Gua Sha: Here Are 3 Reasons Why You Should Do It
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If you’re someone who is into skincare—or you spend time on social media—you have probably heard of Gua Sha. Or maybe you haven’t, and this will all be new news. Either way, keep reading!
Today, I’m going to try and give you an overview of Gua Sha—what it is, what the benefits are, and how you can get started if you’re interested.
So, let’s do it. Here’s everything you need to know about Gua Sha!
What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is a healing method with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s been used for centuries by practitioners to relax tight muscles and promote lymphatic drainage in various areas of the body. Most recently, Facial Gua Sha (using a Gua Sha stone on your face) has resurged as a popular massage technique, and that’s what I’m going to talk about today.
Simply put, Facial Gua Sha is a massage technique where a smooth Gua Sha stone—traditionally made of jade or quartz—is scraped over the skin on your face, usually in upward motions. Now the word “scrape” may sound harsh, but I promise, Gua Sha is anything but harsh. (So maybe stroke is a better word for the motion.) Gua Sha stones are smooth and flat, with no sharp edges, so they slide across your skin easily. Gua Sha has some serious benefits for women, which I’ll get to in a minute, but essentially this technique can increase circulation, break up fascia and tension, create jawline definition, help alleviate migraines, and so much more. Not to mention, it’s kind of fun once you know how to do it!
There are a ton of videos out there about how to use a Gua Sha stone, which I highly recommend watching before trying this on your own (jump down a section to see my favorite tutorials).
Now, let’s talk about the benefits...
Benefits of Gua Sha
Gua Sha has a LOT of benefits, but here are a few that stand out to me:
1. Gua Sha can minimize visible signs of aging on your face (and give you glowing skin!)
The main reason why Gua Sha has blown up on social media is because of its ability to reinvigorate the skin and diminish visible signs of aging (think fine lines, wrinkles, etc.). It tones and lifts the face, as well as boosts your skin’s elasticity and collagen production. Also, many people notice a visible difference in the definition of their jawline once they start regularly doing Gua Sha. I personally notice that when I use a Gua Sha stone a few times a week, my skin is firmer and plumper. Plus, Gua Sha requires the use of a nourishing facial oil or lubricant (I’ve included the ones I use later on), so you end up with radiant skin!
You can reap the benefits of Gua Sha by using your stone several times a week, but the results are said to be even better if you use it nearly every day. Every person is different, so try it out and see what works for you!
2. Gua Sha can relieve your muscle tension
Do you get tension headaches? Suffer from tech neck? Me too! Fortunately, Gua Sha is a wonderful, all-natural way to relieve tension in your face and neck. It also works well for anyone who deals with TMJ or regular headaches. The benefits are similar to that of a regular massage—Gua Sha can break down fascia and knots, loosen your muscles, and increase circulation to your face and neck. For a headache-specific Gua Sha routine, check out this YouTube tutorial!
3. Gua Sha helps the body detoxify
In addition to its anti-aging and tension-relieving benefits, a lot of people use Gua Sha for its detoxifying properties. Our lymphatic system is responsible for removing bodily waste and toxins from our body by draining fluid via our lymph nodes. (Fun fact: Over 30 percent of our lymph nodes are concentrated on our head and neck.) When fluid builds up and cannot be drained (due to an obstruction), we tend to experience puffiness, skin irritation, and even a dull complexion. Gua Sha can promote lymphatic drainage in our face and neck, thereby aiding our body’s natural detoxification processes. Goodbye dull, tired skin and hello to extra plump, vibrant skin!
How To Get Started
First, you need to purchase a Gua Sha stone. I ordered this set online, but wherever you order from, you want to make sure the stone is made of quartz or jade. You can also find Gua Sha stones at beauty/cosmetics stores or on Etsy.
Next, you have to study up. While there’s no real “risk” involved in Gua Sha, there’s definitely a wrong way to do it, so you want to make sure you know what to do before you get started. (We’re here to get results, after all.)
These are some of my favorite YouTube tutorials, for reference:
Finally, you have to get your hands on some kind of facial oil. While a Gua Sha stone is smooth as is, you want it to easily glide across your face so that you’re able to apply pressure evenly and not tug on your skin. I recommend choosing an oil made from nontoxic ingredients. Here’s a list of my favorites:
Now you have the techniques and the materials you need to add Gua Sha to your skincare routine! If you give it a try, let me know how it goes on the Pure Joy Wellness Private Facebook Group.
And are you following the Pure Joy Wellness Instagram? It would mean the world to me if you did!
xo,
Renata