One plump and contoured face at a time, if you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok, you’ve undoubtedly seen that one of the oldest cosmetic products is taking over the globe. Yes, gua sha, sometimes known as the Botox of the East, is what we’re discussing.

Supporters of the instrument describe using it to have tighter, smoother skin with fewer blemishes, eczema, and acne. It seems too wonderful to be true, don’t you think? We spoke with practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine and skincare, Sandra Lanshin Chiu and Anna Lam, to determine the best ways to utilize your small instrument to get the most effects.

Gua Sha: What Is It?

“Facial gua sha is a relatively new ‘cosmetic’ treatment derived from traditional gua sha, which is practiced on the body and is an important technique in traditional Chinese medicine,” said Chiu. “Facial gua sha uses a smooth tool, often jade or quartz, to slowly stroke the face and neck, improving circulation and releasing tension.”

According to certain documents, the practice may have originated as early as the Paleolithic period, Chiu continued.

In the past, stones, coins, and horns were among the many materials used to make tools. According to Chiu, “Gua sha was used to treat pain and illnesses as serious as cholera.”

According to Chiu, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine still use gua sha to “treat pain and boost immune function.”

How Gua Sha Operates

“The gua sha technique, which translates to ‘scrape wind,’ was primarily first used on the body to release toxins and relieve pain in tired, sore, or injured muscles,” Lam said. “By ‘scraping’ with repeated strokes on the surface of the skin, the gua sha helps stimulate new blood flow and draw out stagnation in the problem areas to help generate metabolic cell repair and healing.”

Fear not, as Chiu explained that face gua sha is intended to be applied at a much slower tempo and with much less pressure than the conventional treatment for your body, which is considerably more harsh and may cause bruising. In fact, Chiu suggested adopting a “less is more” strategy when it comes to your face.

Advantages of Gua Sha

With time, visible benefits may be obtained with consistent practice. Among the group? According to Lam, the skin will be tighter, brighter, and clearer with less wrinkles, fine lines, and imperfections. The advantages don’t end there, either.

“Gua sha is a practice intended to invigorate the healthy circulation of muscles and tissues that feed the skin, so I look at it as a health practice that has ‘cosmetic side effects’ like glowing skin and softening lines,” Chiu said. “Improved circulation creates visible changes: reduced puffiness, smoother complexion, softened lines, reduced sagging, sculpt and lift to facial features, adds volume to sunken features, and it can even help acne heal faster.”

The benefits of gua sha go beyond appearance.

“Facial gua sha is wonderful for releasing knots in the face, neck, and shoulders,” Chiu said. “Many of the benefits are immediate, so it’s an ideal technique for relief from headaches, sinus congestion, or a tight/painful jaw.”

How to Apply the Face Gua Sha Tool

The good thing is that utilizing the tool is not too difficult if you’re new to gua sha.

“Hold the gua sha tool with the curved side to your face and glide it gently up and out, starting with the neck, jawline, chin, and around the mouth, between three and five times per area,” said Lam. “Then sweep across cheeks and gently glide under the eyes, across your eyebrows, and from your forehead up to your hairline.”

Lam suggested getting this treatment at least a couple times a week, but Chiu informed us that you may have gua sha every day. While you may practice gua sha whenever you like, Chiu said that a smart approach to maintain the practice is to include it into your regular face regimen.

“Gua sha is best done after both cleansing the face and applying a moisturizer or facial oil,” Lam said. “Gua massage not only gives your skin a ‘workout’ but also helps products’ nutrients absorb better into skin.”

How to Select a Gua Sha Instrument

“They should all be carved with curves, rounded knobs, and points to fit within the curvatures of the face and press down on the meridian points,” Lam said, adding, “or pressure points in which traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe vital life energy known as Qi flows through.” Lam advised choosing the tool you are most drawn to because there is no one model that works best.

Likewise, the gemstone you choose for your gua sha should be Choose your favorite and don’t stray from it. In addition, there is tiger’s eye, jade, amethyst, and rose quartz.

“Each stone is known to have different healing properties, but all should provide similar results as it’s more about the gua sha technique than the crystal of choice,” Lam said.

But Jade is typically used because it’s cold to the touch and has purifying qualities, according to Lam.

Jade Roller against Gua Sha

Although jade rollers and gua sha instruments are often combined into one holistic face massage toolkit, they vary significantly in a few important ways. A jade roller is a simple instrument with a single form and action that is often used to promote better lymphatic circulation, product penetration, and general relaxation. However, a gua sha tool’s distinct form and varied edges allow it to penetrate goods, ease tight muscles, enhance circulation, and contour your face. The action, not the content, is what makes it beneficial.

As to Chiu’s explanation, the gua sha technique involves strokes that stretch the skin, resulting in myofascial release and improved circulation in the facial muscles. As mentioned by Lam, the scraper is rubbed “over the facial curvatures in an attempt to bring new blood to the surface and promote lymphatic drainage.”

“Gua sha relieves face muscular tension, which may result in wrinkles. Gua sha is like to workout for your face; frequent application may enhance skin elasticity and tone the skin,” Lam said.

The Verdict on Gua Sha

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Benefits from face gua sha include tighter, brighter, tauter, and smoother skin with regular practice. Moreover, gua sha is said to promote good vitality and enhance circulation in traditional Chinese medicine. Adopting the habit might make you feel fantastic on the inside as well as the outside. Read more