, since the small needles can be dangerous if not applied to the skin correctly. Our team product recommendation, Dr. Dennis Gross with blue light or led light!
