The Wrap Up: Facial Tool Reviews
It’s hard to believe my little summer project has come to an end and I’ve consistently been doing something for the past two months.
Did you catch that extra special word consistently? I know myself and I’ve got a somewhat limited attention span and the key is consistency.
I ended up throwing one more tool into the mix after I was contacted by the Lanshin Treatment Studio with an offer to try out the Lanshin Pro tool. It’s essentially the Swiss Army Knife of the Gua Sha tools as far as I can tell. I didn’t originally run out and get it early on because I wanted to get the basics down first. So, in a nutshell, that’s what happened with this little experiment. I feel like I got the basics under my belt and then advanced my routine with the Lanshin Pro.
Luckily, Sandra Lanshin provides some of the best video tutorials out there. I am an amazing copycat but I’m not so great at looking at a diagram with a bunch of arrows indicating the direction of the movement with the tool. I know myself and watching a video made it easier to learn. In all honesty, it wasn’t super intuitive and easy to start, it took about a week of watching this step-by-step video to be able to figure out some of the facial maneuvers while using the tool. Now I’ve got the routine committed to memory and can get it done pretty quick, no mirror required.
To recap the entire group, I’ll put them into what I call the beginner and advanced categories:
BEGINNER
Rose Quartz Spoons:
What I like best about these is that there are two. That means I can work on both of my eyes at the same time and that’s got a strong appeal to me. I purchased two specifically for that reason. This is why I have continued to use them in my facial routine. They are a bit specialized and I’m sure I could do more than my eye area but, for now, they remain dedicated to easing my allergic shiners (those glorious really dark circles that come with allergy season).
Rose on Rose Roller:
This one continues to live by my bedside. It’s sooo easy to use and Jenny Patinkin was so kind as to send me after reading my initial review. The size is much better for me to concentrate on just my undereye area, which is my ongoing problem child with allergies in full swing this time of year. It looks good and feels good. Oh, and it’s super easy to use. I wake up and reach for it and do a quick roll each morning.
Jade and Rose Quart Gua Sha Tools:
These are both really great and affordable ways to see if Gua Sha is for you. Personally, I prefer the shape of the jade tool and while I’m not using these daily, they would be my go-to tools for travel. I’ve dropped a tool in my sink once and it broke so I if I broke (or left in my hotel room/on the plane) I wouldn’t be heartbroken. No batteries and they don’t take up much space. I like to keep a travel bag pre-packed with essentials, and one of these would make the traveling team.
Gold Bar:
Ok, while this feels good, I just haven’t found myself continuing to use it. Occasionally, I’ll just use around my eyes. I just don’t think it’s the right tool for me after trying everything else. Otherwise, I know I’d be reaching for it more often.
ADVANCED
The Lanshin Pro:
Had I not had all the other tools to test, I could have started with this one. At first glance, it’s a bit intimidating. It also took me longer to figure out how to do it and memorize the routine. The lower face routine had me feeling pretty uncoordinated for a few days. Once I got the movement down, it was no big deal. I’ve been using it consistently now for about two weeks and it’s the one that I reach for again and again for overall facial and neck toning.
At the end of the day, it’s all about knowing yourself and then actually doing something consistently. I think I’ve outgrown the “quick fix” promise and know that I just need to show up and do the work. The Gua Sha tools work really well with the Tonic and Serum, I’m not into the devices or tools that require a specialized skincare item to add to the mix. It’s all about keeping it simple and edited for me.
Check Kari Gran's blog for more articles on facial skin care routines.
