Facial Roller Guide: What Actually Works, What’s Hype, and How to Choose in 2026

What Is a Facial Roller, and What Is It Actually For?

A facial roller is a small hand-held tool with a rolling head—usually stone, metal, or silicone—attached to a handle. You glide it over your face, neck, and sometimes the jawline. That’s it. No batteries required (unless you buy one of the vibrating ones, which we’ll get to). The tool has been around in various forms for centuries, but its modern reputation has been inflated to borderline absurd levels. You’ve seen the videos: a serene woman in a robe, rolling a piece of pink quartz across her cheekbones while lo-fi beats play. The implication is that this $30 rock will somehow reverse time. It won’t. But it can do a few genuinely useful things, provided you approach it with a shred of realism.

The core function is mechanical: gentle pressure and cooling. When you roll, you’re manually encouraging fluid movement in the superficial tissue and stimulating local blood flow. That’s the entire physiological basis for every legitimate claim you’ll read on a product page. The rest—detox, lifting, collagen regeneration—is marketing. The stone itself has no magical energy. Jade does not “balance your chi” in any measurable way, and rose quartz will not “vibrate with love frequency” unless you’re holding it near a subwoofer. What matters is temperature, technique, and hygiene. A cold, clean, smooth roller used consistently will do more for your morning puffiness than an expensive crystal with a dubious vibration.

The 30-Second History Lesson Nobody Asked For

Jade rollers are often traced to ancient Chinese beauty practices, where polished stone tools were used for facial massage. By the 1970s, jade rollers had made their way into Western department stores, marketed as a novelty. The recent revival—roughly 2018 onward—was fueled almost entirely by Instagram and the broader “self-care” economy. Aestheticians like Angela Caglia in Los Angeles started using chilled rollers in treatments to calm skin after peels and microneedling, and the visual of a chilled stone gliding over a flushed face was too good for social media to ignore. The tool’s popularity exploded. The science, as we’ll see, did not explode with it. That’s not to say there’s zero evidence. There’s just far less than the internet would have you believe.

What the Tool Does (and What It Doesn’t)

Let’s draw a hard line. A facial roller can temporarily reduce the appearance of puffiness, especially around the eyes and along the jawline, by helping to move stagnant lymphatic fluid. It can make your skin look temporarily brighter by increasing surface blood flow. It can help spread a serum or oil more evenly. And it can feel genuinely pleasant, which is not nothing—stress shows up in your face, and a five-minute ritual that forces you to slow down has a value that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel. What it cannot do is permanently lift sagging skin, erase wrinkles, cure rosacea, or change your facial bone structure. The American Academy of Dermatology has not endorsed facial rollers as an anti-aging treatment, and no peer-reviewed study has demonstrated long-term structural change from rolling alone. If a product page promises a “non-surgical facelift,” close the tab. You’re being sold a fantasy with a markup.

The Real Types of Facial Rollers: A Material Breakdown Without the Woo

Walk into a Sephora or scroll through Amazon, and you’ll encounter a dizzying array of materials: jade, rose quartz, amethyst, obsidian, stainless steel, zinc alloy, silicone, glass. The marketing will tell you each one has unique “energetic properties.” The practical differences are far more mundane: density, cooling retention, durability, and how easy it is to clean. That’s the entire hierarchy. Everything else is storytelling.

Jade Rollers: The Instagram Darling

Jade is a relatively soft stone. It feels cool to the touch but warms quickly against the skin. It is porous compared to metal, which means it can harbor bacteria if you don’t clean it properly, and it can chip or crack if dropped. The upside is price: a basic jade roller can cost as little as $10–$15, making it the default entry point. Mount Lai’s jade roller, at around $38, is considered a benchmark for build quality—smooth, well-balanced, and quiet on the frame. But the stone itself offers no inherent skin benefit beyond its physical properties. If you like the look and the price, jade is fine. Just don’t expect the stone to do anything other than be a smooth, cool surface.

Rose Quartz: Pretty, Pink, and Marginally Denser

Rose quartz is denser and smoother than jade, which means it feels heavier in the hand and glides a little more easily. It also retains cold slightly longer, though the difference is measured in minutes, not hours. The aesthetic is the primary selling point—pink stone photographs well. Sephora’s house-brand rose quartz roller sells for $24, and Ulta carries options around $20. Again, the material is not magic. The density is a nice tactile upgrade, but it doesn’t translate into superior skin outcomes. If you prefer the feel of a heavier stone, rose quartz is a reasonable choice. If you’re buying it because you believe pink quartz has a special frequency, you’re going to be disappointed, and your wallet is going to be lighter.

Stainless Steel: The Adult in the Room

Here’s where the practical case becomes genuinely strong. Stainless steel—especially 304 or 316L grade—is non-porous, naturally cool to the touch, and essentially indestructible. It doesn’t chip. It doesn’t harbor bacteria the way porous stone can. It stays cold longer, and it can be washed with soap and water without worrying about degrading the material. The Sacheu Dual-Sided Stainless Steel Beauty Roller, priced around $35 at Ulta, is a standout: two head sizes, a travel pouch, and a surface that feels cool even without refrigeration. Yeamon’s stainless steel roller-and-gua-sha set costs around $22 on Amazon and delivers the same core benefits at a lower price point. If your priority is hygiene, durability, and actual cooling performance, metal is the rational choice. It’s not as photogenic as rose quartz, but it’s the tool that will still be in your drawer five years from now.

Ice Rollers and Cryo Tools: Cold, Hard Reality

Ice rollers take a different approach: instead of relying on the material’s natural temperature, they use a freezer-safe head (often silicone or gel-filled) to deliver a stronger chill. Doré’s Le Glaçon, available at Ulta, is a well-reviewed example, designed to calm redness and reduce puffiness through targeted cold. The trade-off is logistics: you need freezer space, and you need to let the tool warm slightly before it touches your skin to avoid cold injury. The cooling effect is more intense than a fridge-chilled steel roller, but the duration is similar—minutes, not hours. If you wake up with serious morning puffiness or deal with post-workout flushing, an ice roller is a useful addition. If you have sensitive skin or rosacea, proceed carefully; extreme cold can trigger flare-ups.

Vibrating, 3D, and Electric Rollers: When Technology Meets Skincare

Vibrating rollers add a mild mechanical oscillation to the rolling motion, which some users find soothing for jaw tension. The evidence for enhanced lymphatic drainage or collagen stimulation is thin. Therabody’s TheraFace Depuffing Wand, at around $119–$169 depending on the retailer, combines cold therapy with vibration, but you’re paying a significant premium for features that don’t have robust clinical backing. 3D rollers—often metal tools with a contoured, multi-axis head—provide a firmer massage and can reach along the jawline more effectively than a flat roller. These are legitimate variations on the same theme, not breakthroughs. Buy them if the form factor appeals to you, not because you believe the “micro-vibrations” are doing something magical.

Do Facial Rollers Actually Work? Here’s What the Research Says

This is where the conversation usually gets either wildly overhyped or dismissively cynical. The truth sits in the middle, and it’s more interesting than either extreme. There is real, peer-reviewed evidence for some short-term effects. There is almost no evidence for the long-term anti-aging claims that dominate marketing. Understanding the distinction is the difference between using a tool intelligently and being a sucker.

The Blood Flow Study That Everyone Cites

A 2018 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that a five-minute facial roller massage significantly increased skin blood flow in the treated cheek, and the effect lasted for at least ten minutes after rolling stopped. A follow-up element of the same research showed that after five weeks of daily rolling, the treated cheek’s blood vessels responded more effectively to heat—a sign of improved vascular reactivity. This is a small study, and it measured circulation, not wrinkles or elasticity. But it’s a genuine physiological signal. Rolling does something measurable. It increases local blood flow, which can translate into a temporary healthy glow. That’s not nothing, but it’s also not a facelift.

The 2025 Elasticity Trial: A Small but Real Signal

A 2025 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology compared facial roller massage with gua sha over eight weeks. Thirty-four women used one tool or the other for ten minutes, five times per week. The facial roller group showed a statistically significant improvement in skin elasticity—specifically, an 8.6% increase in gross elasticity and a 7.5% increase in biological elasticity. The gua sha group did not show this improvement; instead, gua sha improved muscle tone. This is a meaningful finding because it suggests that consistent rolling may support the skin’s structural resilience over time, even if the mechanism is still not fully understood. It’s a small trial, and it doesn’t mean your face will look ten years younger. But it does mean the tool isn’t inert. Eight weeks of near-daily use produced a measurable change in a biomechanical property of the skin. That’s more than most beauty gadgets can claim.

What Dermatologists Want You to Stop Believing

Board-certified dermatologists are, understandably, tired of the exaggerated claims. “Manual tools like rollers or gua sha primarily promote lymphatic drainage, which can temporarily reduce puffiness and create a more sculpted look,” says Dr. Melanie Palm, a San Diego dermatologist. “But it’s important to set realistic expectations”. The UPMC HealthBeat is blunter: “There is no evidence that jade rollers or any other type of facial roller have healing or anti-aging properties”. Paula’s Choice notes that jade rollers are “zero help” for dark circles and wrinkles because they don’t address the underlying causes. These are not contradictions of the elasticity study; they are correctives to the marketing. The roller can temporarily de-puff and temporarily improve surface circulation. It cannot permanently change skin architecture. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

How to Use a Facial Roller for Lymphatic Drainage (Without Wrecking Your Skin)

Technique matters more than material. A $10 jade roller used correctly will outperform a $70 rose quartz roller used haphazardly. The goal is to encourage fluid movement toward the drainage points near your ears and neck, not to drag the skin around like you’re kneading dough. Slow, gentle, directional strokes. If you’re pressing hard enough to feel discomfort, you’re doing it wrong.

Step-by-Step Directions That Actually Make Sense

Start with a clean face. Apply a serum, facial oil, or moisturizer—something that provides slip. A dry roller on dry skin is a recipe for irritation. Begin at the neck: use the larger end of the roller and move in upward strokes from the base of the neck toward the jawline. This opens the drainage pathway before you work on the face. Then move to the jawline: roll from the center of the chin outward toward the ear, following the bone. Repeat five to ten times on each side. Next, the cheeks: roll from the side of the nose outward and upward toward the ear. Under the eyes, switch to the smaller end and roll gently from the inner corner toward the temple. Forehead: roll upward and outward from the brow bone toward the hairline. Finish by rolling down the sides of the neck toward the collarbone, completing the drainage pathway. The entire sequence should take about five minutes.

The One Direction Rule (and Why It Matters)

Do not roll back and forth. This is the most common mistake. Back-and-forth motion doesn’t encourage directional drainage; it just moves fluid around indiscriminately. Roll in one direction—upward and outward on the face, downward on the neck—then lift the roller and reset. The lymphatic system is a one-way drainage network, and your strokes should respect that. Aesthetician Angela Caglia puts it simply: “Only roll upwards, not back and forth”. This isn’t mystical; it’s basic fluid mechanics. Directional strokes create a pressure gradient that helps move interstitial fluid toward the lymph nodes. Random strokes do not.

How Often, How Long, and When to Skip It

Five to ten minutes per session is plenty. Most experts recommend daily use for the first few weeks if you’re targeting puffiness, then three to five times per week for maintenance. Morning is the most practical time because that’s when puffiness is most visible. If you’re using a chilled roller, keep it in the fridge, not the freezer—freezing a stone roller can cause it to crack, and freezing a metal roller can make it uncomfortably cold. Skip rolling entirely if you have active breakouts, open wounds, a cold sore, a rosacea flare, or skin that’s still healing from a peel or laser treatment. Rolling over inflamed skin can spread bacteria and worsen irritation. This is not a “push through the pain” situation. Your skin is not a gym.

Facial Roller Benefits: Separating the Real from the Ridiculous

The benefits landscape is crowded with claims. Let’s sort them into three buckets: things the evidence supports, things that are plausible but unproven, and things that are pure fiction.

Puffiness and Morning Face

This is the strongest case. Lymphatic fluid pools overnight, especially if you sleep flat or eat a salty dinner. Gentle directional rolling helps move that fluid toward drainage points. The effect is temporary—hours, not days—but it’s real enough that aestheticians have used chilled rollers for decades to calm post-treatment swelling. A stainless steel roller kept in the fridge is particularly effective here because the cold enhances the vasoconstrictive effect. If you consistently wake up with a puffy face, a five-minute morning roll is a reasonable intervention. It won’t change your bone structure, but it will make you look less like you slept in a wind tunnel.

Wrinkles, Fine Lines, and the Anti-Aging Myth

Here’s where the marketing gets ahead of the science. No study has shown that facial rolling erases wrinkles. The 2025 elasticity trial showed an 8.6% improvement in a biomechanical measure of skin elasticity, which is encouraging, but it does not translate into visible wrinkle reduction in the way that, say, tretinoin does. The Paula’s Choice team is correct: rollers don’t address the underlying causes of wrinkles—collagen breakdown, sun damage, repetitive muscle movement. If you want to reduce wrinkles, you need sunscreen, retinoids, and possibly in-office treatments. A roller might make your skin look temporarily plumper and smoother because of increased circulation, but that’s a cosmetic effect, not a structural repair. Buy it for the de-puffing and the ritual. Don’t buy it expecting to look twenty-five again.

Product Absorption and Glow

Rolling after applying a serum can help spread the product more evenly and may slightly enhance surface absorption by increasing local blood flow. The effect is modest. You’re not doubling the penetration of your hyaluronic acid. But the combination of gentle massage and product slip can leave your skin looking more hydrated and reflective, which reads as “glow.” This is a legitimate, if minor, benefit. It’s also the easiest one to achieve: any smooth roller, used gently on product-slicked skin, will do it.

Best Facial Rollers in the US: Top Picks for Every Budget and Goal

The US market is saturated. You can spend $8 or $180. The sweet spot for most people is between $20 and $40. Below that, build quality becomes a gamble—squeaky frames, wobbly rollers, stones that chip. Above that, you’re paying for brand, packaging, or features that don’t meaningfully change the outcome. These picks are based on material quality, user feedback, and the practical realities of daily use.

Best Overall Stainless Steel: Sacheu Dual-Sided Beauty Roller

Price: ~$35 at Ulta. Why it wins: Stainless steel construction, two head sizes, naturally cool to the touch, and genuinely easy to clean. The weight feels substantial without being cumbersome. It comes with a travel pouch. This is the roller I’d recommend to someone who wants one tool that will last and doesn’t want to think about whether their stone is harboring bacteria. It’s not pink. It’s not photogenic in the Instagram sense. It is, however, the pragmatic choice.

Best Jade Splurge: Mount Lai The De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller

Price: ~$38. Why it’s worth it: Mount Lai has built a reputation for consistent quality. The frame is sturdy, the rollers turn quietly, and the jade is smooth and well-finished. If you want the classic jade experience and you’re willing to pay for build quality rather than just the stone, this is the benchmark. It won’t outperform steel on hygiene or cooling, but it’s a pleasure to use, and the tactile experience matters if you’re going to stick with a daily habit.

Best Budget Stone: PLANTIFIQUE Rose Quartz Roller Set

Price: ~$20–$25 (varies by retailer). Why it’s a solid starter: This set pairs a rose quartz roller with a gua sha stone, which gives you two tools for the price of one. The stone is heavier than jade, which some users prefer. It’s not the most refined build on the market, but for a first roller or a gift, it’s a reasonable entry point. Just manage your expectations: the “set” value is real, but the stone won’t do anything the steel roller can’t do better.

Best Cooling Pick: Doré Le Glaçon Ice Roller

Price: ~$30–$40 at Ulta. Why it’s useful: If your primary concern is intense morning puffiness or post-workout flushing, a freezer-ready ice roller delivers a stronger chill than a fridge-chilled steel tool. The silicone head is gentle, and the ergonomic handle is comfortable. The trade-off is freezer space and the need to let it warm slightly before use. It’s a specialized tool, not a daily driver for everyone, but it excels at what it does.

Best Value Metal Set: Yeamon Stainless Steel Roller & Gua Sha

Price: ~$22 on Amazon. Why it’s the value pick: You get a stainless steel roller and a gua sha tool for less than the price of many single stone rollers. The build is not as refined as Sacheu, but it’s functional, easy to clean, and durable. If you’re curious about metal tools but don’t want to spend $35 on a single roller, this is the low-risk entry point.

Best Gift-Ready Set: WITTY Jade Roller & Gua Sha

Price: ~$20–$25. Why it’s a good gift: The packaging is presentable, the set includes both a roller and a gua sha, and the jade is visually appealing. It’s not the highest-end option, but it photographs well and feels more expensive than it is. If you’re buying for someone who is new to facial tools, this is a safe, attractive choice.

Facial Roller Comparison Table: Price, Material, Returns, and What You Actually Get

The return policies are a genuine differentiator. Ulta’s 60-day window—with a full refund for the first 30 days and store credit for days 31–60—is more generous than Sephora’s flat 30 days or Amazon’s standard 30-day policy. If you’re unsure whether you’ll stick with a roller, buying from Ulta gives you more time to decide. That’s not a reason to buy a tool you don’t need, but it is a reason to prefer one retailer over another when the products are comparable.

How to Choose a Facial Roller Without Wasting Money

The single biggest mistake people make is buying based on stone type. Jade versus rose quartz versus amethyst is a cosmetic preference, not a performance hierarchy. The difference in cooling retention between jade and rose quartz is measured in minutes. The difference in “energy” is zero. What actually matters is whether the roller is smooth, whether the frame is sturdy, and whether you’ll clean it. A well-made steel roller will outperform a poorly made jade roller every time. A well-made jade roller will outperform a cheap steel roller with a wobbly frame. Build quality is the variable that matters.

Material Matters Less Than You Think

If you want the best hygiene and durability, choose stainless steel. If you want the classic aesthetic and a lower price point, choose jade. If you want a heavier stone that feels more substantial, choose rose quartz. If you want intense cooling, choose an ice roller. These are the only material decisions that have practical consequences. The rest is marketing. Don’t pay extra for “grade A” jade or “ethically sourced” rose quartz unless those things matter to you personally—they don’t change how the tool performs on your face.

Build Quality: The Squeak Test

When you handle a roller in person, turn it. The rollers should spin smoothly and quietly. A squeaky frame is a sign of poor manufacturing, and it will only get worse over time. Check that the stone or metal head is free of chips and that the frame feels solid in your hand. If you’re buying online, read reviews specifically for build quality, not just for the de-puffing effect. A roller that falls apart after three weeks is not a bargain at any price.

The “Free Shipping” Trap and Other Retail Games

You’ll see “free shipping” plastered across product pages, but it’s rarely free in any meaningful sense. Retailers build shipping costs into the product margin, or they set a minimum order threshold. Ulta’s free shipping kicks in at $35; Sephora’s threshold varies by membership tier. If you’re buying a $24 roller and paying $6 for shipping, the real cost is $30. That’s still cheaper than a $38 roller with free shipping, but the “free” label is doing psychological work that has nothing to do with your actual savings. The same goes for “gift with purchase” offers—you’re not getting a gift; you’re being incentivized to spend more than you planned. The internet store is not a charity. It’s a business with a margin, and that margin is baked into every “deal” you see.

Cleaning, Storage, and Hygiene: The Part You’ll Probably Skip

This is the least glamorous section of any skincare guide, and it’s the one that matters most for preventing problems. A dirty roller is a bacterial delivery system. If you wouldn’t press a dirty spoon against your face, don’t press a dirty roller against it either.

After every use, wipe the roller head with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and mild soap. For stone rollers, avoid soaking them in water—jade and rose quartz are porous, and prolonged soaking can degrade the stone or loosen the frame. For stainless steel, you can wash more thoroughly with soap and water; it won’t absorb anything. Pat dry with a clean towel and let it air-dry completely before storing it. Store it in a dry place—not on the bathroom counter where moisture and bacteria accumulate. If your roller came with a pouch or case, use it. Once a week, give it a more thorough clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. If you’ve been sick, clean the roller before using it again. If you have active acne or a skin infection, stop using the roller until the skin has healed, and clean it thoroughly before resuming. Hygiene is not optional. It’s the difference between a tool that helps and a tool that hurts.

Safety First: When Not to Roll

Facial rolling is generally safe for healthy skin when done gently. It is not safe for every skin condition, and ignoring the contraindications can make things worse. Do not roll over active acne lesions, open wounds, cold sores, sunburn, rashes, or areas treated with chemical peels, lasers, or microneedling until a clinician clears you. If you have rosacea, proceed with caution; gentle, cool rolling may be soothing for some, but friction and heat can trigger flares for others. If you have eczema or psoriasis, avoid rolling over affected areas. If you’re prone to broken capillaries, use very light pressure—aggressive rolling can worsen visible vessels. And if you’ve had recent facial injections or fillers, ask your provider before rolling; the pressure could theoretically displace product, though the risk is low with gentle use. When in doubt, skip it. A missed rolling session is not a crisis. An infected breakout is.

The Real Cost of Facial Rolling: A Calculation Nobody Does

Let’s do some math that the marketing never includes. Suppose you buy a $35 stainless steel roller. You use it five times a week for a year. That’s 260 sessions. The cost per session is about 13 cents. If you use it for two years, it drops to 7 cents. That’s cheaper than a single coffee, and it’s a one-time purchase. Compare that to a $24 jade roller that chips after six months and needs to be replaced. The annualized cost of the jade roller is higher, even though the sticker price is lower. Durability is a financial variable, not just a practical one. The same logic applies to “free” shipping thresholds: if you add a $10 item you don’t need to hit a $35 minimum, you haven’t saved $6 on shipping—you’ve spent $10 to avoid a $6 fee. The math is not complicated, but it’s easy to ignore when the checkout page is designed to make you feel like you’re winning. You’re not winning. You’re participating in a carefully engineered transaction. The roller itself is fine. Just don’t let the retail theater convince you that you’re getting something for nothing.

FAQ

Do facial rollers actually work?

They work for temporary de-puffing and a brief increase in skin blood flow. A 2018 study showed that five minutes of rolling increased cheek blood flow for at least ten minutes, and a 2025 trial found an 8.6% improvement in skin elasticity after eight weeks of near-daily use. They do not permanently lift, firm, or erase wrinkles. Think of them as a short-term cosmetic tool, not a structural treatment.

What is the best facial roller for lymphatic drainage?

A smooth stainless steel roller kept in the refrigerator is the most effective choice for lymphatic drainage because it stays cold, is easy to clean, and glides without friction. The Sacheu Dual-Sided Steel Roller and the Yeamon Steel Roller are both solid options. Technique matters more than material: use gentle, directional strokes toward the ears and neck, and avoid back-and-forth motion.

Jade roller vs rose quartz: which is better?

Neither is inherently better. Rose quartz is denser and feels smoother; jade is softer and typically cheaper. Both are porous stones that require regular cleaning. The difference in cooling retention is minimal. Choose based on how the tool feels in your hand and how much you want to spend, not on claims about mystical properties. If hygiene and durability are your priorities, stainless steel outperforms both.

How do you clean a facial roller?

Wipe the roller head with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and mild soap after every use. Pat dry and let it air-dry completely before storing it in a dry place. For stone rollers, avoid soaking in water. For stainless steel, you can wash more thoroughly. Clean weekly with soap and water, and always clean before and after use if you’ve had a skin infection or cold sore.

Can facial rollers get rid of wrinkles?

No. Facial rollers do not erase wrinkles or reverse skin aging. They can temporarily plump the skin by increasing circulation, which may make fine lines look slightly less pronounced for a few hours, but they do not address the underlying causes of wrinkles—collagen breakdown, sun damage, and repetitive muscle movement. For wrinkle reduction, you need sunscreen, retinoids, and possibly in-office treatments.

How often should you use a facial roller?

Five to ten minutes per session, three to five times per week is a reasonable maintenance routine. For the first few weeks, daily use is fine if your skin tolerates it. Morning is the most practical time because that’s when puffiness is most visible. Skip rolling on days when you have active breakouts, open wounds, sunburn, or a rosacea flare.

Are expensive facial rollers worth it?

Up to a point, yes. A $35 stainless steel roller from a reputable brand will outperform a $10 no-name roller because the build quality is better, the materials are more durable, and the frame won’t squeak or fall apart. Above $50, you’re paying for branding, packaging, or features that don’t meaningfully change the outcome. The sweet spot for most people is $20–$40. Spend within that range and focus on material and build quality, not on the stone’s “energy”.

What is the difference between a facial roller and a gua sha?

A facial roller uses a rolling motion to provide gentle, directional pressure and cooling. A gua sha uses a flat, contoured edge to scrape and press the skin and underlying muscle. The 2025 trial found that rollers improved skin elasticity, while gua sha improved muscle tone. They serve slightly different purposes: rollers are gentler and better for daily de-puffing; gua sha is more intensive and better for releasing jaw and temple tension. Many people use both.