We've seen it everywhere, a beauty influencer pulling a sleek crystal across their face claiming it's given them a godly jawline and magically gotten rid of any puffiness. But it's not magic, it's the gua sha. And while it may seem like a trendy invention by beauty brands, the Gua Sha has been around for centuries.
Gua sha comes from traditional Chinese medicine, originally starting as a way to break up stagnant energy (qi), reduce inflammation, and encourage healing. Now, it's being used all over TikTok as a sculpting tool.
Though the current wave of gua sha focuses on the benefits of using it for your face, gua sha is traditionally used for full-body benefits. Full-body gua sha has been used to work out muscle knots, aid in sleep, and diminish the appearance of cellulite.
As for using gua sha on your face, the biggest benefit is lymphatic drainage. Some users claim their jawline became chiseled after just a week of daily gua sha. Other benefits of facial gua sha include reducing puffiness and relieving sinus pressure.
So how does one actually use a gua sha? Because of how trendy the practice has become, there are a ton of videos showing how people use the tool, but a lot of them may be incorrect. The best way to make sure you're using it correctly is by following the directions that came with the tool you purchased. If there are no instructions, your best bet is to find a tutorial from someone familiar with the history and correct techniques.
As a general rule of thumb, gua sha should always be pulled up and out. When first starting out, use light pressure, as gua sha could cause redness or bruising, especially if you're being too harsh. When using gua sha on your face, make sure you use a facial oil or moisturizer so the tool glides easily to avoid bruising. Also, while you can use your gua sha tool every day, it may be more beneficial to start off weekly, just so you're not overworking your skin. Finally, because the gua sha is an ancient practice, when considering brands to buy one from, opt for an AAPI-owned company.
