HOW TO USE YOUR GUA SHA

Facial gua sha is one of the most effective ways to lift, sculpt, and contour your face. This skin-scraping method has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years with the purpose of treating various health conditions. This amazing facial massage feels good and has so many great skincare benefits. When practiced regularly and done correctly, the practice promotes better circulation, healthier skin tissue, and stronger facial muscles. It also reduces puffiness, lessens the appearance of lines, and improves skin texture and elasticity. This will give your skin a more youthful, glowy look. 

If you have tried facial rolling or any lymphatic drainage massages, it feels very similar! Begin by practicing gua sha starting on your neck and gently working your way up.  You want to be sure that your entire neck is opened up and massaged correctly before moving on to the face. Really take your time and be gentle! 

This is a time to relax, breathe, and enjoy. You can practice this ritual as often as daily or two to three times a week. For best results, perform each movement 5-10 times. I prefer going this before bed because it makes my skin feel so clean and relaxes me. 

Before use, make sure that your skin is completely clean. Then, apply an oil, serum, balm, or lotion to help your tool glide. You can use anything that works for your skin and will not cause irritation or breakouts. I like using my favorite drunk elephant serum with mine! 

Britt’s Favorite Skincare Serums and Oils

Some important guidelines to remember:
Relax, take deep breaths, and move slowly with intention.

Drink plenty of water before, during, and after gua sha.

Avoid working on problem areas, breakouts, open wounds, raised scars, or any irritations.

You should ALWAYS be massaging in an upward motion – this will help prevent wrinkles! 

Our Favorite Skincare Storage

1. Clean your skin.

 

2. Generously hydrate (drink a glass of water and apply your facial oil) 

 

3. Start with your neck  

• • Side Neck and Shoulder Release: Using the longest edge of the tool, place it on your skin where your shoulder meets your arm. Then, sweep up your shoulder and neck until you hit bone behind your ear. Wiggle the tool here for a massage.
  • Front Neck Release: Start by choosing one side of your chest, and placing your hand right beneath your collar bone. Then using the longest side of the tool, meet your fingers beneath your collar bone. Then sweep up until you meet your jaw bone, wiggling for a massage. 

 

4. Move to your face 

1. • The Jaw: Place a finger on the center of your chin and press firmly. Using the notched edge of the tool, hug the notches to your jaw, with one notch above and one notch below the bone. Move the tool all the way back along your jaw until you reach your ear, where you will wiggle the tool for a massage.
   • The Cheek: Place a finger next to the base of your nose, and meet It with the long edge of the tool. Sweep the tool outward to your ear, sweeping slightly upward as you do this. Wiggle when you meet your ear. 
   • The Under Eye: For this portion of the face use very very light pressure since the skin is so delicate and sensitive. Start by placing your ring finger under the inner corner of your eye. Meet one of the notches of your tool to your finger. Sweep under the eye, and then angle upward once you pass the outer edge of your eye, moving toward your temple, wiggling once you reach it.  Pro Tip! Just how light should that under eye stroke be? You might like to visualize ever so softly skimming over the surface of water. 
   • The Brow: Place your finger between your eyebrows and meet the notched edge to your finger. There should be a notch on either side of your brow, above and below. Sweep outward, curving upward to your temple once you reach the edge of your brow, and wiggling when you meet it. 
   • The Forehead: Very gently, place your finger under your brow bone, touching your eyeball through the lid. Place the long edge of the tool against your fingers and then roll up over your brow bone, and continue up into the hairline, where you will wiggle to massage. 
   • The Center Forehead: Place a finger between your eyebrows. Meet the bottom corner of the tool to your fingers and pull up to your hairline where you will massage.
2.  
3. 5. CLEAN YOUR GUA SHA TOOL with warm soapy water. Remember, the tool will be touching your skin again soon, so this should always always ALWAYS be your final step.

Confused? Don’t worry! Here is a easy to understand diagram from Franklin & Whitman! Let me know if you have any other ways that you like to use your gua sha in the comments below! 

xox, 

Britt 

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