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Gua sha is a skincare practice which involves scraping your skin with a jade massage tool in order to alleviate inflammation, increase blood flow, and define your jawline and cheekbones for a brighter complexion. The practice is an ancient Chinese technique, and has been adopted by skincare gurus in recent years for the multitude of positive side effects it can provide. As the winter progresses, I’ve noticed my skin has been even more tired-looking and dull than usual, so when I heard about gua sha I knew it was something that could be worth a try. If anything, it will be a nice face massage!
For my gua sha tool kit, I used the Skin Gym Jade Gua Sha Tool, and the Elaluz Beauty Oil to prep my skin. It’s important to apply an oil before you embark on your gua sha journey so the jade has something to glide over, instead of tugging on your skin. After applying three drops of the oil to my face and neck, I took the long edge of the jade and, starting on the right side of my neck with light pressure, dragged the tool from the base of my neck to my jaw. I did this five times, and then repeated on the other side. From what I read, you’re supposed to break your face into sections, doing five strokes of the gua sha tool in each area before moving on.
The order you should be following, according to the Skin Gym website, is:
1. Jawline and chin
2. Forehead
3. Cheek
4. Under eye
5. Brows
6. Lips
7. Neck
When I reached my under eyes, I moved to the pointed end of the jade and applied slightly less pressure. The skin under your eyes is naturally thinner and more sensitive, so it needs a lighter hand. I did make the mistake of pressing a little too hard on my forehead, and left a nice red mark for about an hour after, but otherwise I would categorize the process as a success.
I gua sha’d my face once a day for three days, and while I may have seen better results with a longer trial period, I was pleasantly surprised with what I did see! My eye area looked noticeably brighter and more awake, and maybe it was just in my mind but my jawline felt more defined. I also definitely felt less puffy, so I would recommend if facial inflammation is a concern. I’ll have to keep practicing to see if I notice any more long-term benefits, but the process felt luxurious and was a nice addition to my evening routine.
