Beauty Rituals: Gua Sha
— BY LAUREN TREND
My jade Gua Sha stone has become my number one beauty product, let me tell you why.
Before further expressing my love for the little jade stone as pictured above. Let me treat you to a brief hisory lesson. The practice of Gua Sha comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine and dates back to the Ming Dynasty when they used jade stones to scrape the skin all over the body to treat diseases. This process is known to stimulate blood circulation to the muscles, tissues and organs; detoxing the body of stagnate qi (energy) reducing stiffness, pain and increasing mobility. Traditional methods were performed on the body. And before you go googling ‘Gua Sha’, let me assure you that the practice contemporarily performed on the face is far more gentle than the traditional method that will illustrate bruised bodies you will come across should your curiosity get the better of you.
As noted, traditionally performed on the body, this scraping method is centuries old and rooted in science. Gua Sha on the body is not dissimilar to that of moving cupping, with the intent to scrape along the skin to stimulate circulation, improving immunity and decreasing inflammation.
The benefits of this practice on the face are by no means new to the beauty world. Like its close cousin, the jade roller, facial Gua Sha is a massage technique practiced to relieve tension in the muscles of the face, boost blood circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. It helps break up fascia — the connective tissue that hugs muscles but can sometimes interfere with optimal circulation — and can even help to make the face appear to look slimmer. Not only does it have its (tried and tested, here *raises hand*) aesthetic benefits, I now also swear by its ability to (almost immediately) ward off headaches and jaw pain! If you’re like me and suffer from bruxism (grinding your teeth) - this simple and remarkably cost effective practice might too become invaluable for you!
Since incorporating Gua Sha to my daily self-practices / beauty routine, I have noticed my skin to be brighter and cheeks, fuller. I have also noticed my eyebrows are finally beginning to fill out, and I don’t doubt that I have the boost in blood circulation around my brown bone to thank for this. Fine lines on my forehead have also shrunk. I’m practically Benjamin-Buttoning. (joking, but maybe I’m not really?!!)
My friend Bobby, being the remarkably generous soul that she is, gifted me my Gua Sha tool from A Little Company. You can purchase your own jade stone here should you wish to give this practice a go.
I would recommend first watching this video, to learn Facial Gua Sha from a Chinese Medical Skincare Professional, which thoroughly illustrates the technique. Its important to understand which parts of your neck and face to apply more pressure to, and others to go a little more gently - so you an obtain the most benefits.
A quick step-by-step of my personal Gua Sha practice:
Freshly washed face.
Spray a few spritzes of Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater, and press the water into skin.
4-5 drops of Sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Oil, press into skin on face and neck, before further massaging the oil into the skin in upward motions.
With the Jade Gua Sha, begin to work on face / neck in motions as illustrated on the video above.
This practice is crazily cost effective. I have had more success and realised benefits with this little tool than I have hundred dollar serums and boosters. Get the blood moving and flowing & watch your skin glow.
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