Gua Sha: the secret to beautiful skin in 5 minutes
ByWhat is Gua Sha?
Good reasons to adopt gua sha massage
Gua Sha, the ancient beauty secret
If you’re wondering what that pretty-looking tool that all skin enthusiast been scraping their face with is, you should read this article to the very end. We will break down all the details on this ancient Chinese beauty secret called Gua Sha. Who and how
1. Prep Your Skin
Don’t try to do gua sha without prepping your skin
Great skin doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by appointment.
you can benefit from it, we got you all covered!
Gua Sha is defined as “Gua”, which means “scraping”, and “Sha” means sand or sharkskin. In short, it is a technique to scrap a part of the body to improve one’s health. This technique originated in China and has been used as a healing technique all over Asia for years. Back in the day, people used any tools with smooth round edges and did this Gua sha to alleviate several conditions from flu, bronchitis, and even musculoskeletal problems.
Due to its remarkable healing properties on many of our body parts, people started to discover their benefits for the face as well. Of course, the technique used on facial skin is slightly different due to the different nature of our facial skin physiology, but their benefit is just as astonishing. Before we talk about the technique, let’s talk about all its benefits.
The benefits of gua sha:
- Stimulates blood circulation and oxygenates tissues
- Boosts complexion radiance and gives a glow worthy of a treatment performed by a pro
- Decongests, especially dark circles, and bags under the eyes
- Drains toxins for healthier, clearer skin
- Smoothes and firms features, for an anti-aging massage
- Relaxes releases tension and offers a real well-being ritual
- Facilitates the absorption of treatments and increases their benefits tenfold: Gua sha stone is ideal for pairing with an organic face oil!
Tutorial: How to perform a gua sha massage in 5 minutes
Follow the guide to treating yourself to a gua sha facial massage at home, in just a few minutes!
The art of gua sha
My gua sha massage in 7 steps
Prepare your skin: once cleansed, spray a moisturizing mist liberally and then apply a few drops of organic face oil to still-damp skin. The oil provides a perfect glide for the gua sha.
- Neck: Smooth the skin of the neck from bottom to top
- Jaw: Place the chin in the hollow formed by the rounded tips of the gua sha, and slide down to the ears, following the contour of the jaw.
- Cheeks: Lift the cheeks starting from the side of the nose and working up to the temples
- Eye area: Decongest the eye area by sliding the rounded tip of the gua sha from the inner corner of the eye to the temples. We finish by lightly massaging the temples for a relaxing effect.
- Eyebrows: Slide the tip of the gua sha along with the eyebrows to the temples
- Forehead: Smooth do it starting from the eyebrows towards the hairline.
How To Give Yourself A Gua Sha Facial, According To Beauty Pros
A rundown on the ancient TCM practice.
Getty Images/ Westend61 Tamim Alnuweiri Gua sha is an ancient technique, but, thanks to TikTok , a slew of new beauty lovers are being exposed to it for the first time. Essentially, it’s a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that uses a stone for a skin-sculpting treatment. Before you go massaging yourself with one of the tools, however, there are some rules you should follow in order to have a proper gua sha facial Unlike the also popular jade roller gua sha is a flat stone used for healing modalities. “In Chinese, gua means scrape ,” says Dr. Ervina Wu, PhD, a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of TCM with beauty brand YINA . According to her, the tool is used to stimulate blood flow , release toxins, promote lymphatic drainage pathway of fluids within your body lead to puffiness when stagnant), activate various qi points (or energy channels) within the body, and relieve muscle tension and it’s been used to treat everything from dizziness to abdominal woes.
Facial gua sha has been growing in popularity. And it’s for good reason: “It has incredible benefits for the skin,” says Stephanie Zheng, esthetician and founder of Mount Lai , a TCM-based beauty brand (who tells Bustle she learned the technique by watching her family members use the tool). When used on the facial muscles, gua sha reduces facial tension, puffiness, and signs of fatigue Nicolas Travis , founder of skin care brands Allies of Skin PSA . The end result is a complexion that looks more lifted and radiant.
Rather than follow the tips from a random TikTok, get familiar with these three golden rules for a proper gua sha facial , straight from AAPI beauty insiders.
For Lifting
“With the comb edge, smooth the stone from the jawbone, up over the cheekbone, and then diagonally up past the temple. Repeat on each side. It feels so good to relieve all that muscular tension, as if you’ve just put down something heavy. You’re stimulating circulation in the muscles and, in doing so, toning them, keeping them healthy and firm. It’s basically a little mini temporary face-lift.”
For Depuffing
“Using the U-shaped edge, gently glide the stone along the jawline, from the chin out and up to the ear. Do it five times. Then, with the U-edge hugging your skin and exerting light pressure, trace the stone from the earlobe down to the collarbone; do that five times. You’re sweeping stagnation from the face out to the ear and then taking out the trash down at the collarbone. Repeat on each side.”
For Smoothing Skin
“This is for any part of the face you want to temporarily smooth crow’s-feet, nasolabial lines, forehead, anywhere. Find the area you want to target in the mirror and, holding the skin there taut with two fingers, trace the comb edge of the stone over that area, going back and forth perpendicularly, as if you were erasing something with a pencil eraser. It’s a quick, light motion you want the pressure to be really light so that you don’t leave a mark.”
For Wide-Awake Eyes
“Smooth the flat edge of the stone along the brows, going from the inner edge of the brow out toward the hairline. The flat edge is great for targeting bony areas on the face, and you’re tracing along the orbital bone to give some lift to the eye area.” 3 More Secret Weapons Helping Me Keep My Skin Clear
Beauty Bungalow Gua Sha Rejuvenation = Pure Skin Bliss.
Gua Sha specialized face massage technique feels extremely relaxing and promotes deep healing by boosting circulation to transport nutrients to the face and scalp.
Gua Sha: the secret of a beautiful skin in 5 minutes
After jade roller, gua sha is the new beauty trend everyone is talking about.
This ritual straight from Asia promises us a luminous, smoothed and detoxified skin in just a few minutes…but what is it really all about? Should we adopt the gua sha massage? How to use it? We tell you everything!
Buying a gua sha: how to choose?
Click on the part that interests you to go directly to it!
Derived from traditional Chinese medicine, the gua sha is a massage tool originally designed for use on the body.
“Gua” means to scratch in Chinese, and “sha” means disease. The principle of the traditional gua sha massage is to scrape the skin by stimulating acupressure points to evacuate bad energies, and to relieve joint and muscle pain.
This ancestral technique performed by a therapist consists of vigorously rubbing the skin of the back, legs, neck or arms to achieve lymphatic drainage that releases toxins andactivates blood circulation.
While the gua sha was traditionally an instrument made of cow horn, it has evolved into a gemstone such as rose quartz or jade.
The gua sha for the face is a skin massage technique using a flat stone, with a shape designed to perfectly fit the contours of the face, which offers many benefits.
Unlike the gua sha massage for the body, it is a much softer gesture.
7 good reasons to adopt gua sha massage The gua sha massage for the face has many virtues, whatever your skin type!
An excellent alternative to institute treatments, the gua sha offers visible effects on the quality of the skin from the very first use, which are accentuated in the long term. Regularity is the key to the optimal effectiveness of the gua sha massage.
The benefits of gua sha :
Stimulates blood circulation and oxygenates the tissues.
Boosts the radiance of the complexion and gives a glow worthy of a professional skin care treatment.
Decongests, especially dark circles and bags under the eyes Drains toxins, for a healthier and clearer skin Smoothes and firms the features, for an anti-aging massage.
Relaxes, releases tensions and offers a real well-being ritual.
Facilitates the absorption of care and multiplies their benefits tenfold: The stone of gua sha is ideal in duo with an organic face oil!
Gua sha or jade roller?
You hesitate perhaps between the gua sha and the famous jade roller, then which is the most effective?
Gua sha and jade roller act differently on the skin and tissues: both exert gentle pressure, but gua sha also stretches the skin and creates a light friction that stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage more intensely.
The gua sha acts on the deep tissues, it allows to catch the muscle fiber more deeply and thus offers a deeper sculpting and lifting action. The shape of the stone gua sha allows to work with precision the contours of the face.
The jade roller has the advantage of being easy to use for beginners, and fast.
Just roll it over the entire face, it is a simple gesture to adopt in your routine.
The gua sha is a little more “technical”, you will have to take the time to learn how to do a gua sha massage before being able to use it correctly. But once you have assimilated the right gestures, it’s easy!
Finally concerning the frequency of use, the jade roller can be easily used every day, while the gua sha is recommended for use 2 to 3 times a week.
It is possible to combine the two, by alternating jade roller and gua sha according to your desires (for example jade roller in the morning when you are in a hurry, and gua sha for the evening when you have more time).
In conclusion, if you are looking for a massage accessory that is simple and quick to use to boost your beauty routine, jade roller will be perfect; for a more advanced efficiency, opt for the gua sha massage.
Tuto : How to make a gua sha massage in 5 minutes Follow the guide to treat yourself to a gua sha facial massage at home, in just a few minutes!
The art of gua sha
Our golden rules for a successful gua sha massage:
Gently glide the gua sha along the face by maintaining a light pressure and following precise and slow gestures. Smooth the skin with the gua sha stone from the inside to the outside of the face and from bottom to top, adopting different angles to adapt to the contours of the face.
Repeat each movement 5 to 10 times.
The skin may become red during the gua sha massage: don’t panic, it means that it works and the blood circulation is activated 😉 Tip: Keeping your gua sha in the fridge increases the decongestant and relaxing effect when applied.
My gua sha massage in 7 steps
Prepare your skin: once cleansed, generously spray a moisturizing mist and apply a few drops of organic face oil on still damp skin. The oil makes it possible to obtain a perfect glide for the gua sha.
Neck: Smooth the skin from bottom to top of the neck.
Jaw: The chin is placed in the hollow formed by the rounded tips of the gua sha, and slid down to the ears following the contour of the jaw.
Cheeks: Lift the cheeks from the side of the nose up to the temples.
Eye Contour: Decongest the eye contour by sliding the rounded tip of the gua sha from the inner corner of the eye to the temples. Finish by gently massaging the temples for a relaxing effect.
Eyebrows: Slide the tip of the gua sha along the eyebrows to the temples.
Front : Smooth do it from the eyebrows to the hairline.
Discover our tuto gua sha in video :
How do I maintain my gua sha?
Clean the gua sha in warm water with a mild soap after each use, dry the gua sha and store it in its box or bag.
Which gua sha should I choose?
Do you want to adopt the gua sha massage ? You still need to choose the right gua sha. The quality of the stone is essential to fully enjoy its benefits.
We have selected for you the Odacity gua shas as well as the Scilla Rose quartz gua sha, for their excellent quality.
Which gua sha stone to choose?
Adept of lithotherapy ? Each gua sha stone has specific energetic properties. It is up to you to choose the vibration that resonates within you!
The gua sha in pink quartz, stone of love Linked to the heart chakra, rose quartz is the stone oflove and appeasement. It boosts confidence and reduces stress. Side care of the skin, the quartz has anti-aging, soothing and decongestant virtues. It is the ally of the mature and sensitive skins.
The gua sha in green aventurine, stone of luck Symbol of introspection and prosperity,aventurine brings new opportunities. Ally of problem skin (acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea …), it is known for its ability to purify the skin and relieve inflammation.
The gua sha in blue sodalite, stone of harmony Close to lapis lazuli, the blue sodalite symbolizes harmony. It brings a feeling of inner peace and helps to control one’s emotions. The minerals contained in sodalite have the reputation of promoting hydration and soothing skin problems, making an ally for stressed skin.
What form of gua sha to choose?
There are several shapes of gua shas, the most common being the heart shape (with 2 tips) and the wing shape (with 3 small tips).
In order to adapt perfectly to the different areas of the face the gua sha usually has a straight side, a more rounded side, and a side with one or more hollows.
The heart shape is ideal to work the oval of the face, the hollow between the 2 points allows to catch the jaw. It is the most common form of gua sha.
The wing shape, which is found in particular in Scilla Rose , is perfect for liftging of the whole face, and allows to massage the contours of the nose and mouth.
Beyond the shape, it is the quality of the stone and the way the gua sha massage is performed that is important.
So, are you ready to adopt the gua sha massage?
