How to use a Gua Sha stone

It’s no secret that a facial will help get your skin glowing. But it’s the massage itself that helps boost radiance, just as much as the products that are being applied. So it’s little wonder Gua Sha massage stones and facial rollers have become more popular, being used beyond the spa and becoming a staple of our evening skincare regimens in the bid for brighter skin.

If you’re not yet familiar with these clever facial massage tools already, then here’s a guide to what they are and how they work.

The benefits of Gua Sha massage

The benefits of using Gua Sha as part of a skincare routine go far beyond feeling relaxed and pampered.

Originally used in Chinese and Southeast Asian medicine, this method of scraping the skin has been used for centuries to relieve tension, support lymphatic drainage to flush out toxins, and increase blood flow within the body by helping to break up fascia.

When done on the face, the technique is much gentler, with the crystal gliding along the skin rather than scraping it. Some of the key benefits of Gua Sha face massage include:

Supports lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and improve tone
Improves blood flow and circulation for more radiant skin
Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines
Helps encourage product penetration deeper into the skin for maximum effectiveness
Helps to relax muscles and reduce tension

There are many different pressures, speeds, edges and directions to choose from – which require some trial and error when it comes to finding what feels good for your skin.

The stones themselves are usually made of materials such as jade, rose quartz or aventurine, though you can also get stainless steel massage tools. Each is associated with its own benefits, but the main thing is that it’s smooth and cool to the touch – so that it feels soothing on the skin.

How to use your Gua Sha tool

First things first: skincare products. Don’t use your Gua Sha on dry skin – it could cause irritation and dragging of the skin, which defies the sculpting and lifting purposes of the face massage.

Complete your evening cleansing regimen, finishing with your usual serum, facial oil or moisturizer. Anything that will provide a smooth base and reduce friction or pulling. We recommend using a face oil like our bestselling Rosehip Bioregenerate™ oil which will give you plenty of slip – as well as its many radiance-boosting benefits.

Next, hold the curved side of the Gua Sha to your face and glide with medium pressure along the jawline and chin, working up to the hairline.

Then, holding the skin to the side of your nose with one hand, use the other to work the Gua Sha below the cheekbones up to the ear, on each side.

When it comes to the eyes, tread very gently. The skin underneath the eyes is our most delicate, so without dragging, roll the Gua Sha from the inside corner of the eye, along the undereye to where the temples meet the hairline.

Next, go along each brow bone and upwards from your eyebrows to the temples. When you get to the hairline at the end of any stroke, increase the pressure slightly and give an extra moment of tension-relieving massage here. Repeat each stroke on each area of the face around five times.

Last but not least is the forehead. Hold down each eyelid – then the skin between the brows once you’ve done both sides – and with the other hand, roll the Gua Sha from underneath the brow bone upwards to the hairline.

Remember to clean it before you use it next, ideally in warm soapy water. Leave it with your cleanser so you can remember to do so when you’re next washing your face.

Shop for face oils to use with your Gua Sha here