There are so many beauty tools on the market right now but one that has been around for ages has become quite popular lately. The gua sha tool, a tool used in ancient Chinese medicine to help with lymphatic drainage, is giving many women hope when it comes to anti-aging. Why? Because it lifts, firms, and relaxes the muscles in the face. But is it better than Botox?
More Reading: The Secret to Preventative Skincare
*note: there are some affiliate links in this post linking to products I recommend.
You may be wondering what exactly gua sha is and what it does.
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine method that uses a smooth tool to (gently) scrape the skin. Gua sha is used to treat chronic pain all over the body but it’s also become popular in the beauty industry. Not only does it promote healing but helps you detox. And most people get other treatments with it like heat therapy, accupunture and other Chinese medicine treatments. Gua sha has been known to help with face and overall body inflamation, migraines, TMJ (I can attest to this one!), pre-menopause, neck pain, and more.
*Note: you should always consult your doctor if you have a health condition before trying any new techniques.
When it comes to skincare, this method has really made a wave.
Many women are using this practice instead of Botox. It’s cheaper and has real results. Botox relaxes the nerves and muscles while gua sha provides oxygen, blood flow, drainage of fluids, and waste. The gua sha stone facial tool has become popular as it helps de-puff the face, plump skin, and even relieves sinuses. Beauty gurus are using it to prep and depuff their skin before applying makeup, too. The results are immediate and if you use it a couple of times per week, you can definitely skip out on the Botox shots. However, I have nothing against Botox, I’m simply sharing another option.
To begin, I will share that I have pretty severe TMJ
I’ve talked about it on here in the past and done many things to help relieve the pain. Once I began using the gua sha stone on my jaw, I cannot believe the reduction of pain I’ve experienced. It’s still there but the pain has significantly reduced. Gua sha has helped relieve tension in the jaw muscles. It has also helped with headaches. I have tried Botox to help prevent my teeth from grinding at night (which has helped a lot!) but I can say that after doing this and other natural things, I haven’t needed to go back for any shots. They’re pricey and not fun to get on your jaw. Ouch!
Aside from the face, you can treat other areas using the gua sha method.
For example, your neck, back, legs- your entire body basically. Those areas will require a larger gua sha tool. I can talk about my bigger tools another day. In this post, we’re going to focus on using this method for the face. There are so many health and beauty benefits it’s surprising that it’s just becoming popular now.
Gua sha benefits
- Helps produce collagen
- Stimulates circulation
- De-puffs
- Brightens
- Tightens
- Gives skin a glow
- Lessens inflammation
- Reduces fine lines
- Contours
- Relieves sinuses
- Helps detox, drain lympathic system
How to gua sha
First, you’ll need the right tools. If you need a recommendation, I like this gua sha stone. And this facial oil. Or if you prefer, you may use a face sheet mask instead. I prefer facial oil because it lasts longer and is less messy.
It’s all about the motions. After applying your facial oil (with clean hands), using gentle pressure, hold the chin and stroke upwards toward the ear. Do this a few times on each side of the face and in small areas. It should take you about 15 minutes to treat your face. The best way to learn is by watching so I’ve linked a video below.
*tip: drink warm water before you begin. And relax!
Here’s a great video that teaches you how to properly use your tool.
Keeping your gua sha stone clean is also important.
Remember to clean it regulary. All you have to do is soak it in a bowl with warm soapy water. I like to wipe off with an alcohol wipe.
tip: If yours is a stone like mine (rose quartz), you’ll want to re-charge it after you cleanse it. If you have moon water, an easy way is to clean it with that. If not, place in a bowl of himalyan salt, set on a window sill directly under the moon light over night. You can set some intentions while you’re at it.
