On the surface, it appears as a simple, sleek, jade triangle, but the gua sha has the power to transform a face, eliminate a double chin, and sharpen cheekbones without any plastic surgery or injections. This fantastic tool was designed by traditional Chinese medicine to help drain fluids around the face by activating the body’s natural lymphatic systems. Once you start incorporating a gua sha into your skincare routine, you’ll never want to stop.
After cleansing the face, the gua sha is used to lightly scrape the surface of the skin. It is important not to stretch or pull the skin when using the gua sha, as the purpose of the tool is to move the underlying fluid, which can cause puffiness and redness to appear at the surface. The tool is also intended to be used with a moisturizer or oil to help it glide smoothly and not catch and tug at the surface of the skin.
While the gua sha can be used on all body parts, most use it for the face. For a full gua sha facial, many will start with the neck and throat. Before using the tool, you should use your fingers to massage the lymph nodes at the base of the neck, opening them up for fluid drainage. Next, using the long side of the gua sha bring the tool up from the collarbone to the base of the jaw, smoothing out the neck. This move should be repeated about ten times. Next, take the notched side of the tool from the center of the chin along the jaw bone to the base of the ear to move fluid toward a draining path. This move should also be repeated about ten times.
Next, the cheek can be sculpted using the long edge of the gua sha to trace the movement of the cheekbone. Following this movement, the top edge of the tool can be used to lightly apply pressure to the area under the eyes to help brighten and reduce the look of dark bags.
Not only does a daily gua sha routine help to drain fluid from the face to reduce puffiness, but it also improves circulation, which can help brighten the complexion and reduce the body’s toxins. Many with chronic pain have reported significant improvement after using the gua sha. With roots in traditional Chinese medicine, the routine is also supposed to promote mindfulness. Setting aside just five minutes for a gua sha routine can help improve mental health and focus when paired with mindful breathing.
Gua sha is a wonderful and natural alternative to plastic surgery. It does not require injections or surgery. This simple tool can be life-changing when incorporated into a daily skincare routine.
