Beauty Tools and Devices: What Are They and How to Use Them?

Beauty Tools and Devices: What Are They and How to Use Them?

There are a lot of beauty tools on the market, each with their own claims relating to firm, youthful looking skin. What are they and do they actually work?

Skincare can be as simple or as complex as you make it. While a basic skincare routine only requires three steps — cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF — your regimen can have as many as 10 steps. When you add beauty tools into the mix, that routine gets even longer.

Beauty tools are used on the outside of the skin and claim to offer various benefits. Usually, they are geared towards anti-aging benefits like firmer, more lifted skin and fewer fine lines and wrinkles, but some beauty tools promise results like reduced puffiness and increased circulation.

With many beauty tools going viral on social media, you may wonder which are worth the hype. Here’s what you need to know about the six most common beauty tools to amplify your skincare game.

Gua Sha

A gua sha is a flat, smooth tool that is used to stroke and massage the skin in various directions. The literal translation of gua sha is “to scrape sand,” according to Healthline, so using a gua sha can feel like scraping your skin with the thin tool.

Traditionally, gua sha originated in China and Southeast Asia. It’s an ancient form of therapy and treatment for the skin, and it was used for healing.

It’s usually made of a semi-precious stone such as jade or rose quartz, but some are made of wood or plastic. Gua sha stones can also take different shapes, though the most recognizable can be likened to a heart.

There is ample evidence that gua sha is effective for relieving pain and speeding muscle recovery. Though there is less evidence to support the practice’s effectiveness to support skin health and promote anti-aging benefits, experts seem to agree that gua sha is a worthy addition to some skincare routines.

“Gua sha is great for defining the cheekbones and contouring the face,” says Amber Rose Johnson, an esthetician and founder of Facial Lounge. She recommends the following steps to use a gua sha stone at home:

  1. Start at the forehead and scrape the stone down towards the temples.
  2. Bring the stone to the side of the nose and glide it outwards towards the ears.
  3. Continue this motion behind the ears going down towards the heart.
  4. Move the stone to the base of the chin and bring it in downwards motions.

To use a gua sha stone properly, you must use a facial oil or other product that allows the stone to glide across the skin. Otherwise, using a gua sha stone on dry skin can be uncomfortable.

“Gua sha is amazing for all skin types, even acne prone skin,” says Shani Hillian, a master esthetician and holistic beauty expert in New York City. “It promotes healthy, balanced skin and healing. When you’re first starting out, go slow and don’t overstimulate. If you have active blemishes, go around them, not over them. Two to four passes of each area is sufficient, using light to firm pressure.”

Those with circulation issues or diabetes may want to consult a healthcare provider before pursuing gua sha massages or treatments, according to Cleveland Clinic.

If you’re interested in gua sha, you can purchase the tool online or book a treatment with a professional.

Jade Roller

The Chinese elite have used jade rollers for hundreds of years. Now, they’re available to everyone.

Like the name suggests, a jade roller is a beauty tool made of the jade gemstone and can be rolled across the skin. While facial rollers can be made out of other materials, such as rose quartz or amethyst, rollers made of jade are most popular.

A jade roller is shaped like a paint roller. You hold the handle and run the roller across your face in up-and-down and back-and-forth motions. Some rollers have two ends — a larger roller for the cheeks and forehead and a smaller roller perfect for around the eyes.

Like gua sha, jade rollers gently massage the face. They’re especially beneficial for reducing puffiness and inflammation, per Cleveland Clinic.

Pro tip? Johnson recommends storing your jade roller in the fridge overnight since the cold temperatures help de-puff even more. She also notes that cleaning your jade roller regularly is a must.

While jade rollers aren’t likely to make long-term changes, they are effective for temporarily improving the appearance of puffiness. If you wake up with puffy eyes or struggle with skin inflammation, you may want to give facial rollers a try.

Ice Globes

If you’ve tried placing your jade roller in the fridge overnight and fell in love with the cooling sensation under your eyes, you will enjoy ice globes. They are beauty tools made out of glass that contain a cold liquid inside.

Place them in the fridge overnight or for a few minutes in the freezer. Hold them by the handle and gently run the globes around the eye area to reduce puffiness and wake up your under eyes.

Placing cold objects on the skin is a modern version of cryotherapy, according to John Hopkins Medicine, and it’s an effective way to manage pain and swelling.

The benefits of using ice globes include reduced redness, inflammation, and puffiness. They also increase blood circulation and give the skin a healthy-looking glow.

“Cryo-globes are amazing to use on a clean face with a serum or cream. I like to massage around the eyes from the nose to the cheekbones and down under the chin for lymphatic drainage,” Johnson explains.

Facial Massage Roller

Like the rest of the body, the face has many muscles. If working out the muscles in your arms and legs is important to you, what about your facial muscles?

Facial massage rollers are like workouts for the face. They give the skin a lifted appearance, making them the ultimate anti-aging beauty tool. There’s little evidence that exercise for the face reverses time, but some methods can help fight gravity, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

While other beauty tools are more straightforward, facial massage rollers can take many shapes.

Some are shaped like a pen with a rotating head covered in energizing stones. The stones roll over the skin to massage and contour. Others have two globes on the end that release tension when used to massage the face.

If you’re skeptical, Johnson enthusiastically says, “Lifting face massagers definitely work!”

LED Face Masks

If you’ve heard of facials using LED lights, now you can perform your own treatment at-home with LED face masks. They are non-invasive treatments, so you don’t have to be a professional to use them. However, you should always be careful when using a beauty device and use the product per the instructions.

LED face masks are exactly what they sound like — masks that cover the entire face (except for the eyes, nose, and mouth) and use LED light as a form of skin therapy.

Different color lights are used to treat various skin concerns, such as anti-aging and acne. Each color uses a different wavelength of light. Some of the most common wavelengths include:

LED light wands, like those by SolaWave, are also an option. They’re more portable and affordable but may require more time.

While light therapy can be effective, it’s not for everyone. Certain people shouldn’t do light therapy, including people who take medication that increase their sensitivity to sunlight and have a history of skin cancer or eye diseases, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Cleansing Brushes

There’s one step you should never skip in your skincare routine, and that’s cleansing your skin. Don’t just splash your face with soap and water, though. You should really take your time, get in there, and make sure all the buildup of dirt and debris has been washed away before piling on your serums and creams.

If putting in that much elbow grease doesn’t sound appealing, consider using a cleansing brush like the FOREO LUNA. These battery-operated brushes are usually made of medical grade silicone and vibrate at a high frequency to thoroughly cleanse the skin.

Cleansing brushes do more than just clean, however. They provide gentle exfoliation that can remove the buildup of dead skin cells, leaving behind a layer of soft, smooth skin. Regular exfoliation stimulates collagen production as well. Be sure not to use the brush aggressively as this can cause dryness and over-exfoliation. Hold the brush firmly, but let it do most of the work. Don’t apply pressure.

If you have oily, acne-prone skin, a cleansing brush may help clear up your acne. The key is to use it in combination with a facial cleanser for acne-prone skin and use it regularly. These nifty devices are also helpful for breaking down makeup.

The Bottom Line

Beauty tools aren’t a requirement for any skincare routine, but they can be a fun and effective way to enhance your existing regimen. Depending on your goals, beauty tools can also help you target specific concerns.

Since they aren’t powered like beauty devices, beauty tools are easy to use. They’re usually affordable too. If you’re looking for the best beauty tool to try, the gua sha never disappoints. There’s a reason why it’s been around for thousands of years. For a more modern tool, ice globes are a nice treat in the morning.