The ultimate tool to firm, brighten and define.
This is everything you wanted to know about gua sha. With origins in ancient East Asian and Chinese medicine, gua sha, sometimes known as "spooning", is a massage technique involving scraping the skin in upward strokes to release toxins and relieve pain in tired, sore, or injured muscles. Gua Sha enhances blood flow to the skin and draws out stagnation in the problem areas.
Facial gua sha involves dragging a smooth-edged crystal tool along your face in broad even strokes, from the neck up, to relax tension in the muscles of the face which can cause lines. The massage technique is designed to boost blood circulation, break up fascia, and promote lymphatic drainage - think of it as an exercise for your face.
Usually, made out of rose quartz or jade, the crystals add another healing dimension, as Chinese medicine believes them to have medicinal properties. Rose quartz is used to promote youthfulness, and invokes love and desire, while jade is meant to help cleanse toxins, soothe the mind, and promote prosperity.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GUA SHA
HOW TO GIVE YOURSELF AN AT-HOME GUA SHA FACIAL
To begin, spritz clean skin with your favorite hydrating mist or essence, then apply your favorite facial oil to help the tool glide easily over your skin without tugging.
Beginning at the neck, hold the gua sha tool with the curved side to your face and work your way up in long strokes to lift, then work your way down towards the collarbones to encourage lymphatic drainage.
Moving to the jawline, begin at the center of the chin and move the notched side of the gua sha along your jawbone and chin in one continuous outward motion.
Rotate your gua sha to align with the natural contours of your cheeks. Starting from the center of the face and move outwards, massage along the cheekbones using broad strokes, sweeping outward towards your hairline. For the undereye area use the narrow edge of the gua sha. Begin at the inner corner of the eye and gently sweep along the socket towards the temple.
Lastly, moving to the forehead, sweep the surface of the skin in short strokes upwards towards the hairline and temple, continuing this motion across the entire forehead.
Finish by using the corners of the gua sha tools to relieve tension at pressure points such as jaw, temples, and cheekbones. Repeat the same number of strokes on both sides of the face for a balanced, lifted effect. Go over each area of the face between three and five times per area.
A WORKOUT FOR YOUR SKIN
There you have it - the ultimate at-home treatment in under five minutes for releasing and soothing facial tension! The gua sha massage not only gives your skin a ‘workout,’ but also helps products’ nutrients absorb better into the skin. With consistent use, you can expect to see less puffiness, skin that appears more firm and lifted, brighter tone, and overall radiance.