These days, it’s near impossible to scroll through your social media feed without coming across a beautifully-styled photo of a jade roller. But according to skin-care pros, jade roller benefits extend far beyond solely making for a pretty picture.
Jade face rollers for beauty facial massage therapy. Flat lay on marble background
Jade rolling has long been a practice in traditional Chinese medicine. The stone is believed to have healing properties and be a sign of power and immortality. Over the last few years, the tool has made its way into beauty stores (and onto Instagram feeds) in the Western world, thanks in large part to its de-puffing abilities. ” In the simplest terms, a jade roller is a facial massage tool,” says Jessica Briggs, the VP of marketing for Ecotools. “What makes it special is that it’s made from natural jade stone which has both spiritual and physical benefits, and is known for its purifying and detoxifying qualities.” And pros say that jade roller benefits include things like lymphatic drainage and improved circulation. Here’s what you need to know.
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Jade roller benefits
1. Detoxifies and reduces puffiness
“Lymphatic drainage” is one of the buzziest wellness terms of 2020 (we called it in our Trends!), and jade rolling is one of the easiest ways to do it at home. Using the tool to massage your face can help reduce some of the fluid buildup, doing away with puffiness. Roll the massager toward your lymph nodes—which are located in your neck, slightly behind your ears—to help stimulate lymph movement.
2. Brightens and firms skin
Jade rollers massage the superficial layer of the skin, and if you pop them in the freezer to cool them down they can “calm irritation, tighten pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Stacy Chimento, MD. There are some claims that jade rollers can help your skin absorb topical ingredients more effectively, but there isn’t enough research to fully support this theory.
3. Relaxes facial tension
If you’re a big-time jaw clencher, treating yourself to a DIY jade roller massage can help do away with some of the tension the habit leaves behind. “By putting gentle pressure on your face and neck it helps reduce tension,” says Briggs. Use the smaller end of the roller to gently massage along your jaw line, and you’ll feel an immediate release of whatever stress you’re holding in the area.
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4. De-puffs your under eyes
After a long night of crying, drinking, or eating salt, if you ever wind up with your eyes puffy, a simple jade-rolling routine can help. Massaging the area with the smaller end of the tool can help even out some of the fluid, and it will work double-duty if it’s fresh out of the freezer, since cold temperatures help to constrict blood vessels, which helps to prevent the flow of fluid into the tissues.
How to use a jade roller
In order to reap the most of your jade roller benefits, you’ll want to be sure you’re using it the right way. “In terms of technique, make sure you aren’t applying undue pressure and pulling the skin, this goes double for downward strokes,” says Dr. Chimento. “You can start with the nose and eyes and gently and thoroughly cover the face with the massage tool emphasizing the forehead and cheekbones.” Briggs adds that you can use the tool with or without skin care, focusing on an outward, rolling motion on your face and neck, which helps push tension and swelling away from the center of your face and encourage circulation.
Most jade rollers come with a larger end and a smaller one, each of which serve different purposes. The larger one is great for use on your cheeks, forehead, and jawline, and the smaller one can be used under your eyes and around your nose. Some also have a textured side as well as a smooth side, which Dr. Chimento is a fan of using for light physical exfoliation (just be sure to limit yourself to a few times a week with it so you don’t over exfoliate).
A few other pro tips, depending on what you’re looking for? “If you want to really gain the maximum benefit out of the jade roller, I suggest placing your tool in the freezer or fridge overnight and massaging your face in the morning,” says Dr. Chimento. “The combination of massage and cool application will help not only break up fluids from overnight, but also tighten your pores, and calm the skin from minor irritations or puffiness.” Briggs also suggests warming the tool with water, which will help open your pores for improved skin-care absorption.
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And one more thing? “Always make sure to clean your tools before the next use,” says Briggs. The best way to do it is by washing with a gentle soap and patting dry.
Whether it’s an old scab on our shin, that bit of dandruff on our scalp, or popping a zit that popped, it’s safe to say that we all – to some degree – pick at our skin. The question is why? What is it about the whole thing that satisfies us, and why is it that sometimes a seemingly harmless habit can go sideways? Curious for the answer, we hit up a psychodermatologist and dermatologist.
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Why We Pick, Pop, and Scratch
The reason why we pick isn’t exactly straightforward, but we can try to simplify. Dr. Stacy Chimento, a board-certified dermatologist for Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, Fla., breaks down skin-picking into three categories:
Mild / Minor Picking Habits: “This category refers to people who pick at their skin when they see that there is a stubborn blemish that they are not used to on their face. Usually, people that fall into this category don’t fixate on picking at their skin,” she says. Think: a few minutes to address the issue, then moving on.
Intermediate Picking Habits: “This level of picking refers to those who pick at their skin if they see anything abnormal, from a change of texture, dry patch, or raised bump on the skin’s surface. These patients tend to also pick at their scalp if they notice any flakes or rough textures,” says Dr. Chimento. Think: turning skin-picking into a pastime.
Severe Picking Habits: “At this point, patients are picking at their skin incessantly even when nothing unusual is present. Patients who develop severe picking habits can often find themselves probing their skin in search of anything to pick, whether that be a scratch, a blackhead, or a scab,” she says. People in this category pick so much it can cause damage or impact their day-to-day life.
Mild skin-picking is understandable and normal; we want to look and feel our best and eliminate anything “weird” or “different” from our bodies. For some, however, picking becomes a slippery slope.
“[Severe] skin picking is often used to help regulate emotions; it can be a coping mechanism to relieve emotional discomfort, physical discomfort, or a blend of the two. If [a severe skin picker] is stressed or anxious, skin picking allows temporary relief,” explains Matthew Traube, a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in the field of psychodermatology.
This behavior actually has a name – “Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior” (BFRB). It is defined as repetitive self-grooming behavior, including skin picking or even pulling hair from your body. In addition to soothing during times of stress or discomfort, Dr. Chimento says that skin picking can also provide a sense of “control” or can even be done out of sheer boredom.
“Picking can occur both consciously or unconsciously,” adds Traube. “Ultimately, the underlying issues do not get addressed and generally people feel awful about it afterward.”
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The Dangers of Skin Picking
Carefully addressing a singular zit (or two), futzing with a scab, examining a new bump or patch, or occasionally scratching at dandruff are all within the realm of normal picking. It’s okay and healthy to pay attention to our bodies and groom ourselves.
The line is drawn when skin picking becomes compulsory and/or excessive – to the point you’re inflicting real damage or pain versus trying to quickly address a skin issue. This damage can range from mild to extreme. Dr. Chimento says that bleeding, bruising, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), secondary infections, and permanent scarring are not uncommon.
In addition to physical damage, severe picking can also impact your life and wellbeing. Compulsory skin pickers can spend hours obsessing in front of a mirror and still feel like they must keep going. Like other addictions, it can distract them from important things in life, such as work, relationships, exercise, and social engagement.
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How to Curb a Picking Habit That’s Gone Too Far
To cease the picking, it’s important to take thoughtful action in order to set yourself up for success.
“In the early stages of trying to ‘quit’, try wearing gloves when your hands are not occupied. If you are at work, keep a squeezable ball on your desk. Each time you experience urges to pick, will yourself to resist for longer durations,” suggests Dr. Chimento. “Sometimes the urge to pick is manifested by skin conditions such as dry, cracked skin, or oily skin that produces acne. Instead of picking at it, treat the problem instead.”
If you’re working through a skin-picking addition and experience breakouts, it’s also better to visit your dermatologist for a facial or cleanup to prevent you from slipping down that slope. Another way to help is to keep your nails trimmed, which makes it harder to pick. And while you’re at it, toss those tempting instruments, such as tweezers, small manicure scissors, and anything else you use to pick your skin.
Traube adds, “It’s common for people to pick more when they’re alone, so I might suggest creating a weekly social schedule to assure that you are more often engaged with others. Social support can make a significant impact on skin picking.”
If small steps fail, even when aware of the issue and attempting to address it, consult a licensed therapist. A therapist can talk you through the process and help you understand the root of what is causing and magnifying the disorder.
“Professional help usually involves a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit reversal training, mindfulness, and psychodynamic therapy,” says Traube, “We want to address both the act of skin picking and the deeper emotional issues that can provoke it.”
Bottom Line: To a degree, we all pick at our skin, and in the mildest cases, it’s perfectly normal. If you sense yourself slipping or feel like you’re losing control of the situation, tackle the underlying issue and set yourself up for success by following the above advice. If you do find yourself picking to an extreme degree and are struggling to gain control, you’re not alone. A professional can help guide you to the other end.
BEAUTYLEEBAR does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
30-something Black travelistas that will give you your entire life and then some.
The world is experiencing a major moment of social change right now in the fight against racial injustice, and many industries are realizing that there’s much more work to be done to amplify Black voices. Historically, the travel industry has been dominated by the perspectives of white males. In March 2018, National Geographicissued an apology for the way they had covered people of color in the United States and abroad since the publication’s founding, titled, “For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It.” But with more people turning to the digital world and away from the printed one, apps like Instagram have given us a platform to share our voices and reflect our travel styles.
Women’s solo travelis one niche that we’ve seen greatly empowered by social media. But while Black travelers generate over $63 billion yearly for the travel industry, their voices are hardly reflected in marketing campaigns, press trips, bylines, or even social feeds. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you love travel content, you should be diversifying your feeds with more Black content creators, and if you’re not sure where to start, here are some brilliant writers, poets, entrepreneurs, marketing gurus, and more who are changing the travel industry one country at a time.
Cabin fever has set in for travelistasand homebodies alike, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that getting fly out is at the top of our post-quarantine to-do list. Just when we thought our wanderlust couldn’t get any worse, our good sister and fashion entrepreneur Teanna Wiley inspired a thread of Black women traveling in luxury that is everything you didn’t know you needed to see today. Hit follow and let these ladies show you the world.
@TWILEYTM was created in 2016 by Teanna Wiley, born & raised in San Diego. Teanna Wiley started designing clothes because shopping was always dreadful for her, being petite & pretty tall, it was hard for her to find clothes that really flattered her shape & height, but could also make Twiley stand out in a crowd. What started off as a hobby, quickly turned into an amazing business opportunity for her. Spoiler alert: her images are beautiful and breathtaking. Her fashion is even more beautiful and well made.
First up is Nneya Richards, the writer of POPSUGAR content. Nneya is a travel writer, influencer, and on-air talent. She started her own blog, ‘N A Perfect World, in 2014 as a curated intersection of travel, food, fashion, and geopolitics inspired by the global-citizen lifestyle of the millennial. Like many of the ladies listed here, Nneya Richards is a cultural exchange advocate of a West Indian-American background. Follow her as she goes off the beaten path around the world giving you hot takes on everything from what it’s like to be Black while traveling to why it’s harder than you’d think to get a good gel manicure in Milan. When Nneya is not on the road, she live between her hometown of New York City and #nydolcevita in Italy.
Bria Celest is a full-time photographer, part-time traveler, author, and all-around foodie. Join Bria Celest on her adventures around the world. Her Instagram will give you serious vacation envy while educating EVERYONE on Black Lives Matter and other serious injustice issues. Bria Celest the Queen of Vacay, turned her ability to capture beautiful moments into a career in photography. Her work as a sought-after photographer afforded her the opportunity to travel the world while doing what she loved. Now, she’s sharing that love for travel and photography in two helpful e-books geared towards making globetrotting easier for others.
Francesca Murray of @onegrloneworld will give you serious vacation envy. This Cali girl has traveled to many countries throughout the world but has extensively focused on the Caribbean in the past few years, with her home base being the island of Martinique. After seeing a lack of Black faces in many Caribbean island promo videos, Francesca and her partner produced and shot their own! Francesca gives you island-living inspiration as well as secrets to her beautiful hair and glowing skin.
Folahan [fuh-lah-huhn] is a YouTuber who catered to helping her supporters flourish with natural hair care, traveling, and fashion. On Fola YouTube channel, her content consists of how-to’s, tips and tricks, hauls, reviews, vlogs, etc. Fola is determined to make sure her viewers all get this good ol’ info about understanding and caring for kinky/curly hair types, budget traveling, study abroad trips, traveling while black, bridging the African Diaspora, all while being….you guessed it, stylish.
Cinelli has traveled to over 40 countries and 10 individual carnivals all over the world, she shares her lifestyle and experiences through vlogs, photographs, and microblogging. Cinelliverse vlogs and blogs will delve into everything from style and beauty, to travel and carnival. Cinelli shares all her amazing travel, carnival, and lifestyle tips while still capturing the natural beauty of every destination.
Explore the world through the beautiful earth-tone-filtered lens of writer, photographer, and podcast host Nneka Julia. Her beautiful portraits of her travels are often accompanied by descriptive prose. Nneka also brings a lot of humor, relationship advice, and the art of reclaiming a woman’s wasted time with her signature “Waste His Time Wednesday” segments.
Marketing in the travel industry is often not size-inclusive, but award-winning writer and body-positive activist Annette Richmond is here to change that. She’s the creator of @fatgirlstraveling, an account that focuses on “Fat Activism through the Travel lens.” Follow Annette for some beautiful travel wanderlust and travel tips.
You may have seen TV host Oneika Raymond on the Travel Channel’s Big City, Little Budget and One Bag, and You’re Out. This multilingual globetrotter can teach you how to explore your favorite places on a shoestring budget and with solely one bag packed. Follow Oneika around the world with her growing family and special appearances by her adorable infant daughter, Kira.
Fashionable attorney Cynthia Andrew manages to find the most colorful backdrops in every place she visits. She also has an enviable wardrobe, and with major home renovations and twin boys on the way, Cynthia is a great follow for how to navigate major life moments while still on the go and looking fabulous!
Houston-based solo female travel blogger Ciara Johnson of @hey_ciara has been collecting stamps in her passport and inspiring other women to travel solo for years. Ciara has a refreshing candidness and shares her vulnerabilities while traveling with her followers. From how to save money for travel to the best apps to use for booking, she makes sure to not just show you where you want to go but also how to get there.
There’s something about the notion of a traveling poet that’s so romantic, and Bri Ari, the award-winning poet of @briyoumetravel, does not disappoint. Sometimes we even get a beautiful calligraphed glimpse into her notebook! Bri is also the creator of @buoyant.travel, a digital homage to Black travel with beautiful photos of Black people jet-setting since the advent of the commercial flight.
Travel writer Imani Bashir is a full-time ex-pat with her husband and adorable toddler son. (She actually lived in Wuhan at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.) A global diversity advocate, Imani shares her perspective on being a Muslim Black woman abroad, pregnancy risk, and other women’s issues. Already teaching the next generation, Imani is also the author of Follow the Takeoff Toddler, a children’s book series that helps cement a love of travel in kids from an early age.
It’s hard to talk Black travel without talking about Travel Noire, the travel site, community, and app that was started by Zim Floresas an Instagram account highlighting Black people traveling. Zim sold Travel Noire in 2017, but you can still follow her adventures around the world and the new phase of her life via Instagram.
TEDx speaker Gabby Beckford took her first solo trip to Iceland at age 17 and never looked back. She mentors young travelers aid them in study-abroad opportunities, and of course, packs light, which, to Gabby, also means not bringing the baggage of your past on your journey ahead!
Lifestyle blogger and photographer Paola Mathé resides in Texas with her husband and child and is a frequent globetrotter. Her ability to see the beauty in every day and wanderlust vibes make her feed a constant source of inspiration for both destinations and decor.
Solo female travel creative and life coach Gloria Atanmo is even on Oprah’s radar! Yes, that’s right, she’s been featured in O magazine and has inspired countless women to make the leap out of their comfort zones, whatever that may be in life. Gloria also graces us with her amazing humor with a regular Nigerian comedy feature on her feed.
As a social strategist for The Creative Collective NYC, an agency that produces impactful multicultural storytelling, Skylar Marshai knows how to tell a memorable story through a photo. Her Instagram feed is a perfect curation of Skylar’s journey around the world that blends her loves of design and travel in a really soothing and visually stunning space.
When creating the blog and agency Black Travel Journey, Sidney Walker set out to make the face of travel more inclusive and diverse by curating some of the most beautiful images of Black travelers on the brand’s Instagram account. Black Travel Journey has expanded, and she’s done just that and more.
Travel breakouts are a real thing, so traveler Bianca Maxwell created the Skinary app, a health-tracking app for your skin that tracks your lifestyle, diet, and cleansing habits with daily selfies to figure out the cause of your breakouts. Bianca is definitely one to watch in the tech and travel spaces, and her skin happens to always look radiant as she shares her adventures.
Are you ever amazed with how perfectly some people can match their outfits to their surroundings? You’ll fall in love with stylist, traveler, and Amsterdam-based mom Maureen Powel’s feed. With frequent appearances from her daughter, you’ll have constant fodder for mom-and-me outfit inspo!
Alicia Tenise creates lifestyle content for the every-girl millennial traveling the world in search of the best food and drink. She also shares colorful fashion finds and her honest struggles with mental health. Wine enthusiasts: Alicia is with you and has recently started her WSET classes to be a certified wine enthusiast and a better wine writer!
After finishing her studies in graphics and marketing, Racheal wanted to make sure everyone had the most amount of information to incorporate travel into everyday life. Check out her feed for vlogs, tips, and simple hacks on packing, booking trips, saving money, and more to make traveling become more of a lifestyle rather than a luxury.
n 2018, Maryjane Byarm challenged herself to visit 100 countries in 365 days. Today, she’s surpassed 100 with no signs of stopping. Her love of travel stems from facing a dark period in her life in the US and wanting to leave. After going to visit her sister, a model living in China, Maryjane hit the road and didn’t stop.
Founder and CEO of Black travel group The Roaming Republic, Cassy Isabella has a knack for beautifully curated group trips that make everyone feel like an Instagram star. Follow her for her adventures with her travel collective and sign up for a trip!
Danasia lets us in on travel through her appreciation for urban landscapes and city architecture. Follow her feed for beautiful city snaps, wonderful restaurant recommendations, and Insta-worthy cafés.
Jessica Ufuoma couldn’t find much of a space for someone like her when googling travel tips, so she created one herself! She creates content for people who look like her, may need visas to travel, and have full-time jobs. She’s helping people travel better and smarter — think responsibly, ethically, sustainably, and with intention.
After leaving the United Kingdom, Angela set her sights on sunnier isles and made her home in Morocco, where she now works as a holistic therapist. She also creates holistic travel experiences for creatives. Follow Angela’s journey as she lives her best life in Morocco with newfound serenity.
Stephanie “She” Ifendu is a traveling photographer and creative director. Her passion for creating timeless images is only matched by her zest for exploring.
After living with lupus for over 15 years, former New Yorker Olivia’s curiosity led her to explore the outdoors and the wellness travel space. Incredibly, travel and her lifestyle brought her lupus into remission. It’s Olivia’s goal to normalize diversity in the outdoor and adventure spaces.
Barely have a budget to travel with? Mally has you covered. A “broke ass girl who loves to travel,” Mally shares with you how to travel and not wind up in debt or drain your savings. And you’ll laugh a lot along the way.
Fitness and nutrition guru Tameika Gentles loved exploring so much she created a separate account for it! On her travel account, she shares tips about eating right while on the road as well as health retreats.
Lọlá is an award-winning Nigerian photographer and travel writer based in Stockholm, Sweden. She’s the editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm and is a frequent contributor to National Geographic. Lola’s lens is unparalleled, with incredible portraits that render vivid portrayals of her subjects.
Every photo on British-born Onyi Moss’s feed is beautifully curated and editorialized. Follow her for beautiful travel images straight out of the pages of a high-fashion shoot that exude romantic luxurious glamour. And in true English rose form, lots and lots of florals.
Megan Milan captures the world in a elegant memerizing way. Megan is a professional model who is known for her print, commercial, and catalogue work. She has worked with several high profile clients such as Hennessy, Chevy, L’Oréal, Pantene, and WildnOut. She was also featured in Jet Mag. Megan Milan has created her own traveling agency called luxe.travelagency. Prior to moving to New York to pursue modeling, she attended Michigan State University for two years to study business marketing. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She would later split her time between there and New York.
We know at BeautyLeeBar that they are more incredible BLACK TRAVELERS that are doing amazing things in the world. However, the people on this list are the ones we do follow and get inspired by. If you think they are more beautiful black travellers that we should be following for even more black luxury inspiration, please comment down below.
WARNING: FOR THE NONE BLACK PEOPLE, TRY NOT TO GET OFFENDED BY THIS POST OR ANY OTHER POST THAT IS CELEBRATING AND UPLIFTING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ESPECIALLY CELEBRATING BLACK WOMEN.
To give us all some credit, we’re sure a lot of us SPF enthusiasts are doing it correctly. Maybe even overdoing it. Which to us, is correct. One can never have too much sun protection! But there are many of us out there haphazardly slapping on the SPF sparingly, here and there, just to say we did it. Most often, that’s like not doing it at all.
Here are few expert opinions on how we should be applying sunscreen, day in and day out.
Reapply
People really need to understand the importance of re-application of your sunscreen, every day. Because that’s not just a thing our moms like to say to annoy us. SPF is only protectively active for so long, so if we never reapply, it’s literally not working hours later—we might as well have none on. FDA recommends that you reapply every two to three hours, and more often if you plan on engaging in high-intensity activities.
Make sure lips and eyes are covered
Lately, us beauties have been using an SPF mist as our go-to for full face, neck, and chest sunscreen every day because it’s great over makeup. It’s a personal preference whether or not one needs a different sunscreen for lips and eyes, but it’s super important if your eye area is extra sensitive, and many people’s are. What is crucial is that you stay covered, so if you’re avoiding sunscreen on your lips or eyes due to sensitivities, certainly get products just for that area.
Don’t forget the décolletage
You definitely want to remember sunscreen on the décolletage as well to avoid wrinkles and dark spots over time. I use it anywhere and everywhere my skin is constantly exposed—so that absolutely includes this gorgeous area of the body. The skin here is not as delicate as the face, but definitely more delicate and wrinkle-prone than other areas of the body, so don’t skimp on the neck and chest.
Especially while you’re driving, your hands are always exposed to the sun, which can often lead to skin damage. Some say our hands are the first to tell our true age, and that’s because they are so prone to wrinkling and sunspots. It’s easy to forget the hands, which arguably take the most beating over any other part of the body, and they are almost never unexposed.
If you sit in traffic often …
And if you live in Miami, you just might. When you’re driving, your entire upper body is exposed to the sun, and UV rays can definitely penetrate through the windows onto the skin. I highly recommend applying and reapplying sunscreen on your face, neck, chest, and arms even if you’re sitting in the car all day.
When things get wet
Swimming, versus just sweating? Not every day is going to be a wet and wild pool or beach day, but hot summer days have an effect on your level of protection as well. According to the FDA, there’s no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. So yes, sweating can lift your sun protection up from the skin through your pores, and any material that wipes or wicks sweeps it away along with the sweat. When I know I’m going to sweat a lot or plan on swimming, I make sure to reapply my sunscreen more often.
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