Gua Sha: The New Facial Tool You Need

Everything you need to know about the hottest new

at-home tool for radiant, glowing, and firmer skin.

@mathildegaunoux

Traditionally used in East Asian and Chinese Medicine, Gua Sha is a massage technique meant to relieve tension and pain in muscles by applying pressure with the ancient tool. In more recent times, there has been a lot of hype around facial gua sha, which involves massaging the face with a flat jade or rose quartz stone over the skin to relax muscles and aid in tissue drainage.

Of course, there are other tools on the market, such as jade rollers, and while they are soothing and can help with de-puffing in the morning, gua sha takes it to a deeper level. Designed to relieve tension in the muscles and increase blood flow, massaging the gua sha tool on the face helps break up the connective tissue called fascia that sometimes gets in the way of proper circulation.

How to use

First and foremost, it's essential to find the right Gua Sha tool for you. There is a variety to choose from, so try and do your research before adding to your cart. While jade is known for its balancing effect and clearing inflammation, rose quartz opens and heals the heart chakra and is good to use on your neck and chest.

Use the gua sha tool on the face, neck, and chest. It's best to use with an oil or water, but never on bare skin. This massage should be done gently and with care; avoid massaging over broken skin or breakouts. Also, if your skin is prone to broken capillaries, this may not be the trend for you.

To massage, hold the tool with the curved side to your face, and massage is gently up and out. Start with short strokes in one direction (not back and forth) with the neck, jaw, and around the mouth. Then press the tool flat under the eyes to soothe and de-puff. After that, work the tool in horizontal strokes over the brow bone and between the brows to lift and release tension. Finally, work your way down (never upwards) to the neck to drain any fluid. Experts advise practicing this technique twice a day over a long period for optimal results.

This ancient technique leaves the skin firmer and brighter, but only if used properly. Before trying, I would recommend hitting up your favorite esthetician for more guidance. Aside from the various benefits of at-home gua sha facials, it's nice to take a few moments each day to focus on you and only you. I've said this before, but I've been taking this time to take care of myself, and I love finding new rituals that make me feel good. Incorporating this into my morning routine not only energizes my skin and treats puffiness, but it's also very soothing and therapeutic . At night, I'll do it all over again while watching RHOBH.

Love always,

Melania Zilo