As of late, the beauty world has seen the rise of a number of different treatments promising gorgeous, clear skin. You’ve got your enzyme peels, micro-needling, PRP, LED light, CBD infused facials… the list goes on and on.
But one technique that’s particularly gained our attention is gua sha. Not only is it a simple beauty ritual you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home without having to visit expensive clinics, but the ancient Chinese practice is also one of the best ways to simultaneously indulge in a little self-care.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn more about how you can use gua sha on your face, the many benefits that come with it and our favourite facial oils to pair with it for the ultimate skin-loving experience.
What exactly is gua sha?
Put simply, gua sha—meaning ‘scraping’ in Chinese,—refers to a beauty tool that’s typically made from jade, rose quartz and other semi-precious stones. These stones are carved into shapes designed to complement the contours of the face, and the idea is to apply this to the skin with a firm but gentle upward and downward motion.
Traditionally, the technique is used over the entire body (and quite vigorously for that matter), where the skin is scraped until red. Using a much smaller tool and adopting a much softer approach for the face, some studies have even found gua sha to have impressive results.
Note: Unlike its ancient counterpart, Gua sha for the face is not supposed to hurt! You’re in total control of how much pressure to apply for comfort.
Benefits of gua sha:
Here are just some of the benefits you can look forward to when using gua sha on your face:
- Stimulates circulation
- Relieves tension
- Assists in lymphatic drainage
- Helps eliminate puffiness
- Flushes toxins
- Redirects energy
- Smooth fine lines
- Promote skin elasticity
- Increased sense of calm
Gua sha vs. Jade roller
Whilst similar principles apply to the jade roller and gua sha in theory, jade rolling takes advantage of the actual contact between the stone and the skin, whereas gua sha is not so much about the material used but rather the scraping technique itself.
Tips for best use:
Best used with facial oils to help the tool slide along the face smoothly, the angled movement achieved by the gua sha also helps the skin absorb all the goodness of the product beneath the surface.
- Apply facial oil
- Hold the tool in your dominant hand with the other hand ready to support the skin
- Start at the neck and work your way up
- Keep tool at an almost flat angle to the skin
- Move from the centre of the face outwards
- Repeat each stroke 5 times
- Be extra gentle around the eye area
- You can apply extra pressure around the jawline
Facial oils:
Depending on your skin concern, here are two we’re loving by Jurlique:
Jurlique’s Skin Balancing Face Oil
For: Hydration and even skin tone.
Designed to help with dry skin and hydration, this luxurious oil intensely nourishes and balances the skin thanks to moisture-boosting ingredients including rose hip oil, safflower, macadamia and avocado oils.
Jurlique’s Herbal Recovery Antioxidant Face Oil
For: Combating signs of ageing and dry skin.
Rich in fatty acids to leave the skin feeling smooth and hydrated, the potent blend of antioxidant-rich botanical oils revitalises the complexion, minimises the first signs of ageing and protects against environmental aggressors. Combines grapeseed oil, avocado oil and rosehip oil.
With a bit of ancient Chinese wisdom, one simple tool and the right facial oils, consider yourself one step closer to glowing skin (and a deeply relaxed state!).
Visit www.jurlique.com/us for more.
