A few years ago, gua sha was one of those beauty terms you might have scrolled past on social media without giving a second thought. But now, it’s quite literally everywhere!
We’re inundated with tutorials, gua sha stones are readily available on the high street and there may even be one hiding in your bathroom cabinet!
Despite it feeling like a modern day beauty craze though, this is far more of a rediscovery than a reinvention. In fact, gua sha is actually an ancient practice deep rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and has been used in beauty rituals for thousands of years.
What does gua sha do?
The name itself translates to ‘scrape’ (gua) and ‘redness’ (sha), which describes the technique of using these familiar, smooth-edged tools to gently glide over your skin in upward, lifting motions.
But, is it worth all the hype we see and read about today?
The idea behind gua sha is that it helps to ease tight facial muscles to soften lines, stimulates blood flow for enhanced glow and encourages lymphatic drainage…Which is just a fancy way of saying that it helps to reduce puffiness and give your skin that fresh, more lifted look. All of which, I love 😍
A professional perspective
If you’re a longtime blog reader though, you’ll know that as an aesthetician, I’m somewhat of a science nerd 🤓 This means that while the benefits of gua sha beneath the surface of your skin are undeniable, I personally don’t partake in the more spiritual aspects - Although I do respect them hugely.
Many people believe in charging their gua sha stones, usually made from jade or quartz, in the moonlight or storing them under their pillow for good energy. However, I personally believe that you can skip the stones altogether and use the magic of your very own fingertips.
Hands vs. Stone
During my facial massage training, now over a decade ago, I was taught to lift, sculpt and drain faces with my hands alone.
I feel it allows you to control the pressure more evenly, better locate specific areas of tension and the natural warmth in your palms provides instant relaxation for your muscles. So those fine lines soften even faster.
But that’s just my opinion. Like everything, it simply comes down to personal preference. Whether you prefer the support of a gua sha or like the warmth and control of your fingertips, as long as you’re massaging your face a couple of times a week and enjoying all the rejuvenating benefits, it really doesn’t matter.
How to practice gua sha (or facial massage) safely
Just remember that when you do practice either technique, to use a couple of drops of The Everything Oil so that you glide effortlessly over your skin. The last thing you want is to pull, tug or stretch it which can accelerate wrinkle formation!
If you’d like a beginner friendly face massage routine you can follow at home, I’ll link the one I do here for you. And no matter if you use a stone or your hands, you’ll wake up to the most beautifully sculpted skin 🥰
