Skip to content 
In honor of one of this month’s skincare specials (gift with purchase) let’s talk Gua Sha!! “What is it?” you ask? Let alone, how do you pronounce it? Well, if you’ve been feeling like it’s time to take your in-office and at-home skincare health to the next level (btw, see our past blog about our 360° Approach to Skin Health, we have the perfect suggestion for you! It’s called gua sha (pronounced gu-wa-sha) and it’s been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for millennia. Gua sha is believed to reduce puffiness and increase circulation, both of which help give you a glow and improve your overall complexion. When used in conjunction with lotions, serums, and creams, it can help make a big difference in your skin. Gua sha has other benefits, too, particularly for the body. In studies, it has proven effective in temporarily relieving pain, like, for example, in the neck. It has even been shown to help alleviate migraine headaches.
Using tools on your face that you’re unfamiliar with can be intimidating, but gua sha is simple to use and very gentle. Gua sha is basically a face (and body) smoothing technique (it’s literal meaning is “to scrape sand”), or lymphatic drainage tool. The tools are handheld, and made of polished materials like rose quartz, jade, amethyst, or stainless steel. As you stroke your skin with this tool for about 3 to 5 minutes, you can help to improve circulation, relieve stress, relax tension, and encourage healing.
You can use a gua sha tool regularly, particularly in the mornings when many people experience puffiness in the face. Apply a medical grade facial oil or serum (check out some of our professional favorites here if you need ideas: Image Skincare VITAL C hydrating Facial Oil, Jan Marini C Esta Serum, ZO Skin Health Brightalive & Aesthetics MD Age Defying Repair Creme onto the puffy areas (or all over your face, if you like) and use your gua sha tool to evenly and delicately distribute the product onto your skin.
Helpful Tips on How to use your Gua Sha tool:
• Use a combination of short and long strokes.
• Use feather-like strokes. Do not press down hard.
• Use it about once a week (although frequency will vary based on skin needs).
• As you familiarize yourself with the tool, you can move on to using it two to three times a week.
• Make sure your gua sha tool is comfortable to grip and has rounded corners.
To help Reduce Eye Puffiness
- Use an eye cream of your choice. We Love: (insert links here please Sharon: Image MD Restoring Collagen Recovery Eye Gel, ZO Skin Health Growth Factor Eye Serum & Aesthetics MD Brightening Eye Retinol Creme) to moisten the eye area.
- Sweep your gua sha tool slowly over the under-eye area (beginning in the corner of the eye) and out toward the temple, all the way up to the hairline.
- Repeat three to five times for each eye.
To help Reduce Cheek Puffiness
- Beginning at your nose, sweep the tool out and upward along the cheekbones, moving toward the ear. Follow by moving downward toward the jaw.
- Repeat three to five times on each side of the face.
To help De-Puff the Chin and Jawline
- Lightly sweep the tool from the middle of your chin up along your jawline toward the ear.
- Repeat three to five times on each side of the face.
To schedule a consultative appointment, click the button below.
