The Use Of Stones In Beauty Treatments

The use of stones in beauty treatments has been carried out for centuries. Despite technological advancements, their popularity continues today.

- Renée Batchelor

To leave no stone unturned indicates taking a thorough approach to an endeavour or pursuit, but it may very well also refer to the use of stones in beauty therapy. From the jade used in rollers to the smooth basalt pebbles used in hot stone massages, people have found myriad uses for stones for the face and body for many years. Using stones in beauty and wellness treatments dates back to seventh-century China, seen in practices such as gua sha, where a tool (today typically made from jade or rose quartz) is used to scrape the skin in order to produce light petechiae in order to remove “wind” from the body, a concept in traditional Chinese medicine. While many of these therapies are still widely practised in Asia today, the proper training and technique is essential in order not to cause injury to the skin.

AT HOME

The jade or stone roller has taken off as a home massage tool, probably because of its wide availability and relative affordability. Like gua sha, the jade roller — sometimes made from marble, rose quartz or other stones instead — has been used for centuries for lymphatic drainage, a form of massage that pushes fluids toward the lymph nodes in order to encourage drainage. Most aestheticians recommend applying minimal pressure when using a roller, as the natural weight from the relatively heavy stone will do the job. Too much pressure might result in skin irritation and broken capillaries. It is also important to sanitise the tool with alcohol before each use. Adding a serum or moisturiser reduces friction while rolling helps skincare penetrate the skin — a plus when using multiple layers of different products. Following the principles behind lymphatic drainage, the neck must be rolled first, before starting on the face in order to clear the lymph passages.