Gua Sha Tools: 4 Benefits for Your Skin

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It sounds strange, but many people swear by rubbing a smooth stone on their face to help their skin look smoother and less puffy. This technique is called a gua sha facial, and it’s a gentle adaptation of a scraping practice used in China for centuries. It involves gently scraping a gua sha tool, which is a small, curved stone, on your face in sweeping upward motions. 

Key Takeaways

• Gua sha is a gentle facial massage with a smooth stone or metal tool, adapted from a traditional Chinese scraping practice.
• Research shows scraping can temporarily increase blood flow, but claims that gua sha boosts collagen or prevents wrinkles aren’t backed by good evidence.
• Use light pressure, an oil or serum for glide, and a clean tool.
• Avoid broken, inflamed, or sunburned skin, and check with your doctor if you take blood thinners or have a skin condition.
• Daily sunscreen remains the best-proven way to prevent premature wrinkles.

When used properly, gua sha tools can temporarily boost circulation and may help reduce puffiness. Your face may look more glowy and refreshed afterward. Keep reading to learn what gua sha can and can’t do, and how to use it. 

Benefits of Gua Sha Tools and Facials 

Gua sha facials are sometimes compared to Botox and facelifts on social media, but the effects are much milder and temporary. Many people notice less puffiness and a brighter, more refreshed complexion after each session. 

You’re probably wondering, “How can one little stone do all that?” Below we’ll cover the main claimed benefits of gua sha tools and what the research says so far.

Temporarily Boosts Circulation 

Scraping and massaging the skin increases blood flow to the treated area for a short time; one small study of back scraping found the effect lasted about 90 minutes. That boost in circulation is likely why your complexion looks glowy and bright after a gua sha facial. 

Gua sha is also said to promote lymphatic drainage, which is important for skin health. Your lymphatic system moves fluid through your body. 

Unlike your circulatory system, it doesn’t have a central pump and relies on things like muscle movement to keep fluid flowing. The idea is that gentle massage helps move fluid along, which may temporarily reduce morning puffiness. This hasn’t been well studied, and gua sha won’t change under-eye bags caused by aging or genetics. 

May Support Firmer-Looking Skin

Some fans believe regular gua sha facials boost collagen, which keeps skin firm, though there’s little research to confirm this. As we age, our skin gradually produces less collagen. That matters because collagen keeps our skin strong and elastic. Proven ways to protect it include daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and not smoking, so think of gua sha as a relaxing extra rather than a replacement. 

Helps Relax Facial Tension 

Gua sha can also help you relax your facial muscles. If you carry a lot of tension in your face and furrow your brow a lot, then you need this tool in your life. 

Repeatedly contracting the same muscles over many years can contribute to lines, so a quick massage during the day may help you become aware of and release that tension. Some people also find that gentle massage helps with tension headaches and may help relieve your jaw pain if you have TMJ, though it’s not a substitute for medical treatment. 

Makes Applying Skincare More Enjoyable 

Gua sha can also make your skincare routine feel more luxurious. Massaging after you apply your moisturizer or serum helps spread the product evenly, although there’s no solid evidence that the stone pushes it deeper into your skin. 

How to Give Yourself a Gua Sha Facial 

Before you start your facial, make sure your tool is clean, then cleanse your skin and moisturize it with a serum or a facial oil like Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This will help the stone glide across your skin instead of tugging on it. 

We like to start our facial by using the tool on our neck and working our way up from there. Starting on the left side of your neck, hold the tool at a slight angle and start gently scraping it in sweeping upward motions until you reach your chin. 

Don’t push down too hard – if it hurts, you’re applying too much pressure. Repeat this a few times on the left side of your neck and then move to the right side, doing the same thing. 

Most gua sha tools have a v-shape at the top that you can use on your jawline. Start at the bottom of your jawline near your chin. Angle the tool so your jaw fits right into the v-shape and glide the stone upward to your ear. Do this a few times on both sides of your face. 

Other Ways to Use Your Gua Sha Tool

You can also use your gua sha tool on your cheeks. Start on the left side of your nose and drag the tool across your cheek until you reach your ear. Repeat this several times and then move on to the right side. 

You can also use the small curved edge at the bottom of the stone to target your crow’s feet, under eyes, and brow bone. Make sure you’re very gentle around your eyes because your skin is thinnest there. 

The only time that you should drag the tool downward is when you’re working on your nose. Start at the top of your nose and glide the stone down to the tip, making sure you get the sides of your nose too.

When you get to your forehead, drag the tool upward from your eyebrows to your hairline. After you finish up your facial, apply moisturizer for extra hydration. 

If you enjoy it, consistency is key: two to three times per week or even daily is fine. Skip areas with active breakouts, rashes, sunburn, or broken skin, and talk to your doctor first if you take blood thinners, bruise easily, are pregnant, or have a skin condition like rosacea or eczema. 

How to Choose the Right Gua Sha Tool 

Gua sha tools come in all different shapes and sizes. Some tools have a comb-shaped edge to give your skin extra stimulation. Others have jagged edges that are designed to target fine lines and wrinkles. You can also get a non-porous stainless steel gua sha that is completely smooth and non-porous, which makes it easy to clean. That’s a plus for my acne-prone girlies, but whatever material you choose, wash your tool after every use.

We recommend starting with a tool that doesn’t have a lot of angles because smooth stones are easier to use. But after you get comfortable with the technique, tools that have lots of curves are great because they fit the contours of your face. 

As for materials, we like to use tools that are made of real stone rather than plastic because they feel sturdier. Jade and rose quartz are both good options. 

Gua sha has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s easy to see why people love it. It can temporarily increase circulation to your skin and help leave your face looking refreshed and glowy. 

Have you ever had a gua sha facial, or are you inspired to give yourself one after reading this article? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below. 

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic – Gua Sha: Benefits and How To Do It
• Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (PMC) – The Effects of Scraping Therapy on Local Temperature and Blood Perfusion Volume in Healthy Subjects
• American Academy of Dermatology – 11 ways to reduce premature skin aging