I’ve never been one for a bare-bones skin-care routine because frankly, I find it boring. After a long day, there’s nothing I love more than indulging in the beneficial but ultimately not-so-necessary products that make me feel better about other shortcomings, like not drinking enough water.
And even as a beauty editor, there are still a lot of things on my wish list, like a facial roller. Unless you’re like me and super extra about your beauty regimen, those two words have probably never crossed your mind. And if you are proficient with the ins and outs of beauty tools, then you’re probably thinking, “Catch up, girl!” Yes, I’m well aware that facial rollers have been around for quite some time, but honestly, I’ve been a little intimidated by them. So I reached out to Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare to see what they actually are, how the heck you use them, and if the hype is actually real. Facial rollers are essentially paint rollers for the skin. They’re most commonly used to enhance blood circulation, which in turn helps products absorb into the skin. They also help reduce puffiness, which is caused by congested lymphatic channels.
MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Acids in Skin Care
“Lymphatic channels are all over the body?they are the way our immune system cells get to infections and heal us,” says Patel. “These vessels do not have valves, or ...