Anytime I need to be camera ready, you know I love a face roller, but I learned to take it to the next level with this simple little tool and the results are exceptional. Continue reading for all the benefits of Gua Sha on how to sculpt, tone and depuff your face!

Gua Sha Face Scraping tool

Oh, how I love Gua Sha! It may seem like one of the newest skincare and self care trends thanks to Instagram, but apparently, this has been around for centuries in Ancient Chinese medicine. This little tool that looks like a little foot may seem simple, but the Gua Sha has so many benefits for your overall health and well being.

How I discovered it

My very close friend Emily Berry is a very popular commercial and tv actress. She knows how to sell her brand and since she and I are similar and specific types, we share all the info we know with each other. A friend of hers introduced her to a pre-headshots facial to help remove fluid and de-puff her face. The esthetician goes in and massages the face with oils and serums and treatments, but in a non-traditional facial manner (at least how I’ve experienced facials) like using knuckles and tools to “drain” fluid up and out of the face. HER HEADSHOTS WERE AMAZING. Her skin looked revitalized and her face healthy and toned. So I did a little investigating myself on facial massage and how to remove fluid from the face... And then I found gua-sha!

I was fascinated by how many health and skin gurus alike were using this tool. I started using it in January and then quarantine happened, and forgot my tool at home. So sad. I literally thought I would be home for two weeks, four max. IT’S NOW AUGUST (and finally posting in October) and I love it more than ever. It’s proven to be one of my favorite self-care tools.

What it is

The tool itself can comes in various shapes, with different edges that are all designed to hug the contours of the face. It was originally used in ancient Chinese medicine to help relieve people of ailments like heat stroke, fevers, colds, even liver inflammation and hepatitis. The Chinese would use spoons or horns but today they’re typically made of stone; some are rose-quartz, jade, or amethyst. I’ve seen some beautiful black and white stones, but just make sure you find one with qualities and a shape that’s going to suit your face and body needs.

Benefits

The gua sha not only benefits your skin and face but your overall health, feeling and appearance.

This is perfect before a big event, photoshoot or filming… or just a Sunday morning after a long weekend. ;)

What is does is that it starts to drain your lymphatic system, so all those toxins, created and left behind over time from food, stress, alcohol, and germs — are pushed to your lymph nodes to start to detoxify and drain out of your body, thus helping you feel overall healthier.

Because you’re “scraping” at the skin, and moving things along inside your body, it’s like you’re moving stale, stagnant chi out of your body, leaving you feeling more vital.

It also helps relax muscles and apparently helps stimulate collagen production, which we start naturally losing at 25. Collagen is what keeps your skin looking plump and full.

Not only is it good for your body, but when it comes to using it on your face, it helps push all the fluid out so your face looks more sculpted, lifted andtoned. It’s a good “workout and exercise” for your face in my opinion because you’re stimulating the skin.

It increases blood flow and circulation, so I find it helps with my circles and also brings a gorgeous natural flush to your skin so it’s bright with a rosy glow.

How to use it

There are certain techniques that you can find online that help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and helps relax the face. I swear it helps my 11’s and my “laugh” lines are hardly there.

There are so many videos on line of how to use them. My favorite masterclass was from Danna at NoySkincare with Melissa Wood Health. You can find their IG Video here. They did a 45-minute convo and how-to tutorial and Danna explains in depth what the Gua Sha is and how it works and how to properly use it on yourself for best results. . I followed along with their how-to tutorial and here is my before and after. It’s insane! We really took our time, but I can typically do a full face and neck massage with the gua sha in about 10-20 minutes, depending on what I’m doing it for. Danna even shows you how to do a lip massage that I started doing at night — it makes my lips so pretty and full the next day!

On the left is my before, on the right is my after. You can see the difference in my eyes, nose, and cheeks of all the fluid retention that has moved. I feel like my eyes look bigger, my circles are lightened and my skin looks more sculpted. It’s fascinating! I actually had to change into a more open top, I didn’t realize we would be starting at our neck for max results.

First and most importantly, prep your skin and neck with a face oil to give your skin a bit of a slip so you’re not tugging. I tried at the beginning with extra moisturizer… doesn’t really work since your skin quickly absorbs it, so an oil is ideal. I use my favorite Bio-Oil most of the time, and started using the Tarte Marcuja oil if I’m scraping in the morning. You can do a cleansing oil you love, I’ve tried Jojoba oil (I don’t like the smell). Both are very affordable and there are countless options out there.

To start, and this is for overall holistic health… if you don’t have time for this, you may want to just do your face. Then, starting at the base of the neck with the curve of the tool along the neck, you scrape up, 5-10 times. Then move to the next back part of the neck, and scrape upwards to push everything up and work your way around the neck until you’re done. When you get to the front of the throat, still work the tool up from your throat to your chin.

Face: gently holding down the opposite side of your skin to have a bit of pull, drag the tool upwards 5-10 times with the stone at a 45 degree angle against the skin, and gently scrape the tool from the lips upwards towards the ear, then move up and up. Be gentle around the eyes, and work from the inner corner out. You can also place the groove along the jaw line, that helps depuff there too. There are many actual visual tutorials online, and I may post one on my IG to show you how, as well.

Why I love it

It makes me feel so energized and revitalized when I do it in the morning and very relaxed at night! I even use it all over my body because the stone is so durable, your able to get into the arms and thighs to help relieve tight muscles. You can really get in there, especially on your neck and shoulders. I love the depuffing effects it has on my skin, the beautiful flush my skin has and overall how I FEEL. It’s an excellent tool to add to your beauty regimen that makes you feel like you’re getting a super luxurious and innovative spa treatment.

Where to buy

There are some different brands, here are a few places you can find some:

I got mine here at Amazon - I’m not sure if this is the exact brand, but very similar to the model I have. You can find some kids on there with different shapes and other tools like eye massages or face rollers.

Sephora Here is a search of a few tools

Skin Gym They also have a multitude of dfferent shapes.

Educators and ESTHETICIANS: Who to follow

Here are some professional estheticians I follow who taught me about the skincare, facial massaging and Gua Sha. They know much more than I do on a clinical level, so I say best follow a professional! I’m just a mere fan and MUA.

My sweet friend, Nicole Caroline Skin. She is an exceptional esthetician based out of New York. She shares so many videos on skincare, facial massage and so much more. I can’t wait to try her ice globes. She was one of the first girls I met through our mutual friend and she welcomed me with open arms. She’s such a beautiful person with such a warm energy. You will love her and everything she has to share!

Angela Caglia has great information and amazing videos on her page as well. I met her through my friend, Pilates By Amanda. I’ve never been to her, but am a big fan of her work.

NoySkincare I found Danna on TikTok and loved her professionalism and personality! She’s a great educator and was so glad to learn from her masterclass with Melissa Wood Health as I linked above.

I am in no way affiliated or endorsed by any of these women, I am merely a fan of their work, commitment to education and am grateful they share so much so freely with their followers.

Resources

Here are some articles that helped me understand the history and benefits of gua-sha, I would check them out as some go more in depth and see if this is the right tool for you to bring into your at-home spa treatments.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/a11234/gua-sha-treatment/

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/porter/article-81c1680be5fd1b8c/beauty/skin/gua-sha

https://www.guasha.com this site is from a doctor, so great detail on how to and the health benefits.

Aftercare

I don’t share my gua sha or any face tools and am sure to keep it clean, with soap and water and sometimes I’ll use pure alcohol to spray it to sanitize and remove the oils that can build up.

I like to keep mine in the fridge or freezer, it makes your morning massage much more stimulating.

Also, be sure to drink plenty of water before and after to help cleanse your system. They say you may feel your body heat up, and I know I do. They say you also may start sneezing, or feeling nasal drip and that’s totally normal, it’s your body getting rid of those toxins and excess fluid.

I hope this helps and encourages you to take your self care to the next level. It’s such a great way to start your day! Send me your before and after pics on IG! I’d love to see your results, they really are beautiful!

Stay safe, healthy and beautiful!

Xox,