Gua Sha Tools have grown a massive fan following, bringing this ancient Traditional Chinese healing modality into millions of homes and skincare toolkits worldwide. But with the rush to capitalize on the exponential growth of this wellness technique, there has been quite a bit of missed information on how this ancient art is meant to be used and the benefits it can provide.
In this post, you’ll gain 5 tips on how to use your Gua Sha board and tools for the most effective facial massage benefits at home.
This post is about building a Gua Sha Routine at home.
You might have received a Gua Sha board, Spoon, or Mushroom stone as a gift or picked one up after hearing all the rave reviews of how transformative the at-home practice can be.
But you also may have been uncertain as to how to properly use, care for or build the practice into your home skincare routine. And so, your Gua Sha board might be just sitting there, laid out on your counter or dresser collecting a fine layer of dust.
Well not anymore.
Here are 5 tips to get you started using your Gua Sha tools today.
1. Prep your tool.
If you haven’t already, sit and get to know your Gua Sha Board or Tool before you begin.
If you have a board, several have differing shapes, points, weights, and grooves.
Take a moment to get to know yours. Feel the weight of it in your hand, study the points or curves if there are any, and try and find the most natural ‘fit’ of the tool in your hand.
Warm your tool.
Traditionally Gua Sha Tools are made from Natural Stone, typically Jade, known for holding temperature well. It’s the reason it is often recommended to pop your Jade Roller into the freezer so that you can cold roll your face in order to reduce inflammation as well as tighten your skin.
But warming your tool is effective for stimulating blood circulation when performing your facial massage, while also helping to aid serum absorption as you glide along your skin.
Get a bowl and fill it with enough warm water to cover your tools.
Let them sit for a minute or so while you prep your face and neck.
2. Start with cleansed skin.
Start with cleansed skin. Wash your face and neck and pat dry with a face towel.
Then use a facial mist to moisten your skin and prep your skin for your massage.
This is a great time to add a facial oil serum that is light enough to absorb into the skin and provide a bit of glide.
Looking for a facial oil to bump up your Gua Sha Routine? Here are some faves.
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3. Open your neck
One of the best things I learned when studying Gua Sha as a modality from TCM practitioners, was the importance of opening up your neck.
As you apply your face serum to your face and next, glide your fingers to the base of your neck connecting to your back.
With your thumbs at the base of the front of your neck and the rest of your finger wrapped around to the back of your neck, apply a few presses from the spine out to your shoulders.
This activates your neck and encourages drainage of lymph and toxins through to the rest of your body.
4. Multifunction
Your Gua Sha Board and tools have multifunctional capabilities.
When starting to use your face board for massage, you want to move in slow, gentle motions from the center of the face out to the outer edges.
Your board should be held at a 45-degree angle up from the surface of the face. Start by practicing a few strokes along your jawline to get comfortable with the tool in your hand.
Gua Sha for your jawline is an excellent way to lift and sculpt your face naturally while reducing puffiness at the same time.
The edges of your board can be applied at a perpendicular angle to any fine lines or deeper impressions in order to smooth via a back-and-forth motion that crosses the direction of the visible lines. This helps to stimulate healing oxygen and blood circulation to the areas while aiding the absorption of product to reduce the appearance of these lines.
Pointed edges of your board or spoons were designed to be used for acupressure points.
You can safely use these at home to ease tension at the brow area by gently massaging in circular movements at the space between your brown aligned with the center of your nose.
You can use the same movements and work from the start of the brow to the outer edge of your brows ending at your temples. This is wonderful for lifting your brow and eye area.
5. Work it in
Fit your practice into your regular AM or PM routine one to two times a week and build on the frequency as you get more comfortable practicing moves.
Your Gua Sha routine can be done in the morning after cleansing and applying your toner and then water-based serums, apply your oil-based serums and then begin your practice.
An AM practice is beneficial for releasing morning puffiness and starting your day with a beautiful glow.
In the PM practice focus a bit more on the acupressure techniques mentioned above. Again start on cleansed skin, tone, and then apply your facial oil. Use the circular movements after you move through the gentle glides to further relax your face and ease you into sleep.
You can rinse your skin with warm water and then complete your nighttime routine as normal.
Looking for some tools to add to your Gua Sha Collection? Here are my favorites.
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Want to learn more about Gua Sha and intro techniques, explore my most recommended Brand Lanshin Beauty and their intro guide to Gua Sha facial massage, at home.
Always looking for good new ideas for my face care routine and while Gua Sha may be an ancient practice it is new to me. Thanks Toni. I love your explanation and the video too.
Thanks Lee! Enjoy it!
Oh this sounds like an amazing routine! I need to try this out!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
Very interesting article. I’ve used a facial roller before, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a gua sha routine. I’m intrigued and inspired to give it a try. Thanks for the great information!
Thanks so much, glad you found it helpful!