Facial Gua Sha Techniques
Gua Sha is a technique that stems from ancient Chinese Medicine practices and translates as “scraping”. It is the act of “scraping” along the skin that helps to improve circulation and increase the elimination of toxins from the body. It can be done almost anywhere on the body, such as the back and shoulders for pain, the neck for headaches, or even the face for a quick lift and shine! When this technique is applied to facial tissues it helps to improve skin tone or even scaring and gives your skin a healthy glow. This simple practice can have your skin feeling better and looking smoother in only a few minutes each day!
Many cosmetic acupuncture sessions will incorporate some facial gua sha into the treatments, but this technique is a quick and easy practice that can be done at home as well. This routine is a natural alternative to Botox or other facial rejuvenation procedures. The gentle act of “scrapping” the skin helps to boost the micro-circulation of Qi, blood, and lymph to the soft tissues of the face and can ease jaw pain, decrease inflammation, and increase the healing of scar tissue.
As with all practices in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) this routine addresses the Shen. The Shen is the body-mind connection. It allows us time to connect with ourselves, and one of the most prominent physical characteristics of our body is the face and skin. We can infuse each stroke with a positive affirmation, boosting our self-esteem and bringing more love into our lives.
Most tools used for gua sha are made from stone, bone, or metal. My favorite and the most widely used tools are made from stone. The energetics of these stones can also impact the skin. Crystals, especially jade and rose quartz, are amazing stones that are believed to have healing and calming energetic properties. The history of jade within healthcare goes back thousands of years in Chinese medicine as it was an acupuncture "needle" before the years of metalsmithing. Facial rollers are also made from stone and share many of the same benefits. These tools are great to massage the face and neck and leave the skin feeling relaxed and refreshed.
Benefits of Gua Sha for Skin and Face
Tone facial muscles
Help release jaw tension
Improves blood circulation
Stimulate detoxification and lymphatic drainage
Reduce puffiness and dark under-eye circles
Brightens complexion
Tighten pores
Lifts eyebrows
Smooths wrinkles, softens fine lines
How to do Facial Gua Sha
Cleanse your skin, apply a toner and then apply you favorite natural face oil, moisturizer or serum all over face and neck. (See my article about face oils if you need some direction choosing an option.) The oil helps to lubricate the skin to avoid an unnecessary friction or tugging. It will also help to improve absorption of the product.
Your strokes can be long or short, depending on where you are working. Use firm get gentle stokes along the skin 3- 5 times in each area.
Hold the gua sha tool with the curved side to your face and glide it along your skin. Mainly moving in the up and outward direction.
I like to start with the top of my face and move down. For example, start along your forehead and make gentle sweeps upward from the eyebrows to the hair line. Break the forehead into about six sections and pass over each section 3-5 times. Then trace up and outward along the eyebrows. Think gentle and firm strokes.
Move dowward over the nose.
Move to the middle of the face and do the under eye. Move outward along the cheek bone.
Scrape the cheeks, from nose to ears, and then from the corner of your mouth to the ears.
Then focus on the jawline. moving from the chin all the way out to the ears.
You can even perform this lightly under the chin and neck. When focusing on the neck I actually like to do long strokes in a downward motion to help boost lymphatic drainage. Start from behind the ears, long strokes down the neck, all the way to the collarbone.
Continue doing so for 2-5 minutes each day. I like to do this in the morning to kick start my day with healthy vibrant skin and a bright yet relaxed take on the world!
Clean your tool with a gentle soap and warm water, or an alcohol swab.
Gua Sha Tools
You don’t need a very fancy tool to make this work, nor will a fancy tool make the gua sha “work” better. The most important thing is to find something that you like and are inspired to use, as you won’t receive any of the benefits if you don’t do it! What is most important is your technique! But if you are interested in the variety of materials that tools are made from there are benefits from different materials.
Jade is a semi-precious stone that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It is cool to the touch and when used with one’s skin it’s helpful with closing the pores and creating firmer skin. This stone can help to relax the nervous system and promote a sense of balance, calmness, and well-being.
Rose quartz is used to help reduce inflammation and improve circulation. This is a silica stone that is full of minerals such as magnesium and iron. Rose quartz is largely associated with confidence, self-love, and harmony.
A Word of Caution
Everyone’s skin is different so be sure to test this technique out before doing a full routine. This may not be the best technique for those with overly sensitive skin, and make sure to avoid any open wounds or active infections. The skin may turn red as it releases any underlying tension and the redness may stay for a few days. As you practice this technique more you will notice the skin gets more resilient. If you are taking blood thinner or clotting medication, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.
Other options for Natural Skin Care
Jade roller- A jade roller is another great option to help improve the health of your skin and overall glow. It is very similar to gua sha except the tool rolls along the skin. It is a bit more gentle overall.
Pro Tip* Place the roller in the fridge to keep it cool before using, this will help to decrease puffiness and inflammation. This is a great skin care kit, that has a gua sha tool and a roller.
Dermaroller/ Micro rolling- This technique is like facial acupuncture at home. The tiny spikes upon the roller create microtraumas and increase microcirulation in the skin which helps to trigger the bodi’s healing response. It is a great way to boost Qi, blood, and lymph in the face. It is a great way to reduce the appearance of larger pores or scarring from cystic acne. This technique is not advised for people with eczema, psoriasis, or active cystic skin.
