How To Use Gua Sha on Face Safely?

What is Gua Sha? How to use Gua Sha on face? Originally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Gua Sha has seen a considerable increase in popularity lately. Still, it is one of the oldest face massage tools which has been around since time immemorial. The technique used for this modern-day facial scraping is influenced by the traditional Chinese practice known as Gua Sha. Gua (‘scrape’) refers to stroke or press, and Sha (‘sand’) means redness.

Early users of scraping report that it leaves skin red, but this is good because the skin will heal better. When it comes to the Gua Sha treatment nowadays, it is less intense and will still leave you with a well-scraped face. It can have other marvellous effects on your body!

Types of Gua Sha

Gua sha comes in many shapes and sizes, such as the tiger gua sha for large muscle groups and larger parts of the body, and the face gua sha for smaller parts of the face.

Gua sha tools have heart shaped, moon shaped and rectangular in variations. Some come with many different types of edges for different parts of the face (e.g. pointed, curved, or comb-ed). There are also special gua shas to address specific needs, such as the ‘mushroom’ shaped ones for the eyes, and acupressure gua shas that are similar to stick-like shapes which are longer.

All these tools go with softly rounded edges that won’t damage your skin. There are many types of gua sha tools that vary in shape. Some materials you’ll find in tools are rose quartz, turquoise, jade, obsidian, glass, or wood. The idea is that each stone has a unique healing quality.

Benefits of Gua Sha

1. Lymphatic Drainage

A slow lymphatic system can cause people to have puffy eyes, tired-looking skin, acne and other skin problems. Due to the anatomy of the lymphatic system, they are only able to be circulated when you move or massage them, therefore using a Gua Sha method is the best way to increase it.

2. Deals with Cystic acne

The use of Gua Sha as a treatment for acne is often mistaken as ineffective. Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese therapy that can aid in reducing acne. This type of treatment mainly works by improving circulation and unblocking congestion. Gua Sha should never be applied to broken skin or pustules.

Read also: How to remove pimples

3. Fights acne scars

The Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese technique that helps get rid of the dead cells from your skin. This renews your skin and reduces acne scars.

4. Reduces Puffiness

Your facial skin will tighten and become more angular thanks to the Gua Sha massage.

5. No more dark circles or tired-looking skin

A better blood flow gives your skin a younger appearance and lesser dark circles.

Read also: How to remove dark circles

6. Softens Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Gua Sha can help to relax aging signs on your face by smoothing out muscle and tissue.

How To Use Your Gua Sha on Face?

1. To begin, it is important to clean your Gua Sha tool. You may also want to place your tool in the refrigerator for a few hours for an additional cooling and soothing effect on the skin.
2. Cleanse your face of all makeup and dirt and apply any of the serums, oils or moisturisers that you prefer. Ideally, your skin should be sufficiently greasy or slippery with some product on it to prevent any irritation from this technique.
3. Hold your tool correctly. Use the curved surface to follow the contours of your skin and use the flat side of the tool to apply pressure on your skin.
4. The best place to start is at the base of one side of your neck and up, towards your jaw. Make sure that you use the wide side of your tool and not the pointed side. Repeat the same thing again a few times. Then, move to the front of your neck, making an upward movement without exerting too much pressure.
5. You will need to start scraping from the center of your chin with the smaller cleft or divot in your Gua Sha. Use a spatula to scrape it along your jawline from your chin towards the side of your neck a few times. Then do the same on the other side.
6. Use the flatter side of your tool and scrape from the center of your face outwards to massage the cheeks. You will need to do this in a couple horizontal lines to cover all areas.
7. Use the small rounded end of your tool to massage the area under your eyes, moving it from your temples towards the bridge of your nose on its way back down.
8. Place the tool at the center of your forehead and slowly move it upwards towards your hairline.
9. Once you are done rubbing your face with skincare, make sure to cleanse your skin, if you need to.

Summary

Now you have an idea on how to use Gua Sha on face, right? According to our experts, we recommend performing gua sha three to four times a week for about 3 to 5 minutes each time. Make the most of your Gua Sha experience and stay safe with these tips!

Read also: How to remove oily skin naturally, How to remove black heads

References

• Gua Sha 101 : All About How To Use The Gua Sha Tool. (2022).
• Gua Sha Tools Can Help Depuff Your Face—Here’s How to Use One Properly. (2022).