I’ve recently started stocking the amazing Gua Sha tools and I absolutely love mine! They’re really popular now and I can totally see why. However, lots of people still don’t really know what they are, so I’m here to answer your question – what is gua sha!
It’s an ancient Chinese healing technique which involved firmly massaging the face with the smooth jade tool in order to boost circulation, and in Chinese medicine, break up stagnant chi energy, which promotes healing. You glide the lovely smooth stone over your face and neck in order to dramatically improve the appearance of the skin.
Here’s the benefits (listed courtesy of Sharon Lovett’s article in edition 129 of Aromatherapy Times)
- stimulates circulation and brings new blood, oxygen and nutrients to the surface
- brightens the complexion
- releases tension
- stimulates collagen production
- increases skin elasticity
- helps soften lines and wrinkles
- sculpts facial muscles
- tones and tightens the skin
- aids lymphatic drainage and removal of toxins
- reduces puffiness
- reduces inflammation
- reduces appearance of dark circles
Well can you believe one little piece of smooth, flat stone can do all that? It’s really incredible.
The stone
Gua Sha stones are traditional made of jade, which is naturally coolong and helps to balance the heat that is created whilst you move it over your face. Not only is the type of stone important, but the shape of it. This one has lots of different angles so you can use it massage the different parts of your face and neck.
How to massage
You have lymph glands behind your ears and you should always massage towards them. So from your nose to your ears, from your chin to your ears, from your under-eye area, to your ears etc. You only need to apply a gentle pressure; you will get used to knowing what pressure is right for you.
To begin, cleanse your face and then apply a small amount of natural face oil (Superfruit face oil would be ideal for this) as this will give you the perfect amount of slip. I would make about 10 gentle sweeping motions from chin to ear on each side, then inner cheek to ear, then under eye (more gently) to ear. You can also do up your forehead towards your hair line. You only need to spend a few minutes doing this, and after only a week or so, you should notice some pretty fab results.
If you get tension in your neck and upper shoulders, you can also research how to use it for that too – it’s pretty versatile.
You can do it morning or evening, it doesn’t matter – do it when it works for you. It’s a lovely, gentle way to give yourself five minutes of self-care.
Wash and dry your stone between uses, in warm water and some fragrance free soap.
Once a week, you can simmer the stone in a pan of water for 15 mins to sterilise it.
For more information on the benefits of Gua Sha and to find a good routine that suits you, pop along to YouTube and do a search. I found this one which was pretty good.
You can buy my Gua Sha here.
