What it is
These days Gua Sha is a highly discussed massage technique that every beauty blogger is incorporating in her/his morning routine. This practice has been discussed in various journals around the world starting from Vogue to MedicalNewsToday, where it had both, its lovers and its haters. But let’s start with the basics, what is gua sha and where does it come from?
Gua Sha – often translated as “scraping” in English – is an ancient technique from East Asia. It is often advertised today as part of the daily routine of every Asian princess to improve her skin quality and look flawless. Apparently, this story was created to increase sales volumes of the fancy-looking gua sha tools. In reality, this method was first used on exhausted workers and struggling from heat individuals to improve their blood circulation and relieve the symptoms by applying high pressure on selected regions of their body.
Which materials to use
Such materials as coins, spoons or even animal bones were used in the past, as they help to massage the deeper skin layers. Nowadays, if you search for gua sha tools you will most likely find bian stone, jade or rose quartz rollers and scrapers. These materials are said to carry healing energies. Experts recommend using the rose quartz ones during the morning and the jade in the evening due to their different energies and influence on the body.
Doctor’s opinion
Nyla Raja, aesthetic doctor and founder of the U.K.-based aesthetics and medispa clinic called Dr. Nyla Raja questions the extent to which gua sha can improve the elastin production in the skin and reduce wrinkles.
“Using a jade gua sha tool at home essentially gives your face a mini workout ― you are stimulating blood circulation, which increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which can improve skin health,” – Raja says.
However, the doctor believes that gua sha is unlikely to reach the deeper layer of the skin and lead to all of the expected benefits.
How to choose a perfect tool
- It should feel heavy in your hand.
- If you are looking to buy a jade tool – make sure that it is cold (only authentic stone will have this quality).
- Follow your intuition. Feel the connection with the stone you are holding.
How to perform gua sha massage on your face and neck
- Apply some oil or cream on the areas you are about to massage
- Position the top corner (ridge side down) of the gua sha tool under your eye and move it towards your ear. Then bring it up and follow the eyebrow line in the same direction. Repeat the movement at least 8 times.
- Work your way down, massaging the cheekbone and the jawline with the same movements from the center of your face to the ear.
- Apply the tool starting from your chin along the jawline and, once you’ve reached the ear go down along the neck. Repeat.
- Once you’re done with step 4, stay at the neck and start moving roller up from your collarbone to your jaw.
You can either do every step twice for both sides of your face or finish with one side and start with the other. At all times make sure that you’ve got enough oil on your face and neck to avoid any irritation and unpleasant feelings.
Gua Sha is not recommended to people who
- have medical conditions affecting the skin or veins
- bleed easily
- are pregnant
- take medication to thin their blood
- have deep vein thrombosis
- have an infection, tumor, or wound that has not healed fully
- have implants
Many experts warn that gua sha is not the one and only tool to improve your skin quality. Our appearance is the manifestation of the inner health and balance. The right diet, skincare products, exercise routine and inner balance can all equally contribute to your well-being and skin appearance.
We at Glow Concierge strive to improve the lives of our clients. That is why every Saturday we search for tips, like this one, to help you find your perfect tools to a greater health. We are convinced that if you start performing this massage along with facials and microneedling with our providers, you will get the perfect glowing skin in weeks.
Your Glow Concierge Team