Treat Your Skin Concerns with Facial Tools - from acne to facial tension

Turn your skincare routine into a self care ritual. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to skin concerns, Mount Lai’s tools offer a wide variety of benefits and are extremely versatile. Whether you worry about dark circles, texture and acne on a day-to-day basis, our tools work with all skin types and all age ranges to enhance your skin’s radiance. Need some initial guidance in what your Mount Lai ritual might look like? Read on to see what we recommend for different skin types!   Treating Acne-prone Skin For acne prone skin, we recommend this powerful duo that soothes and de-puffs: The Black Obsidian Facial Spa Set contains our Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and De-Puffing Facial Roller; a pairing that brings harmony and radiance. Black Obsidian is unique for its ability to naturally retain warmth, making it ideal for congested, blemish-prone skin types. The warmth of the obsidian encourages stimulation of the lymphatic system + circulation to remove toxins and absorb nutrients for clear, glowing skin.   Sensitivity + Redness To instantly soothe the skin, our De-Puffing Facial Roller is the perfect tool for sensitive skin. The art of jade rolling works to gently massage the skin and boost circulation, which can calm inflammation. Those dealing with rosacea, hyperpigmentation and sensitivity can find relief through the coolness of the stone, no matter which one you use. For an extra boost of coolness, place your tools in the Mount Lai Skincare Fridge. Cooling your tools can reduce redness, instantly revive the skin and enhance the tool’s soothing qualities.  To Naturally Lift, Contour and Sculpt the Face The practice of gua sha has been used for centuries due to its healing and detoxifying properties. Gua sha tools are fantastic for promoting lymphatic drainage and releasing facial and jaw tension. Consistent use of the gua sha tool lifts the skin and enhances facial features over time.  If you are looking for a complete gua sha ritual, try our Jade Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon and Jade Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool for an ideal combo. Jade symbolizes eternal youth and is naturally cooling—a stone that brings harmony for those wanting to improve their complexion. Our Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool is available in four stone variations (jade, rose quartz, amethyst and black obsidian), as well as in stainless steel. Reducing Puffy Eyes To awaken and rejuvenate the eye area, the Eye Massage Tool can be used to address puffiness by gently gliding the tool around the eyelid. And for at-home spa days, place our Eye Mask flat against the skin to invigorate and soothe the eye area. Both tools are available in rose quartz and jade for a calming moment in your routine. Scalp Care The skin on our scalp is just as important as our face. Not only does using a Jade Comb provide a luxurious head massage, it also boosts circulation and reduces tension. This process can help boost hair growth and relieve headaches. Facial + Neck Tension Revive the skin and release tension with the ultimate stress relief: the Tension Melting Massager and Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool. These tools can be used for the face, neck and shoulders to deeply knead the skin and muscles. The Tension Melting Massager has over 100 facets on each roller head to hug every corner of the face, and the Gua Sha Lifting Tool has unique curves to gently scrape against tense areas for the most luxurious massage. We recommend applying your favorite skincare product before using a facial tool. A product we love is our Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm, that was made with all skin types in mind. Our balm helps enhance the glide of your Mount Lai Tools to amplify their benefits. To learn more about our tools and how to use them together, read our guide here.

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Our Ultimate Guide to Tool Pairing

The Mount Lai collection has grown since our first release: The De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller. Now, we are a family of over 30 facial tools, and a (growing!) skincare line.  For those who enjoy pairing our tools just as much as we do, you already know that you can maximize the results of your facial massage by using different tools together! For your personal skincare routine, we always recommend choosing the tools that fit into your lifestyle and that address the benefits that you are looking for. Of course you don't need to use our full collection in your skincare routine, but we wanted to share how you would order them if you wanted to :)  Step 1: Prep the skin! - Shop here Before using facial tools, always start with clean skin that has been prepped with skincare product. Our favorite is the Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm to ensure that tools can glide on the skin without pulling.  Step 2: Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool - Shop here We love this tool for its ability to promote lymphatic drainage, which can aid in skin health. It's great for lifting, firming, and contouring the skin. If you are looking for one tool to add to your skincare routine, the Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool or the De-Puffing Facial Roller is a great place to start!   Step 3: Our *New* Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon - Shop here Unlike our Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool, the Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon encourages the gentle release of facial + jaw tension through acupressure. It’s spoon-like shape allows for more precise work and a deeper message to sculpt the face, while the pointed end can be used to target acupressure points to melt away tension.  The order in which you use your Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon is based on personal preference. Our founder, Stephanie Zheng, enjoys using the Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool as the first step for a gua sha massage. How-to use your Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon: Use the rounded spoon side to gently sculpt the face, focusing underneath the cheekbone. The specialized, rounded shape of the gua sha spoon allows for a deeper release.  Use the smaller end of the tool on acupressure trigger points, focusing on the areas near the brow bone, the temples, the ears and along the jaw. Massage in small, slow circles into the trigger points.  Step 4: Our *New* Tension Melting Massager - Shop here Feeling stressed or tense? Had a long day on Zoom? We feel you. The Tension Melting Massager is the ultimate stress reliever for its ability to be used for the face, neck and shoulders to deeply kneed the skin and muscles. Each head has over 100 facets to hug every corner of the face for a luxurious massage. How-to use your Tension Melting Massager: Begin with the neck and roll the Tension Melting Massager along the base of the neck and the shoulders. Due to the special shape and angle of the double rollers, you will feel a deep kneading massage.  Moving to the face, roll the Tension Melting Massager in an outwards and upwards direction across the contours of the face.  Breathe deeply and feel the tension melt away.  Step 5: Jade Textured Roller - Shop here Great to wake up the skin and aid in product absorption. Step 6: De-Puffing Facial Roller - Shop here Bring the skin back to harmony after all of those activating massages with our De-Puffing Facial Roller. Step 7: Eye Massage Tool - Shop here Before using any tool around the eye, prep with a moisturizing eye cream. You can de-puff and soothe the eye area using the Eye Massage Tool, or the tools below: Jade or Rose Quartz Eye Mask Mini De-Puffing Facial Roller De-Puffing Facial Roller Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool When you apply eye cream + use an eye tool in your routine is also based on personal preference. Our team applies eye cream as the first step to prevent transfer of different products to the delicate eye area.    What we love most about these tools is that it is so easy to incorporate different tools depending on how your skin is feeling. Sometimes you just want a gentle, cooling massage - opt for a roller. Other days, you may want something more active, and go for a complete gua sha routine with your Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon. Maybe your eyes just need a little pick me up, so you go to your Eye Massage Tool or Jade Eye Mask. Whatever your skin is looking for, we hope that Mount Lai can bring you a moment of wellness in your beauty ritual. Shop our full collection here.

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Q: What skincare product do you use with facial tools?

What skincare product should you use with facial tools? Meet Mount Lai's Calming Herbal Repair Balm, a soothing + restorative facial massage balm that pairs perfectly with Mount Lai facial tools. This balm enhances the glide of the tools and melts into the skin, nourishing it with nutrient-rich plant butters, plant oils and herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Featuring healing ingredients such as Purple Gromwell Root and Licorice Root, this balm is the perfect pairing for any of our skincare tools.

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The Gua Sha Tool vs. The Facial Roller - What is the difference?

Stephanie answers one of our most frequently asked questions -- What is the difference between the gua sha tool and the facial roller? These are two very different tools, but both are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and offer incredible results. Facial massage can improve the look of the skin and give you a firm, lifted, glowing complexion. We recommend maximizing results by pairing together different tools. Regular usage and proper technique is what will really make a difference in your skin! Mount Lai offers gift sets that combine different tools together at a great value. A gift set is a perfect starter kit for anyone new to facial massage. Shop Sets

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Lymphatic Drainage 101

Do you want to naturally achieve glowing skin? Lymphatic drainage can combat dull and puffy skin to give the skin a glow. Mount Lai tools are designed to work on the lymphatic system, address adhesions in the fascia and melt tension in the facial and jaw muscles, to promote a radiant complexion and combat fine lines and wrinkles. Promoting lymphatic drainage offers so many benefits, like improving both the health and the look of skin -- but what is lymphatic drainage, and why is it important?

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Tools vs. Hands - Why Tools Are Worth the Investment

For centuries, facial massage has been valued for its healing and rejuvenating effect on the skin. Although your hands are an easy tool to use for facial massage, our facial tools are specially designed to offer benefits that hands alone cannot achieve. What can your tools do that your hands cannot?

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The Tool Care Guide - How to Clean & Maintain Your Mount Lai Facial Tools

Cleaning your facial tools is just as important as removing your make-up before bed. Just as you wash your make-up brushes to remove grime, cleaning your facial tools prevents the buildup of bacteria. After all, taking care of your skin also means to take care of the products you use—they’re just as important.

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Celebrate Lunar New Year With Us!

In honor of Lunar New Year, we have a lot of exciting promotions! Every order will be receiving a lucky red envelope, while supplies last. We also have a special gift with purchase (can you guess what it is from the above picture?), and a LIMITED EDITION Gold Jade Roller! There is also a very special collaboration with Wing on Wo & Co. that we are releasing on February 5th.* Shop the Lunar New Year Collection. *Article Update: Please note, the Wing on Wo & Co. Gift Set is sold out. What is Lunar New Year? As a brand with Chinese roots and heritage, we look towards Lunar New Year with excitement and immense gratitude as a time to celebrate with our loved ones. If you have never heard of Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, here is a little bit about what  Lunar New Year means in Chinese culture, and how the Mount Lai Team is celebrating. If you celebrate yourself, we would love to know what your yearly traditions are! Lunar New Year has different names (it may also be called the Spring Festival) and is celebrated differently in different Asian cultures. You may have heard it called the Chinese New Year by Chinese people or Chuseok by Korean people. These are just a few examples of many traditions that mark the new year based on the lunar calendar.  Instead of tracking the year through solar cycles, the lunar calendar is centered around lunar cycles. This results in the date of Lunar New Year being different each year. This year it will take place on February 12th, 2021. It is a time to gather with family and friends, eat traditional dishes, and watch parades of red and gold. Main Chinese New Year activities include putting up decorations, eating reunion dinner with family on New Year’s Eve, firecrackers and fireworks, and giving red envelopes and other gifts. However, this year’s celebration will look different from previous years. The Zodiac The Chinese Zodiac is a cycle of 12 animals, each representing a different year with different meanings. 2021 marks the Year of the Ox, the second animal in the zodiac. For those born in the Year of the Ox, you are defined as reliable, honest, and hard-working. This year can bring a multitude of success if you bypass frustration and seek patience.   The Importance of Food in Chinese New Year Lunar New Year is full of symbolism and luck, especially with its one purpose: to reunite families together. When it comes to Lunar New Year traditions centered around family, one important event is called a ‘reunion dinner’, that involves a feast of both traditional and ‘lucky’ dishes. Many dishes have a symbolism behind them, mostly pertaining to good fortune, wealth, and prosperity, such as dumplings. Dumplings are symbolic in Chinese culture, as its shape resembles ancient Chinese money. Finding dumplings at a ‘reunion dinner’ is said to be lucky, and bring wealth if eaten before the first hour of the Lunar New Year. As food is such a central part of Chinese culture and the celebration of Chinese New Year, we want to highlight the efforts of Send Chinatown Love. Send Chinatown Love is a New York based, volunteer run organization, whose goal is to provide relief to small, immigrant owned, Chinatown businesses in NYC that have been impacted by the effects of COVID-19. Unlike other initiatives, they strive to reach cash-only, pen-and-paper businesses that aren't able to use most gift card, donation, or app delivery solutions. For Lunar New Year, they are hosting a digital neighborhood food crawl to help people celebrate while supporting small businesses in need. If you are based in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, please join us in supporting their cause! You can learn more here. Luck & Red Envelopes! In the trend of obtaining luck, there are also various Lunar New Year taboos that one should follow if you’d like to have good fortune in the new year such as wearing red + new clothes. One of our favorite traditions (and something that we are so excited to share with you!) is the giving of red envelopes to bring wealth and prosperity. These bright red and gold gifts contain money, and are meant to be given to family, children, friends, and even co-workers as a gesture of kindness. To celebrate Lunar New Year, each Mount Lai order will come with a red envelope (while supplies last!) as an appreciation for your support in our brand.  From the Mount Lai Team, we wish you prosperity, health, and bright new beginnings!   Shop Mount Lai's Lunar New Year Collection

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A Video Guide - How to use a Facial Roller

A step by step guide on how to use a facial roller, one of our favorite facial tools. Learning the proper technique is very important when using this tool to maximize results. SHOP THE DE-PUFFING FACIAL ROLLER Available in Jade, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, and Black Obsidian   The facial roller is a Chinese skincare tool that has been used for thousands of years. Perfected throughout the centuries, this facial massager was built to have a de-puffing, soothing effect on the skin. What it does: Besides improving overall health and radiance of the skin, face rolling has a multitude of benefits. Reduces puffiness of the face Promotes lymphatic drainage Relieves facial and jaw tension Boosts circulation to encourage glowing skin

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