Not sure what a jade roller is? You've probably seen one on Instagram or while snooping through a friend's medicine cabinet and hardly registered it. This disposable razor-sized, Yoda-colored skincare tool looks something like the love child of a foot massager and the rake from a tiny zen garden. And they're popping up in more men's Dopp kits every day (Jonathan Van Ness, for example). Skincare experts champion them with the same vigor that CrossFit freaks crow about the benefits of foam rolling, and, really, the concept is the same: muscle massage. Jade rolling obsessives tout their circulation-boosting powers, and the subsequent anti-aging and de-puffing benefits. So the question is, should you be rolling? Here's what you need to know.

What is a jade roller supposed to do?

From a functional standpoint, this device could be made of any stone or plastic. But there’s an ancient Chinese tradition here (some 400 years young), wherein jade is believed to purify the skin with healing and holistic powers. When used to gently massage face muscles, it decreases puffiness and swelling, and increases lymphatic drainage. It's thought that a daily practice will lead to fewer fine lines and wrinkles, plus a brighter and clearer complexion. You can even use it to apply a daily serum.

Does it actually work?

After rolling for a week, I felt my skin get tighter and the circulation increase in my face. As for the long term, it depends how faithful you are. Like any skincare product or regimen, you have to stay loyal to it, with your de-puffed eyes on the prize. It’s the anti-aging game, so you have to remind yourself that the goal here is to look younger for longer. That might mean looking 35 at 50, or 50 at 70. So, keep at it, and wear SPF, use retinol, drink water, get your sleep, etc.

How does one properly jade roll?

Store it in the fridge: If that stone is cold, it boosts its effectiveness, like a little chilly jolt for your skin.

Clean it before and after use: Because otherwise you’re just pressing yesterday’s grime back into your pores.

And wash your face beforehand, too: Same reason as above.

Technically, you can use it all over: Applied directional pressure is a wonder! (But an actual massage is probably better for a swollen ankle.)

Roll from the inside out: Divide your face in half, symmetrically. Start with the roller in the middle of the forehead, or next to the nose, and roll out. You want to move any swelling away from the center of your face. You can work at an angle, too, like from the chin and up the jawline. (But not the other way around.) Use upward strokes across the forehead, and downward strokes across the chin.

Don’t roll back: Lift it and bring the device back to center with each motion.

Magnify benefits with a serum application: You can apply serum to your face and then roll over top it to really push it deep into your pores. (It absorbs quite efficiently on its own, though, to be honest. But you may as well combine two steps in one.)

Use the small end for sensitive or less spacious areas: The smaller stone is devised for the area around the eyes or mouth. No need to roll a two-inch gemstone over your crow’s feet…

Be gentle: This isn’t a capillary-bursting contest.

4 Jade Rollers We Like

Mount Lai jade roller$34

Sephora

Mount Lai founder Stephanie Zheng devised a roller much like her grandmother’s own favorite jade device (for a routine she employed for 50-some years). The quality shines through, as this is the device we each wanted to keep after testing.

Herbivore jade roller$30

Sephora

It's a little pricier, but Herbivore’s roller will look the best on your sink ledge. (Or next to your spinach in the refrigerator.)

ATAHANA jade roller$17

Amazon

ATAHANA gives 10 percent of its profits to the Malala Fund, benefiting young women in war-torn countries. And it’s a better entry point price if you're still deciding just how dedicated you plan to be to your rolling regimen.

Jadience needle roller$29

Amazon

Jadience’s spiky roller gives an acupuncture-like feel to your roll, boosting circulation sort of like a soil irrigator.

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQGQ RecommendsBathroom and ShowerSkincare