The Gua Sha Effect: Everything You’ve Always Wanted To Know About Facial Massage And Why You Need It In Your Life
If you’ve spent any significant amount of time on the beauty side of TikTok in recent years, chances are good that you’ve already been introduced to the gua sha phenomenon.
You’ve likely already seen dozens of videos of influencers touting the dark circle diminishing, double chin destroying, and cheekbone sculpting benefits of taking to your face with trendy tools in all manner of colors, shapes, and sizes.
However, despite the practice’s popularity (and Instagramability), many people remain intimidated by gua sha, or still have a lot of questions as to just how effective the technique actually is. For example, are those before and after shots really for real? Inquiring minds want to know!
If this is you, fear not. We’re here to demystify all things facial massage, and let you in on all the secrets for getting gua sha right.
So, first things first. What is gua sha? And what is it all about?
Although it’s been making a big splash in the beauty world in recent years, it’s super important to note that gua sha is actually an ancient beauty ritual dating back to the paleolithic age and China’s Ming Dynasty, at which time it was utilized as a therapeutic treatment for all manner of illnesses and injuries.
Early on, gua sha was administered as a body treatment and the term gua sha (p.s. It’s pronounced “gwah-shah”, in case you were wondering) refers to the scraping of skin, to the point of redness, in order to stimulate circulation and move stagnant energies within the body.
Centuries later, the practice has evolved a bit, to become a skincare modality, and while this may seem like a bit of a stretch, what modern beauty therapists have developed is a new method known as facial gua sha.
Today’s facial gua sha is inspired by the original concept and uses similar tools, but has been adapted to serve a much different purpose – though one that, nonetheless, gets rather impressive results. Which leads us to our next question:
Are those pretty tools actually going to do anything for your skin?
In a word? Yes. The good news here is that gua sha is hardly overhyped. The benefits of a facial using gua sha massage range from subtle to incredible but are very much the real deal.
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash
For starters, any form of facial massage has benefits for encouraging nourishing blood flow to the skin, as well as encouraging lymphatic drainage – aka your magic bullet for reducing puffiness, and promoting an overall radiant complexion – and gua sha is no different in this respect.
It’s appropriate for most skin types, except for anyone experiencing active acne, and can be used to address several common concerns, including dull skin, discoloration, and signs of aging.
When we treat the skin to lymph support, excess fluid is flushed away and can work wonders to sculpt and define facial features such as the jawline, cheekbones, brows, and forehead. It can even help to create a bit of a youthful lifting effect for the entire face.
Additionally, what tools such as a jade gua sha stone can accomplish comes from the weight of the tool being used in tandem with personal care products such as serum or facial oil, to infuse active ingredients deep into the skin.
To sum it up succinctly, circulation to the skin + lymphatic drainage + ingredient infusion = your holy trinity for a serious glow factor.
How To Get In On Gua Sha: What To Look For and What to Avoid
By now, you’re probably getting the gist that gua sha is worth seeking out, but before you go all in, it’s worth discussing a few of the particulars to get the most out of a gua sha-enhanced facial.
While we love to see holistic beauty trends taking off and offering an alternative to more invasive procedures, the buyer-beware caveat here is that you shouldn’t trust just anyone to administer your gua sha treatment. If your facialist hasn’t been trained on proper technique and use of the various tools, it can end up with bruising or scrape marks on the skin. You’re also unlikely to get the beautiful results that gua sha can produce from an unskilled practitioner.
To get the absolute best experience, we recommend researching to find a facialist specializing in gua sha and maybe even offering it exclusively. Although there are currently no state board regulations explicitly stating that skincare therapists need special certification to offer gua sha, these certifications do exist, and you would be wise to seek out a practitioner who has obtained theirs.
What About DIY? A Word on At-Home Gua Sha
Of course, the other thing many people want to know is whether or not they can get the same kind of results by simply purchasing a tool and taking matters into their own hands. While we wouldn’t advise against it thoroughly, it’s still a good idea to book a professional gua sha facial first.
Receiving treatment from a trained practitioner will help you establish a feel for the right pressure and pace of movement using the tool, which are things you can’t necessarily gauge by watching an online tutorial. Most gua sha experts are happy to explain the technique, answer any questions, and even point you in the right direction for purchasing tools.
One last beauty secret about gua sha is that it works best when you do it consistently. For an optimal outcome, we recommend partnering with a professional for regular treatments – which, by the way, are super relaxing and worth every penny – while also incorporating a bit of at-home care for maintenance. In this scenario, everybody wins, and your skin will be the ultimate benefactor.