The beauty world is embracing an ancient beauty practice with the Gua Sha tool becoming a must-have accompaniment to our skincare routines. Women are loving the benefits this traditional Chinese medicine technique of rolling and rubbing crystals, metals and other implements across their face, can provide.

Sure, it looks impressive – but what exactly is a Gua Sha, and should you be jumping on the bandwagon too?

What is Gua Sha?

The Chinese word ‘Gua’ translates to ‘scraping’ – which essentially sums up the Gua Sha method. Gua Sha is an alternative massage therapy performed by scraping a tool across the skin's surface.

Qua Sha was traditionally used to encourage the flow of Qi (energy) through the body¹. It was believed that this energy could become blocked from moving freely, causing pain and tension in muscles and joints, and preventing proper blood circulation¹. It was used to prevent illness, relieve tension and pain, reduce inflammation, and also aid the body in the removal of toxins.

Today, the beauty world has taken on this alternative Chinese massage and we are reaping the benefits it provides to our skincare routines.

What are the beauty benefits of Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is all the rage in the skincare realm right now, and for good reason too! It is used to promote radiant, plump and glowing skin – and is a super relaxing step to add to your AM and/or PM skincare routine!

The main beauty benefits of Gua Sha include:

Blood circulation – Gua Sha massage is used to increase blood circulation, which promotes brightness and radiance of the skin, giving you that elusive natural glow we are all after.

Lymphatic drainage – Lymphatic drainage is the process of removing fluid from the body's lymph nodes using massage. The lymphatic system doesn’t have its own “pump” and relies on the movement of the body to get it working. As we don’t move our facial muscles as often as we would other muscles, Gua Sha is a wonderful method for stimulating the lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage supports the removal of toxins from the skin and reduces puffiness.

Skin elasticity – Gua Sha is used to promote plumpness of the skin and reduce puffiness and inflammation.

Nutrient absorption – Using your Gua Sha tool with a serum or oil not only helps to glide the tool over the skin more easily but also increases the skin's absorption of the products. This ultimately helps you make the most out of your products and get maximum nutrient absorption.

Balancing – Gua Sha promotes the purging of excess oils and sebum from the skin, helping to prevent acne and breakouts

How do I use a Gua Sha tool?

A Gua Sha tool should always be used with your favourite oil or serum to prevent irritation and allow the tool to move over the skin smoothly and freely. If you are layering your serums, we recommend applying them in your usual order, then using the Gua Sha tool with the last serum in your routine.

Start with clean, dry skin. And apply 3-4 drops of your favourite Edible Beauty serum or oil across your face and neck. Using gentle pressure, glide the Beauty Tool across the face and neck using short strokes, focusing on the areas of concern. For best results, repeat the exercises five times per section, as illustrated below. To clean, wipe the surface of your Beauty Tool with a soft cloth after use. Allow it to dry before storing.

References 

1. Lam, 2017. The Art of Gua Sha. Tao Of Wellness.