Within the last few years, I have seen a lot of people talking about (and using) the Gua sha. The first few times I saw the benefits and “how to’s” on my tik tok for you page, was right around Amazon’s prime day. Perfect! I found a pretty rose quartz Gua sha that was fairly cheap and I was so excited for it to come in. And when it did, I was SO excited to start using it right away. But what was I supposed to do with it? How was it supposed to work? What did it even really do?? I had so many questions. So I started watching all the tik toks and Youtube videos I could find. I found a routine that worked well for me.
And then I dropped it…
My beautiful rose quartz Gua sha shattered on my floor and I was so upset. It made me so happy to do my face routine at night, that when it broke I actually stopped my routine for a while. Luckily, a few days later I was gifted a jade Gua sha. Still pretty, but it was thinner and didn’t feel the same. The groove wasn’t as deep and it didn’t fit in my hand quite the same way.
Then even luckier (!), my boyfriend (who knew I was upset about dropping my old Gua sha) bought me a new rose quartz one. It is even better than my first. It feels solid and it fits perfect in my hand. Even better, it came with instructions on how to use it on your face. And a little velvety bag to store it in! I’m obsessed with it. But I know I’m not using it right.
When I use my Gua sha, I don’t use oil. Uh oh. All the videos I had watched before have always said to use oil. I’m just too cheap to justify buying it. So, I just use lotion and an ice cube. Sounds crazy. I know. But that’s why I’m writing this article today!
We can both learn more about the Gua sha and it’s benefits. Hopefully, I’ll convince myself to start using it correctly and convince you to use one as well (if you aren’t already)!
What is Gua Sha?
This current self care trend is actually an ancient Chinese medicine technique. In Chinese “Gua sha” translates to “to scrape sand”. It is used to “scrape” the skin in order to relieve stress and physical pain. Don’t take this too literal, though. This technique should not cause any pain; it’s more of a gentle glide than a scrape. The round edges of the tools ensure that you won’t be cut. Gua sha is a form of energy movement similar to acupuncture.
You can use Gua sha on both your face and your body. A more gentle version is often used for the face, while more pressure can be added depending on personal tolerance and body part.
Does Material Matter?
There’s metal, rose and clear quartz, jade, green aventurine, Brian stone, amethyst, and many more. As I said before, I use a rose quartz Gua sha and I love it! I use my jade one occasionally, but it’s definitely not my go-to.
Discovering which material works best for your face is a great place to start. Each material has a different benefit. Let’s figure out which material is best for you!
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is a stone representing love. A rose quartz Gua sha is known for smoothing wrinkles and slowing the aging process physically. No wonder it’s my favorite! This stone is best for sensitive skin or those with acne. Keeping this stone in the freezer may help enhance these benefits. Maybe it will even bring some love in your life! Self-love of course.
Clear Quartz
Clear quartz is a stone that some say can be used for many purposes. Depending on the user, you can ‘program’ this stone for what you need using intention. A clear quartz Gua sha may remove heat and stress while improving energy flow. This can be particularly beneficial to get rid of stress or puffy eyes!
Jade
Jade is known spiritually to provide confidence, relaxation, and health. When using a jade Gua sha, it’s best if you have dull skin or if you are exposed to a lot of pollution or smoke.
Green Aventurine
Green aventurine is known to provide courage and strength. In the Gua sha world, this stone is known for purifying and healing. Green aventurine is often best for those with oily skin and larger pores. You may even find that your wrinkles have disappeared!
Brian Stone
This stone I have personally never heard of before, but is apparently an authentic material for Gua sha. It resonates with the body to promote the results. It is the heaviest of these materials, so be mindful!
https://tinyurl.com/brian-stone-gua-sha
Amethyst
Amethyst, known for its beauty and spiritual balance, is best for those with skin that is red. This stone is also known for a cooling effect and may help to shape your jawline.
There are many more stone types that I have not written about today, so feel free to look for the others if none of these fit you! Some people are even known to use spoons!! Remember: regardless of what stone you choose, you should always look for a high-quality stone.
Why should you use a Gua sha?
A Gua sha can be used to improve blood flow, help with lymphatic drainage, get rid of wrinkles, and (if using the right stones) balance chakras. Depending on which stone works best for you, you may get different results.
A traditional Gua sha massage can aid in lymphatic drainage, which can remove toxins and stimulate blood circulation. For your face this can mean less wrinkles, a brighter complexion (aka a healthy glow), and even less acne!
Speaking from personal experience, I can’t say that using a Gua sha has helped get rid of my acne/blackheads, BUT I do think that it has helped to shape my face. My cheekbones are more prominent and I feel like my skin still looks pretty young. Granted, I am only 22… so take my experience with a grain of salt here.
Some sources also state that Gua sha can help with more chronic conditions such as joint pain, migraines, and Hepatitis B. My research for this article is the first time I have heard of these benefits and only a few sources mentioned it; however, I figured I should include it. More research is being done on this topic, but some studies have found that Gua sha massages can improve liver inflammation and decrease damage! For migraines and joint pain, this could be due to the lymphatic drainage and increased blood flow. Of course, more research is needed.
How should you use a Gua sha?
When using a Gua sha, I prefer to do a routine every night (that I remember) before bed. I don’t know why or where this routine came from, but some nights I look forward to it. The more you use this routine the faster and more likely you are to see results! It is recommended 3-4 times a week, or up to daily.
As I mentioned before, many videos recommend oil; however, I usually just use lotion and ice. The pros recommend washing and cleansing your face before adding oil to the stone for it to glide smoothly. However, if you have sensitive skin oil is not always the best option. You can also use lotion (!) or serum. I’m so happy that this is the case because I was not wanting to buy some expensive face oil at the moment. The only issue with the lotion or serum, is that you may need to apply it more than once. But to me that’s no big deal. You’ll also want to wash your tool when you’re done. Something I am guilty of not doing. However, if you don’t clean your tool regularly, you could cause a skin infection due to bacteria. Moisturizing afterwards is also good if your skin needs it.
During the massage, move from the center outwards. Use long, slow strokes many times and follow the curves of your face. It’s best to use the notch in your stone on your eyebrows, jaw, and throat. I also use this notch on my nose bridge and my cheek bones. The longer edge should be used to shape your cheeks and forehead. Take a look at this image for a visual representation, it’s similar to the one that came with my rose quartz tool:
https://tinyurl.com/gua-sha-tutorial
Each motion should be repeated 3-5 times (I prefer 5) for the best results. Do the same motions on both sides of your face (or your body depending on the massage) to ensure that they are even.
Remember not to push too hard when using one of the tools on your face as this can cause more harm than good. If you are on blood thinners, this massage may be too much for your body. You may cause blood vessels to burst and some discomfort. I know that I have pushed to hard on my jawline a few times which has caused some pain for a few days. Just be cautious and know your limits!
All of that being said, this is for an at-home massage. You can always book an appointment at a spa to get a professional massage! Check out the links below for more information and the links above to purchase your very own tool!
Sources
https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/gua-sha-stones-materials
https://hayoumethod.com/en-us/pages/which-gua-sha-stone-do-you-need
https://www.absolution-cosmetics.com/en/blog/gua-sha-tool/gua-sha-stone-absolution
https://www.healthline.com/health/gua-sha
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-gua-sha-might-be-good-for-you
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-gua-sha
https://www.vogue.com/article/gua-sha-history-at-home-self-care
https://www.mountlai.com/blogs/mount-lai-guidebook/gua-sha-guide