We answer your most frequently asked questions about gua sha facial massage

Facial massage using a gua sha stone is a beauty trend that seems most definitely here to stay, but how does gua sha work? And, more importantly, how do you know you're doing it right? Here you can get to know what gua sha actually is, what are the benefits of a gua sha facial and what tools and equipment that you'll need for your home practice.

And if you're keen to learn more, why not download our online gua sha tutorial or attend one of our regular gua sha classes in London

What is gua sha and how does it work? 

Gua sha is an ancient skin scraping technique. Loosely, Gua means to scrape and Sha means redness/release. It was a technique traditionally used in Chinese medicine to cure heat stroke or seasonal illnesses like cholera and, unlike the luxurious rose quartz, jade and amethyst gua sha tools we're familiar with today, the practice of gua sha could be done with any kind of implement like an animal bone or spoon. Today though, it's marketed as the must-have beauty tool that helps to sculpt the face, boost circulation and help lymphatic drainage. You can do it as part of a facial or even from the comfort of your own home. 

What are the benefits of gua sha for your face?

There are plenty of benefits of using a gua sha for your skin including: 

• Improving circulation
• Encouraging lymphatic drainage
• Increasing blood flow
• Reducing inflammation
• Relaxing muscles
• Stimulating collagen production

Gua sha can be performed on the body as well as the face and is reported to help manage chronic health conditions as well as give you skincare benefits. 

Which gua sha tool is best? 

At Blomma Beauty we offer a few different types of gua sha stones so you can choose the one that's most suitable for you and your skin's needs. 

The first is from organic skincare brand InLight Beauty which is made by hand from amethyst and is best for smoothing the skin. Amethyst is naturally tranquillising, helps balance mood and reduce stress and strain. Great for reducing inflammation, depuffing and gliding smoothly across the skin.

We also stock a gua sha from UpCircle Beauty which is made from stainless steel. Stainless steel is naturally anti bacterial so can be best for breakout prone skin. With stainless steel it's also not going to shatter like a semi precious stone gua sha would if you drop it so ideal if you're a little clumsy. It does feel a little larger and heavier in your hand so depends on personal preference.

And then there are two options from Silvan Skincare , a Rose Quartz Gua Sha which warms to the temperature of your skin and is thought to be particularly beneficial to help with maturing skin. It's also a stone that's related to love and friendship, making it the perfect partner for some self-care time; and a Green Jade Gua Sha which is is naturally cool to the touch and is believed to promote calmness, balance and positivity. Best for contouring, lifting, and working out tight muscles.

How often to gua sha?

The answer is as often as you'd like. It can be a great everyday skincare ritual if you hold a lot of tension in your face, jawline or neck but if you've got sensitive skin you might want to limit the massage to one or two times per week. 

When it comes to seeing results with your gua sha practice, consistency is key so the more you can incorporate gua sha into your daily skincare routine, the better for your complexion. 

There's also no hard and fast rules about when you should gua sha. You might like to use your gua sha tool in the morning to brighten and invigorate your skin for the day ahead, or at night to slow down and work with your facial muscles and fascia.

What skincare products do you use with gua sha?

You'll need some kind of oil or balm to create the slip required on your skin to pull the gua sha across it without being too abrasive as creams, serums and other water based skincare products will absorb too quickly and begin to create friction. Click here for some suggestions on face oils that are compatible with gua sha.

How to use a gua sha tool

Always do your gua sha massage on cleansed skin.

• Start with one side of the face, apply 3-5 strokes per area before moving to the other side of your face. The tool should be used at a flat angle - approximately one finger width between the Gua Sha and your skin - and with a light pressure.
• Use the long flat edge of the Gua Sha for your neck and pull it upwards towards the jawline. This encourages blood flow to the face.
• Using the small round indents, pull the Gua Sha along the jawline, starting at the chin and drawing it up to your ear. 
• Take the long flat edge of the Gua Sha and pull it along your cheek from nose to ear. Then use the small round edge and press it flat under your eye. Use a gentle rolling and pumping action, moving from the inner eye to the outer eye.

For brows, gently pull from the inside brow to the outside or use on the forehead, holding it at a perpendicular angle to the skin and rub the pointed edge vertically across any forehead lines.

You can also comb through the hairline before finishing the ritual by drawing the long flat edge down the neck from under the ears, to encourage lymphatic drainage.

Because gua sha is a skin scraping technique with a hard semi precious stone like rose quartz or jade you can experience some redness or flushing, bruising or even burst capilliaries if you are too aggressive so go easy at first and get to know how much pressure your skin can handle. Always clean your gua sha after every ritual with a gentle cleanser

And that's it! If you'd like to perfect your gua sha technique, why not join one of our in person classes in London or buy our online gua sha class to keep forever