It’s 2022, which means you’ve likely seen the praises of gua sha splashed across your social media. Type in “gua sha” on TikTok and you’ll be flooded with impressive before and after videos showing off the transformative results of this tiny tool. Gua sha is designed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce inflammation and sculpt the face (we’re talking cheekbones you never knew you had)! Gua sha helps you to relieve tension, stiffness and reduce deep-set neck lines that can occur from prolonged use of technology (aka “tech neck”). Read on to discover our gua sha guide for the face and neck, and learn from our Lead Skin Care Trainer, Natalie Pergar, as she walks you through the proper gua sha technique.

What Is Gua Sha?

Gua sha has received recent praise for delivering impressive sculpting and tension-relieving results at a budget-friendly price point. While it may seem new to many of us, gua sha in fact dates back to the Paleolithic Age and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.Now widely recognized for its beauty benefits, the practice of gua sha began as a full body treatment for illness, disease and acupuncture therapy, where a stone was used to scrape across the skin to relieve pain and inflammation.

Traditionally, the gua sha tool was made from jade or bian stone, but, given the tool’s immense popularity, there are now varieties ranging from rose quartz to stainless steel. According to Byrdie, it’s important to consider the shape of the gua sha, as it should be comfortable to grip and complement the natural contours of the face. Look for one with multiple angles and divots to allow for smooth gliding along the jawline, cheekbones and under the eyes. 

Does Gua Sha Actually Work?

With all that said and done, does gua sha live up to the hype? We certainly think so, and not just for its skin-smoothing benefits, but as a holistic practice that encourages relaxation, reduces stress and releases tension in the body. As with most skin care habits, consistency is key to achieving the best results. Experts recommend starting your gua sha routine with two to three days a week and eventually working up to every day.

A study published in the Journal of Science and Healing suggests that gua sha can increase microcirculation in the skin by up to 400%, which results in a healthy, youthful-looking glow. Another clinical trial published by PubMed demonstrated positive causation when combining facial massage and “anti-aging cream.” In this trial, 22 women applied a commercial anti-aging cream, followed with daily use of a massaging device. At the end of the eight week period, wrinkles appeared visibly smoother and the beneficial effects of the cream were amplified. Dermatologist (and YouTuber) Dr. Dray shares her professional opinion on gua sha and goes into detail about the clinical study mentioned above. As always, it’s important to begin any new skin care practice with realistic expectations! 

Benefits Of Gua Sha For The Face And Neck  

What are the benefits of gua sha? According to Sandra Lanshin Chiu, an acupuncturist and owner of Lanshin, a holistic healing studio in New York, gua sha is effective for all skin types and concerns, including acne prone. “Congested skin is stagnated — meaning circulation of fluid and blood is sluggish, causing the skin to be more susceptible to swelling and inflammation. Facial gua sha not only helps lymphatic circulation (and thus drainage), it also improves the quality of blood circulation and energy (“qi”) circulation.”  

Gua sha also:

• Sculpts and contours the face
• Improves product absorption  
• Relaxes muscles and releases tension 
• Improves circulation
• Reduces puffiness 

Lanshin’s team of experts insists that focusing on the neck is essential to any gua sha routine, because it acts as a “pathway that shuttles vital nutrients up to feed your head and face, as well as circulates wastes down and out.” The hours spent each day on our phones and computers can contribute to neck tension that impacts how the neck functions. “Gua sha helps relieve muscle and tissue tension, allowing our bodies to return to optimal function. Increased circulation of blood, vital fluids and life force energy can then be returned to your skin and tissues. When done properly and regularly, this can lessen the appearance of the signs of ‘aging’ so many dread.”

Gua Sha Techniques For The Face And Neck 

For a video demonstration of gua sha techniques, view this In The Mix video with Natalie:

Natalie shares a step-by-step guide on how to gua sha your face and neck for best results:

• Apply 4 – 10 drops of your preferred facial oil.
• Starting from the base of your neck, gently glide the tool upwards towards the jawline on both sides.
• Next, sweep outwards working from the middle of your chin towards the ear.
• After this, sweep across cheeks finishing at the hairline.
• Sweep over your eyebrow and up towards your hairline.
• Sweep from between the eyebrows up to the hairline.
• Finally, sweep upwards from the middle of your forehead to the hairline.
• Repeat on the other side of your face.
• Sweep each area between 3 – 10 times before moving onto the next part of the face.
• Press the tool flat against your face. If you feel the gua sha tool tugging at your skin, add more oil or spritz with facial mist.

Products To Use For Gua Sha

Prep the skin with either a mist, serum, oil or moisturizer that provides enough slip for the gua sha tool to glide easily over the skin. You want to avoid tugging at the skin, as this can cause unwanted redness and irritation. If you find that happening, add a few more drops of your desired product. We recommend our beloved Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil and the Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream For Face & Neck.  for your gua sha routine. 

Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil

The Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil is our ultra-hydrating face oil that works to protect the skin against drying environmental pollutants, improve elasticity and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This award-winning product contains skin loving ingredients like seabuckthorn oil, rosehip oil and jojoba oil to soothe the look of dryness and reveal a glowy, youthful appearance. If you do feel the product absorbing too quickly as you work on different areas of the face, try spritzing one of our facial mists on top to rehydrate the skin. 

Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream For Face & Neck

The Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream For Face & Neck is another great option to include in your gua sha routine, as it’s one of our richer, moisturizing creams. This cream works best for drier skin types given its deeply hydrating ingredients like argan oil, shea butter and our Argan Stem Cell Complex. You can also pair the cream with one of our toners for additional hydration and slip when using your gua sha.

We recommend the Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist, a skin-plumping toner formulated with a Natural Retinol Alternative, swiss green apple and coconut water, perfectly suited for all skin types. This toner has a five star rating on our website and has even found its way into Olivia Culpo’s nighttime skin care routine, featured in Harper’s Bazaar. Using your gua sha after applying the Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream For Face & Neck will help the product’s active ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin for maximum line-smoothing results. 

Ready to enhance your skin care routine? Our expert trained estheticians can help you build a routine with products custom suited for your unique skin needs. Book now at your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner.