Facial rollers have recently become very mainstream around the world in the beauty industry, plus you can find them in a multitude of beautiful semi-precious stones. But why are people reaching for this ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique in modern times? What does this beautiful tool and technique actually do for our skin? In order to answer these questions, it is first important to understand a little about how TCM explains beautiful and healthy skin, as well some knowledge about the Lymphatic System.

In TCM, we use face-reading as part of the diagnostic process. We can tell a lot about the internal environment of the body just by looking at a persons’ face. The face looks beautiful when the body is healthy. We want to see clear, sparkling eyes, smooth and hydrated skin, and a glow that appears to come from within. We want the skin to have volume, and bounce-back, and we also want the facial muscles free of tension. The muscles and skin on the face will begin to sag and droop when the qi (vital life energy) becomes too weak to nourish and lift the tissue. When we are under too much stress, the muscles of the face hold tension, which over time causes fine lines and deep wrinkles in the skin. When the body is struggling regulating the internal temperature, or too many hot things such as alcohol or spicy food, are being ingested, we can see red inflamed acne or eczema patches start to form, or worsen. If there are issues with certain organs in the body, we can see a change to the colour of the face, for example, kidney issues can cause the skin to look dark and sooty, commonly beginning under the eyes. Acupuncture and herbal medicine work wonders at correcting organ imbalances, but there are other techniques you can use at home on a daily basis!