Gua Sha originated as an ancient Chinese medical practice in which tools and implements were rubbed along the body’s muscles to purge toxins, stimulate blood flow, and regenerate new skin cells.
The practice of Gua Sha has now evolved into a significant facial beauty trend, and it is still worth adopting. You can buy a heart-shaped stone in either quartz or metal to massage the face over well-oiled skin.
When a Gua Sha massage is done regularly, people claim it has significant benefits for toning, lifting, and firming the face for a younger and more youthful appearance! Some declare this facial treatment to be better than Botox, and if you keep at it, you may notice an improvement to the look and feel of the skin and face structure, which is certainly more natural.
How To Do A Gua Sha Facial Massage At Home?
Once you have your Gua Sha stone and some facial oil, you may wonder how exactly you do this. While there is a method to it, it is straightforward, and over time, as you become more familiar with massaging your face in this way, it becomes more intuitive.
Choose a Gua sha oil!
- FACE OIL: Embrace the natural hydrating and anti-aging power of Burt’s Bees complete nourishment facial oil with rosehip seed extract for healthy-looking skin; package may vary
Choose a Gua sha tool!
- Wash and dry your face. Apply the oil of your choice.
- On the face, use upward strokes
- On the neck downwards towards the heart.
- Go from the middle of the jaw to the ears, along the jawline. Repeat 3-4 times on each side.
- Move up the face this way, over the cheeks towards the ears.
- Pay attention to the nasal fold around the mouth. Place Gua Sha in this fold and sweep out towards the ears.
- On the forehead, sweep upwards from eyebrows to hairline—all across the forehead upwards and towards the ears’ motion.
- Focus on any areas of concern in your face or where there is the most tension.
You can use any plant oil you like; common oils for this type of facial massage are Grapeseed, Jojoba, or Argan oils.
You can also make a blended oil serum recipe.
Why You Should Do A Gua Sha Facial Massage.
If you are not doing a Gua Sha facial, you should be. Out of all the face massage techniques, this is low maintenance to keep up with but high on results. This simple massage technique benefits your face and is wonderfully relaxing and calming.
We hold a tremendous amount of tension in the jaw, which can have pain implications in other parts of the body, and this alone is worth the few minutes this massage takes. Other benefits include;
- Lymph drainage
- Stimulates collagen production
- Eases the tension in the facial muscles
- Increases blood circulation
- Smoothes wrinkles
- Uses skin Beneficial oils
- Sense of relaxation and wellbeing
- Releases puffiness
- Relieves dark under-eye circles
No matter how good face creams and oils are, they don’t target the face’s structure and skin like a face massage does. Do a simple Gua Shas massage a few times a week to promote a regenerated complexion, add tone, and increase firmness to the face.
How Often Do You Need To Do A Gua Sha Facial Massage?
You can do a Gua Sha 3-4 times weekly for 5-10 minutes. Or you can pick up your stone at the beginning or end of the day and run it over your face for a few minutes for tension relief. That is the beauty of it; there is no rule to it.
While trends come and go, this one seems to be sticking, partly because it is so easy. Once you get the hang of doing a Gua Sha face massage, you will find it easy to fit into your skincare routine. There are no sticky gels or electronic gadgets to remember to charge or take away with you. This is a simple, beautiful stone with some oil.
If your face is swollen or puffy, a Gua Sha massage will help reshape it in the morning. Please put it in the fridge overnight; the cold will help tighten the skin and refresh the look. When you are finished, wash off the oil and reapply a storm.
In the evening, after washing your face, apply a nourishing face oil and gently massage your face. This is a relaxing ritual. You can also pay attention to your neck and decollete area. Leave the oil on while you sleep for extra benefits.
Which Gua Sha Tool Should You Buy?
Gua Sha tools are made from various materials, mainly jade, rose quartz, other quartz, and stainless steel. Choose one that appeals to you most, but buy quality as they are more durable and efficient.
Stainless steel is hard-wearing, not breakable, feels incredible, and is easy to travel with!
- 100% STAINLESS STEEL GUA SHA – SACHEU Gua Sha Stainless Steel helps drain lymph fluids away from the face giving you a natural contour, while the stainless steel design offers a cooling effect
If you click the link for this product, you can watch a beneficial video demonstration.
If you love the healing, loving energy of Rose quartz, this is the Gua Sha for you;
- KORA Organics Rose Quartz Heart Facial Sculptor. Our heart-shaped Rose Quartz Facial Sculptor is a Gua Sha tool designed to help stimulate circulation, de-puff, lift & sculpt your face.
Buy the best quality implement you can for lasting results. These are relatively inexpensive for the results they give.
Jade is balanced and has naturally cooling properties, which are known as the stone of eternal youth.
- ORIGIN: Gua sha has been practiced in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Perfected throughout the centuries, this gua sha tool was built to have a firming, lifting effect on the skin.
The Best Oils for Gua Sha Facials?
Plant-based oils are fantastic for the skin; you can even add a few drops of skin-loving essential oils! To get started, try these oils, but there are many more, and if you get enough slip, any are fine.
Also, try blending them to make a custom oil that works for your particular skin type and need!
Jojoba Oil.
Jojoba oil is a fantastic daily, non-comedogenic oil for all skin types and is perfect for Gua Sha facials. Its lightweight texture helps the gua sha tools glide effortlessly over the skin, delivering nutrients and antioxidants for younger-looking skin!
- Only One Ingredient 100% Pure USDA Certified Organic Golden Jojoba Oil. Cold Pressed Virgin, Unrefined. No additives or preservatives. Sourced from Israel.
Read more about Jojoba oil for skin care!
Rosehip Oil.
Rosehip oil has a light consistency, making it an excellent choice for gua sha! If you have fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, want to improve skin tone and firmness, and need targeted anti-aging skin care, use rosehip oil for this facial!
Read more about Rosehip oil and make a DIY rosehip face serum to add extra nutrients to your Gua Sha facial!
Squalane Oil.
Squalane has excellent emollient properties and is a lightweight oil, making it a great choice for Gua Sha facials. It is highly hydrating yet leaves a matt finish on the skin!
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, choose Squalene oil for Gua Sha. It helps to balance oil production and makes the skin more supple and elastic!
- FAST-ABSORBING HYDRATOR: 100% Plant-Derived Squalane provides quick-absorbing hydration while supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Sea Buckthorn Oil.
Sea buckthorn oil is an excellent natural oil for your gua sha routine, as it contains antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that help nourish the skin. It also gives a radiant and youthful complexion!
Using natural plant-based oils in your gua sha facial routine enhances the experience and adds slip to the skin to keep it from damage while nurturing and protecting the skin for added radiance and glow!
Always perform a patch test when introducing a new oil to ensure compatibility with your skin.
How Does Gua Sha Facial Massage Work?
Gua Sha is a centuries-old practice that remains popular today because people find it beneficial for relieving tension, draining built-up fluids in the face, relaxing wrinkles, and generally giving a sense of well-being.
Practice this massage technique regularly to see the best results. This is an easy form of facial massage; the tool feels nice in hand, and if you are into crystals, you will love to use them.
Gua Sha is a joy to do, easy to transport, and a simple, relaxing, calming, and uplifting ritual.
You can also use quartz face rollers to get a similar effect; read more in this post!
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, which will not affect your sales.
