Self-Care Guide: Best Beauty Tools

Your beauty routine isn't just about how you look; it's also a time to unwind, relax and care for your well-being. True, getting a facial is a good way to get a glowing, refreshed appearance that may inspire compliments, but that time you spend on yourself is also about managing stress. (You may even get a little meditation session as the aesthetician works her magic!)

But, while treating yourself to a luxurious spa visit for hydrated skin, glossy hair and strong nails is delightful, it's not always a possible or sustainable form of self-care. The good news? You can bring the spa home and incorporate different beauty tools and skin care supplements to treat yourself (there's a reason #BeautyTok has over 6 million followers!). Using the right beauty tools for your self-care goals is key to looking and feeling your best.

But which beauty tools are the best? We've pulled together these eight greats to help you refresh your beauty routine! Let's get started.

What are the best beauty tools for ladies?

Revolutionize your self-care routine and go beyond brush sets, blenders and cosmetics with these eight trendy-yet-time-tested tools (several have roots in Eastern practices). Here's how to use them in a way that enhances your beauty as well as your mental well-being.

1. Jade and gua sha

Jade and gua sha (pronounced "gwa-shah") originated centuries ago in traditional Chinese regimens. A jade roller typically has a smooth, rolling stone (sometimes two—one on each end) for gentle facial massages, while a gua sha tool is a flat, smooth stone used to apply greater pressure for deeper tissue massage and sculpting. Which one you use depends on preference, but you can use either tool to apply the gua sha technique.

Here's our "how-to" take on it:

• Be mindful and release:

  Take a deep breath in, hold for a few seconds and slowly exhale through the mouth. Breathing slowly, focus on your practice (ignore thoughts about work, bills, the kids' homework, or what's for dinner). Apply a serum with gentle circular motions so your stone or jade roller glides over your skin (no pulling) and do some face yoga to prepare your muscles.

• Ready. Set. Gua Sha:

  Focus on your breathing and rhythmically follow the contours of your face and neck (chest, arms and legs if you have time). The jury is still out on the health benefits of this practice, but it's thought to help relax muscles, release tension and improve blood flow to help inhibit inflammatory factors to promote  back, neck, shoulder and leg health (yes, you can use them from head to toe). Gua sha pros use the stone tool to gently push the skin, almost as if trying to sculpt muscles with this pretty device!

You'll find different types of gua sha stones and jade rollers for various areas of the body, including the face, neck and chest. Many of the tools are double-ended with one larger roller or deeper wedges for wider, less sensitive areas like chest, cheeks, and forehead, and a smaller roller or smooth edges for delicate areas, like around the eyes and nose to support healthy circulation. While they're called "jade rollers," you'll also find some made of stainless steel, rose quartz or obsidian.

Pro beauty tip: Pop your gua sha stone or jade roller in the fridge so that it's cool and refreshing against your skin.

2. Derma roller

Derma rollers are thought to promote collagen production and help improve your skin's overall tone and texture, so you'll want to add a derma roller to your list of beauty tools. These tools usually consist of a handheld roller with tiny needles that glide over the skin's surface, which can prompt skin cells to make new collagen. While derma rollers have many uses, they are known for encouraging a radiant complexion and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This little device puts the pro cosmetic procedure of micro-needling in your hands!

Do you cringe at the thought of rolling hundreds of tiny needles over your skin? Fear not! This at-home practice is relatively pain-free and can result in a premium glow-up more affordable than an in-office visit.

3. Peeling face masks

You don't have to look to the Far East for beauty tools: how about refreshing your beauty routine with something a little more conventional? Rotating a new face peel or mask into your current beauty routine is always a good bet. Masks have been an iconic tool for generations (hello, teenage slumber parties!). They're easy, quick, and an invigorating way to keep a radiant complexion.

Because there are so many options out there, we'll focus on peel-off masks. They are often vitamin, plant, or fruit extract-based with ingredients like charcoal and antioxidants. You can do a peel-off mask at any time, but preferably, add them to your nighttime routine as you wind down from your day—it's easy as one, two, three!

1. Face mask on:

   Apply your peel-off mask right after cleansing your face and before applying serums and moisturizers. Always follow the directions, but in general, you let the mask set for five to 10 minutes for sensitive skin, and between 15 to 20 minutes for normal to dry skin types.

2. Peel mask off:

   Once your timer goes off, gently peel the mask to reveal smoother skin texture, help fade fine lines, clean your pores and potentially balance out skin tone. That's because peel-off facial masks help remove the skin's outer layer, the epidermis.

3. Hydrate:

   After completely removing the mask, rinse and pat dry your face; follow up with a hyaluronic serum (if you use one) and moisturizer. Use gentle circular motions as you follow the contours of your face and finish your skin care routine.

4. Red light therapy mask

Right light therapy has become all the rage in the past few years. This innovative therapy (also known as RLT) can be found everywhere, from gyms and spas to dermatologists' offices and at-home products. Red light therapy is a non-invasive skin practice that's thought to support collagen stimulation and elastin production and help increase hydration and maintain cellular integrity. More clinical research is needed, but RLT is a popular option for those seeking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Though red light therapy is relatively new, the masks are easy to find and affordable. Start gradually by wearing your RLT mask three to five times per week between five to 10-minute increments, eventually working up to daily use (maximum of 20 minutes). For best results, wear your mask consistently, and always use eye protection. Check with your dermatologist to make sure red light therapy is right for you.

5. Under-eye and face patches

Looking for an under-eye pick-me-up? Under-eye and face patches are where it's at for night owls and early birds alike. You can apply patches in the morning (to help eliminate dryness or drowsy eyes) or at night (the best time to use patches with repairing properties and ingredients that help you minimize premature aging signs).

Most patches are available as adhesive, gel packs or cloth with ingredients that range from hemp to retinol. Different under-eye patches will advertise different benefits; depending upon their ingredients, they may be intended to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, or simply to hydrate the skin depending on their active ingredients. Some can be reusable, and others are single use.

Pro beauty tip: Do a mini massage around the area before and after applying the patch. Be gentle and don't pull the fragile skin around your eyes.

6. Dry brush

Beauty isn't just about your face! For healthy, glowing skin from head to toe, try a dry brush. This cleansing brush resembles a hairbrush with bristles that can be synthetic, natural (like sisal plant fiber or bamboo) or animal hair (goat, horse and hog are popular). Some dry brushes have a long handle with a round base of bristles, while others resemble a horse brush—an oval paddle with a handle to slip your hand through.

Based on an ancient Ayurvedic practice of gently massaging the body with a natural bristle brush, dry brushing helps exfoliate the skin, promoting clean and smooth skin and stimulating the nervous system. More clinical research is needed to explore the health-promoting benefits of dry brushing, but this holistic practice is thought to help improve circulation and lymphatic health and even help reduce the visibility of stretch marks.

Here's how to incorporate a dry brush into your beauty routine. (When in doubt, though, brush toward the heart.)

1. Start at your feet and brush upward (toward the heart), move to your calves and front of the legs, around your knees and up your thighs.
2. When you get to your torso, brush in a clockwise direction over your stomach, and an upward motion over your back.
3. For your arms, start at your wrists and brush toward your core (and heart). Do the same when you get to your shoulders.
4. Apply some pressure to get the best results. But be gentle! Dry brushing is a type of exfoliation, so don't overdo it.
5. Make it a full spa experience: dim the lights, play relaxing music, and add a few drops of essential oils to a diffuser!

7. Lotion socks

While lotion and socks may seem like an unexpected combo, they are divine together! Lotion socks are plush, breathable, socks infused with lotion. Worn to help soothe the skin around your feet, heels and toes, they moisturize your feet all over. Lotion socks have a silicone area at the heel with ingredients like aloe, jojoba, avocado, olive, or grapeseed oils and vitamin E for skin-deep nourishment.

Plus, lotion socks help you avoid extra time and money spent on foot creams or lotions: these socks have it all! You can wear them multiple times—hand-wash your lotion socks until they run out of ingredients.

Pro beauty tip: grab some lotion gloves to help you pamper your hands and nails, too!

8. Silk pillowcase

Silk pillowcases have been a mainstay of women's beauty regimens since the 1950s for their hair and skin benefits. Silk is a protein fiber from the cocoons of silkworms. Because it's breathable, it can help prevent frizz and tangles and help hair retain moisture, promoting lush and glossy hair. The benefits to your skin are similar—encouraging moisture and keeping skin hydrated and blemish-free.

What about satin pillowcases? These are more affordable and offer similar benefits, but they're made from polyester or nylon, so the material is not as breathable or gentle on your hair and skin.

Tucking yourself in to a comfortable bed, your head atop a silk pillow, isn't just about beauty sleep. It can be in important part of good sleep hygiene, a routine designed to ensure restful, restorative ZZZs!

How often should you clean your beauty tools?

In general, you'll want to clean your beauty tools daily. For example, clean your red light face mask after each use to keep it pristine and working correctly. Your lotion socks should be washed after each use, especially if you tend to sweat. And that new derma roller? You'll want to run it under water after each use to keep it clean, replacing the micro-needling razors as soon as they start to feel dull. Check the instruction manual for the most accurate information on how and when to clean your beauty tools.

Why caring for your hair, skin and nails matters

Your hair, skin and nails make up your integumentary system, which protects your body, shielding it from external factors that can impact your overall health. They also work together to heal and regulate your body temperature.

Just like caring for your mental and physical well-being, caring for your hair, skin and nails is another way to practice self-care and be your healthiest self.

How does taking a collagen supplement help?

Collagen is a major structural protein in your connective tissue, and it's the primary building block that provides support to your hair, skin and nails (tendons and cartilage, too). Adding a high-quality collagen powder is an easy way to maintain lush hair, radiant skin and strong nails. Pro beauty tip: Add a scoop of collagen powder (look for collagen peptides) to your morning cup of joe and start your day with this all-important protein.

In a clinical study, women taking bioactive collagen peptides (collagen protein broken down into smaller short chains of amino acids) experienced an average of 20 percent reduction in eye wrinkles and increased skin elastin and collagen after eight weeks. Collagen peptides also helped support healthy nails by maintaining nail growth rate.

Ready to give your skin, hair and nails the VIP experience? With this ultimate beauty tools guide, you can choose which ones to try first!

• Want to focus on exfoliating your skin? Go for a dry brush or peeling face masks.
• Want to show your heels some love? Reach for the lotion socks.
• Need some TLC for your hair? Try the silk pillowcase.

Want to support all three? A high-quality collagen supplement is the ultimate go-to!

References

• Hamp A, et al. "Gua-sha, Jade Roller, and Facial Massage: Are There Benefits Within Dermatology? JCD. September 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.15421
• Miyaji A, et al. "Short-And Long-Term Effects of Using a Facial Massage Roller on Facial Skin Blood Flow and Vascular Reactivity." Complement Ther Med. December 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30477852/
• Proksch E, et al. "Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis." Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24401291/
• Wunsch A, Matuschka K. "A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment In Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase." Photomed Laser Surg. February 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/