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In today’s world, we have so many high-tech skincare tools at our disposal. But sometimes, it’s best to go back to the basics when it comes to maintaining healthy skin. Gua sha tools—flat, rock-like objects made out of different materials—have been used on people’s skin for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Gua sha was used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase blood flow throughout the body and improve overall health. It eventually evolved into a well known beauty treatment with plenty of skincare benefits. In this post, we’ll discuss the skincare benefits of this ancient practice and offer step-by-step instructions on how to use a gua sha stone tool on your face.
What Is Gua Sha?
The practice of gua sha can be traced all the way back to the Paleolithic Age. It initially started as a healing practice for the entire body to alleviate pain or internal illnesses by scraping the skin repeatedly with a flat stone, wood, or even coins depending on a person’s societal status.
Gua literally means “to scrape” or “to scratch” in Chinese. Sha translates as “sand” or “red, raised, millet-size rash,” which refers to the marks that appear on the skin following a vigorous scraping, according to a study on the circulatory effects of gua sha stones.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that gua sha became a popular aesthetic practice when the Chinese empress, Dowager Cixi, started using a jade gua sha stone tool on her face. This is when the people’s understanding of how to use a gua sha stone transformed from a harsh scraping motion that often produced red marks on the body to a slow, intentional method that used softer strokes on the face to benefit one’s appearance.
Benefits of Gua Sha for the Face
In recent years, the use of gua sha facial tools has become extremely popular worldwide. You can now easily find videos across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram where people share how they have transformed their skin with these special stones. And they are not alone.
Traditional Chinese medicine experts and dermatologists recognize that regularly using the method can produce a variety of aesthetic benefits while improving one’s overall health. Some common benefits of using a gua sha stone tool on your face include:
- Improved circulation
- Reduced inflammation
- Sculpted and lifted facial features
- Increased collagen production
- Reduced tension in the face
- A brighter complexion
- Lymphatic drainage
How to Properly Use a Gua Sha Stone Tool on Your Face
For those of you interested in experiencing the full range of benefits that can come from this ancient Chinese practice, here is a step-by-step guide on how to use a gua sha stone tool on your face:
1. Choose the Right Gua Sha Tool
Before you get started with your gua sha practice, make sure you find the best gua sha stone tool for your face and skin type. They come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, so you have many options to choose from.
We recommend selecting a shape that fits in your hand comfortably and suits the area you want to treat. When it comes to the material of your gua sha tool, they are often made with different kinds of stone like jade, rose quartz, obsidian, amethyst, turquoise, or even glass. Each stone will have different energetic properties that serve a unique healing purpose.
2. Cleanse Your Face
It is best to use a gua sha tool on clean skin. So before we go over how to use a gua sha stone tool on your face, we recommend you start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt, excess oils, makeup, or other impurities. You must also make sure your hands and the gua sha tool are clean before you start.
3. Apply a Serum or Moisturizer
Apply a small amount of facial moisturizer or serum to your face and neck. This will allow the gua sha tool to glide easily across your skin.
4. Guide the Tool Across Your Face
Now you can start your gua sha practice. Hold the gua sha tool firmly in your dominant hand. Starting from the center of your face, glide the gua sha stone toward the outer face in an upward and outward motion that follows your natural lymphatic flow. Use a light to medium pressure for each stroke.
Repeat each movement for about two to three minutes in the same place before moving to the next area of your face. Make sure to focus on areas where you feel tightness or tension.
How you choose to use the gua sha stone tool on your face will determine the results you get from the treatment.
5. Rinse Your Face with Lukewarm Water
Once you finish using the gua sha tool, lightly rinse your face with lukewarm water. Then apply a nourishing moisturizer to your skin.
6. Clean and Store Your Gua Sha Tool
Last but not least, make sure you clean your gua sha tool with gentle soap and warm water. Store the stone somewhere dry until you’re ready to use it again.
Unlock the Benefits of Gua Sha with NOTO
Now that you know how to use a gua sha stone tool on your face, we recommend incorporating this practice into your regular skincare routine. Not only will it transform your skin, but it is also a great form of self-care that can help you relax and unwind.
If you want to experience gua sha, NOTO offers all the tools you need. Our gua sha facial tool is made with bian stone, an ancient rock used in traditional Chinese medicine for its therapeutic properties. Use it with our vegan skincare products to improve blood flow, nourish your skin, and sculpt your face.