BC Skin Journal

BC Blog

Beauty Collective - Jade Roller

Face Roller – the perfect skincare addition

by Jo Boyden on Aug 04 2023
Gemstone 'jade' rollers. They aren’t a new beauty trend, in fact people have been using this massage tool since the 7th century! Originated in ancient China, jade rollers were then considered to be a precious gemstone with anti-ageing superpowers, and jade ‘rolling’ was a skincare ritual reserved for the elite, however in recent years it appears that every skincare fanatic, beauty blogger and industry expert has started to rave about them, and not just jade rollers per se, but gemstone rollers, a range of face rollers made of semi-precious stones that include jade, but also amethyst, obsidian, rose quartz and more. If you haven’t tried using a jade roller, or gemstone roller should I say, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about, after all, do these tools of the trade really deserve a spot in your skincare routine? Especially when you feel overwhelmed with the products and tools you already use! In short though the answer is yes! And we are going to tell you why! Firstly what is a jade roller? A jade roller is a skincare tool made from a smooth, naturally cool gemstone called jade. It typically consists of a larger stone for the cheeks, forehead, and neck, and a smaller stone for more delicate areas like the under-eye and around the nose. But why should you consider adding this seemingly simple tool to your extensive collection of serums and creams? Because of their many benefits…. What are the benefits of using a jade roller? They are an amazing massage tool Facial massage is not only a way to indulge your skin, it also provides skin with numerous benefits. But instead of just using your fingers, what better way to massage your face than with a gemstone roller! The gentle massaging action not only feels amazing (like you’re enjoying a facial in your favourite spa), it also helps stimulate facial muscles (which can help tighten your skin), relieve tension, and improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. They help reduce puffiness The healing properties and natural coolness of the gemstone can help constrict blood vessels, effectively reducing puffiness and inflammation on your face, especially around the eyes and cheeks. No more tired, puffy face in the mornings! They help relieve stress and induce relaxation We all know that stress can take a toll on our skin, leading to breakouts and premature aging. But incorporating a jade roller into your skincare routine can be a game-changer in combating stress. The rhythmic rolling motion helps relax facial muscles, releasing tension and promoting an overall sense of calm. It's like giving your face a mini meditation session! They help boost the effectiveness of your skincare products If you are guilty of investing in expensive skincare products but maybe not seeing the desired results, here's a little secret: gemstone rollers can enhance your product absorption game. After applying your favourite serum, moisturiser or oil, simply roll the gemstone over your skin. The roller's massaging action allows those potent ingredients to penetrate deeper into your skin (really!) maximizing their effectiveness. Hello, glowing and nourished complexion! They help reduce the appearance of fine lines While we can't promise that using a gemstone roller will magically erase all your wrinkles, regular use can improve skin's elasticity, leading to a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles over time. They are a natural and non-invasive approach to younger looking skin In a world full of high-tech skincare gadgets and invasive procedures, gemstone rollers offer a refreshing alternative. They are gentle, natural, and suitable for most skin types. So, whether you have sensitive, oily, or combination skin, you can roll your way to healthier-looking skin without any worry! How to use a jade roller Thinking about incorporating a gemstone roller into your skincare routine? Ensure you use it gently, avoid applying excessive pressure, and clean it regularly to maintain hygiene. For best results, we recommend cleansing your skin first, then applying a small amount of serum or light oil to your skin. Take your jade roller and start at the chin. Using broad, long strokes roll the jade roller horizontally to the hairline - you should apply slight pressure but not so that it is "pulling" your skin. Then, from the nose, gently roll towards the ear - smoothing the skin under the eyes. Moving up, use the small end of the roller around the corner of the eye, rolling to the temples. Last up, place the roller above the eyebrow and push up towards the hairline. You can also finish by rolling horizontally from the middle of the forehead out towards the temples. How often should you use a Facial Roller? You can use a roller every day for optimum results. If there is a day where you feel like your skin is especially puffy, then morning and evening should work wonders! Don’t forget to regularly clean your roller. Since the tools are being used on your face and can easily spread bacteria, clean them with warm water and soap after use and store in a clean, dry place. From depuffing to boosting product absorption, and providing a relaxing experience, gemstone rollers are the perfect addition to your skincare routine. So, next time you're treating yourself to a self-care session, why not add a little jade rolling action to the mix? Your skin will thank you for it! For more information on the different types of gemstone rollers and which might be better suited to your skin click here.
Beauty Collective - dry body brush

If you don’t dry body brush, you should now, here’s why

by Jo Boyden on Jan 13 2022
We’ve talked about the best ways to detoxify your skin, now it’s your body’s turn! And no, we aren’t talking juice cleanses and special supplements, something as simple as dry body brushing is all it takes! And we are going to tell you why! Firstly though, for those who don’t know, dry brushing refers to the process of using natural bristles to brush your body skin.Yes, yes, we hear you, you barely have time to complete your daily morning ritual let alone adding “brushing your skin” into the mix, but while yes, it is an extra step, if you can afford those few extra minutes and be religious about it every day, it really is worth it! Why? Because this ancient ayurvedic practice offers a multitude of benefits!Firstly, regular body brushing is an excellent way to exfoliate your skin, ridding it of any surface dead cell build up (ewwww) and revealing the healthy skin cells underneath! Secondly, it stimulates blood flow and circulation plumping the skin. And finally, it promotes lymphatic drainage, in other words, encouraging the movement of lymph fluids, helping to remove waste and toxins from the bodily tissues. As a result, it helps to tighten the skin and reduce cellulite!That’s right! While sadly, there is no treatment, lotion or potion you can use at home that will completely eliminate the appearance of the dreaded cellulite, daily (and vigilant) dry brushing can indeed help minimize the look of dimples, we promise! And used correctly and in unison with a good anti-cellulite product your chances of smooth, supple skin are achievable! If that’s your goal, use a natural bristled body brush such a BC’s Detox Massage Body Brush on problem areas (or all over legs and bottom for maximum results). Nestled in among the natural bristles are small, flexible rubber massage nodules so you get even more bang for your buck, plus massage is another way to help promote lymphatic drainage and ultimately get that smoother looking skin we all desire! The brush also it has a no-slip canvas hand strap to make body brushing all that much easier.Now you know just how great body brushing can be, we need to know how to do it properly for optimum results.Start with completely dry, pre-shower skin, then move the brush in long, circular motions, beginning at your feet and working upward towards your heart. Use slightly firm pressure but remember skin should be stimulated and invigorated, but not irritated or red!If certain areas of your skin are already irritated or inflamed, it’s best to avoid those areas.After you’ve completed body brushing jump in the shower as you normally would, you can continue body brushing with focus on the massage using your favourite shower gel.After your shower, apply a layer of moisturiser or your cellulite targeted treatment cream to seal in your exfoliated skin. Do this daily (or at least a minimum or 3-4 times a week and relish in the results!Personally, I LOVE body brushing because it’s one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective things you can do for promoting healthy, smooth skin!
Beauty Collective - benefits of facial massage

The 9 benefits of facial massage

by Jo Boyden on Jul 28 2021
While it’s not possible for many of us to visit our local spa for a facial right now because #lockdown, it is possible for us to spend an extra few minutes a day massaging our skin. Like a mini workout for your face, face massages involve massaging key facial muscles and pressure points (like your jawline, cheekbones and forehead) using your hands and fingers or even better, a gemstone facial roller. But why should you include this extra step in your routine? Because it can truly work wonders for both your skin and wellbeing! In fact, there's a multitude of benefits to facial massage, and we are here to reveal them all! So read on and learn how you can take your skin to the next level by incorporating facial massage into your daily skincare routine. It relieves tension and reduces wrinkles! Many of us hold a lot of tension in our faces. When we are feeling anxious, stressed, exhausted or have simply been concentrating or staring at a screen for too long, we tense our forehead and eye area, which in time causes wrinkles eek! A few minutes of massage a day can and will in turn help release this tension, so no knock-on effect! Phew. It alleviates stress If you weren’t already feeling the stress that daily life can bring, I bet due to recent covid numbers and a relentless lockdown you are now! The thing is stress doesn’t just affect the way we feel, it can dramatically impact our skin too! And sadly dry skin, wrinkles, and acne are just some of the ways that it can manifest itself! Cue massage! Massage is one of the best stress relievers and no it doesn’t need to be at the hands of someone else, nor are we talking about a one hour remedial massage, just a few minutes massaging a facial oil into your skin can induce endorphins and help relinquish stress. Aghhhh. It improves product absorption You can increase the effectiveness of your daily skincare routine by incorporating a little massage! Massage will help your skin reap the benefits of any serum or oil you apply pre-massage, as well as any moisturiser you apply after the massage. This is because it literally helps the product to absorb more easily into the skin! Simple. It can help reduce fluid retention and specific skin conditions Environmental factors, makeup, daily diet are but a few reasons why toxins build up in our skin contributing to fine lines, puffiness, and breakouts! Stimulating our skin through massage can help increase blood circulation, kick-starting lymphatic drainage in your face to flush out those toxins, reduce fluid retention and keep skin healthy both inside and out! Yes! It’s stimulating Quick, tapping movements stimulate the nerve endings and wake up a tired skin. Try tapping your fingers all over your face—like you’re gently typing. Be sure to always use your ring finger on the delicate area around your eyes. It firms the skin Because it stimulates the facial muscles, a massage is like a mini-workout for your face. It engorges the muscles with blood to oxygenate the skin cells and gives “tone” to your muscles. It boosts the circulation (& therefore glow) Improving your circulation will help give you “that” glow. Just like doing a set of sit ups and push ups (eek) a quick facial massage sends a surge of blood and oxygen to your skin. This increased flow, we know can kick start lymphatic drainage, decreasing toxins and puffiness, but it will also brighten skin tone! The more efficiently your blood flows, the more oxygen is sent to your skin which equals increased collagen production and cell growth, resulting in a smoother, glowing complexion! Woohoo. Massage helps you get to know your skin The more time you spend touching your skin, the better understanding you’ll have of which areas are drier/tighter, which are rough (and made need more exfoliation), and which areas are more prone to congestion. It’s relaxing At the end of a long day, you can use massage to relax your facial muscles and calm your mind. This will not only encourage relaxation, but also bring on better sleep too! And we all know how important sleep is for our skin!
Beauty Collective - gemstone rollers

What’s the deal with gemstone facial rollers? Understanding the benefits

by Jo Boyden on Dec 17 2020
In 2018 “jade rollers” became all the rage in the world of beauty, beloved by beauty bloggers and skincare experts alike. Fast forward a few years and a few developments and the latest trend to take centre stage is “gemstone rollers”, an array of facial rollers made of semi-precious stones including; amethyst, obsidian, rose quartz, jade and more. But what exactly is the benefit of these rollers? And will they really make a difference to your skin? The answer is yes and we are here to tell you how and why.Often touted as an “anti-aging tool, gemstone rollers offer a multitude of benefits which ultimately results in better skin when used regularly and correctly. Not only do they feel amazing on your face, but by rolling them across your cheeks, chin and forehead, you’ll slowly open up pathways, improving lymphatic flow, clearing toxins, decreasing puffiness, stimulating collagen production, reducing fine lines and more! They even have the ability to release tension which many people carry in their jaws!Adding a gemstone roller to your daily skincare routine will become your most soothing self-care ritual (you’ll be amazed at how calming it can make you feel) but sadly there is no one size fits all. Just as with crystals, each roller has its own specific advantages, so you need to look at the individual properties of the gemstone and go for the one(s) which calls to you the most! Jade Facial Roller Best for toning and defining skin Ideal for those concerned with wrinkles and loose skin, jade helps raise the immunity of the skin. It’s known for its ability to help tone and firm skin cells, stimulate collagen production, increase elasticity, calm puffiness and promote cell turn over! Physically, this crystal has more resistance on skin than rose quartz and amethyst, so while it’s not as silky and glass-like in texture, it is better for achieving firming and lifting results including smoothing wrinkles, sculpting muscle, and tightening loose skin. It’s best to use this roller in the morning since jade has a revitalising energy that helps skin to feel fresh and invigorated. Jade Facial Smooth and Textured Roller Best for toning, defining and rejuvenating skin Just as with its counterpart this roller is best for those wishing to tone and firm their skin. The two different roller ends pose their own benefits. The smooth end helps to aid in lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness, while the textured end stimulates the blood circulation and helps increase oxygen in the skin cells and collagen in the dermis. Again, this roller is best used in the morning, since it has a revitalising energy that helps skin to feel fresh and invigorated. Rose Quartz Facial Roller Best for soothing and calming skin The ultimate beauty stone, known as the “crystal of Venus” (the goddess of love and beauty), Rose Quartz delivers inner healing and clears complexity. This ‘emotional healer’ is great for reducing and releasing impurities and stress in the skin. It’s best for detoxifying while soothing and calming sensitive skin. But also has great properties that increase circulation to the skin, promoting collagen production. Rose quartz also happens to have inherent minerals- silicium, magnesium, iron, sodium and oxygen - that skin can topically borrow and benefit from when rolling and thanks to the stone staying very cool it is ideal for those suffering from a sensitive or inflamed complexion.Obsidian Facial Roller Best for detoxifying and balancing skin Unlike the other stones, Black Obsidian naturally retains warmth and is great to use on congested, blemish prone skin. With consistent use it brings imbalances to the surface so that they can be released, this is because the warmth of the obsidian encourages stimulation of the lymphatic system and circulation. The Obsidian Facial Roller also helps to tighten pore and balance your skin tone and leaves skin feeling purified and refreshed. To warm our Black Obsidian Roller, we recommend placing it in a glass of warm water for a minute or two before use. Amethyst Facial Roller Best for purifying blemish-prone skin Amethysts are powerful and protective stones that have the ability to soothe away day-to-day stresses. They emit infrared rays which slightly raises skin temperature increasing circulation. This enables the body to produce cortisol which calms inflammation and redness and nourishes skin cells with oxygen and nutrients to keep them healthy and encourage regeneration. Thanks to its negative-charge, amethyst also draws out positively charged toxins and free radicals to cleanse and detoxify skin. These detoxifying powers mean that amethyst helps to prevent bacteria growth and tighten pores, so is recommended for blemish-prone skin. Now you’ve selected the gemstone roller or rollers that sound right for your skin's needs but how exactly do you use it now and how often? We recommend cleansing your skin first, then applying a small amount of a light oil or serum with the roller. Starting at the chin, use broad, long strokes horizontally to the hairline - you should apply slight pressure but not so that it is "pulling" your skin. Then, from the nose, gently roll towards the ear - smoothing the skin under the eyes. Moving up, use the small end of the roller around the corner of the eye, rolling to the temples. Last up, place the roller above the eyebrow and push up towards the hairline. You can also finish by rolling horizontally from the middle of the forehead out towards the temples. For optimum results, you can use a roller everyday, but we would recommend using it after cleansing your face and neck. You can actually use it up to twice a day, but one should be plenty. If there is however a day where you feel like your skin is especially puffy, then morning and evening should work wonders! Finally, you need to remember to regularly clean your roller since it’s a facial tool and can easily spread bacteria. Ideally, it’s best to clean them with warm water and soap as you would any other beauty tool, pat try and then store in a clean, dry place. But for a more spiritual clean, you can wash the roller in salt water. Salt is considered cleansing and will help draw negative energies out of the roller so they don’t transfer back to your skin.