Gua Sha Face Massage: Why I’ve Added It To My Skincare Routine
Let’s face it… getting older means things start to sag – including on the face. It’s why I’ve started exploring and incorporating new things and processes into my skincare routine, and why I’m going to share with you key Gua Sha face massage benefits.
So that you can start too!
The best thing is that you can do this at home, with minimal cost investment (your time, and a few key skincare products).
By the end of this post you’ll want to try out Gua Sha on your face, and include it in your evening routine.
Disclosure: This post contains sponsored product. I recommend products I would use or have used myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. I am not a Gua Sha expert, this article is meant for educational and informational purposes only. Read my full Disclaimer.
What Is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is a Chinese practice that includes scraping your skin with a smooth-edged tool to boost circulation and healing.
You may have seen lovely pink or green Gua Sha tools – they’re usually jade or quartz. They’re used with oil to massage in long strokes. The result is usually red or purple spots that indicate the “sha” – the release of toxins and improvement in circulation.
While Gua Sha is considered to have many health benefits for your body, I find that as part of my face massage routine, it does three things for me:
- Reduces my inflammation
- Improve my lymphatic drainage on my face
- Reduces my stress and relaxes me
Let’s face it – life’s challenges, especially when you’re an older mom to a little kid can wreak havoc on your stress levels and overall wellbeing. It usually shows up in my face.
Gua Sha is also purportedly beneficial for the production of collagen and elastin. 4
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What You Need For A Gua Sha Face Massage Routine
From the tools to the products you’ll use on your face, you’re going to need a few things to start your Gua Sha routine.
Because I’m focused on putting quality products on my skin, my recommendations include brands known for the use of high-quality ingredients.
BeautySense.ca partnered with me for this post, sharing some fantastic high-quality skincare products, as well as Gua Sha tools.
To recreate my Gua Sha routine, you’ll need a few things:
- Gua Sha tool: I have this Mount Lai Rose Quartz Gua Sha Tool Set
- Eye Depuffing Gua Sha tool: I’m using this one: Mount Lai: De-Puffing Rose Quartz Eye Massage Tool
- Cleanser: I’m using SkinCeuticals: Soothing Cleanser Cleansing Foam for Sensitive Skin
- Face oil: I recommend Antipodes Divine Face Oil (Rosehip & Avocado Oil)
- Soothing cream: I love finishing it off with Eminence Lavender Age Corrective Night Concentrate
Best Place To Find Quality Skincare Products & Gua Sha Tools? If you’re in Canada, I recommend BeautySense.ca – a Canadian-owned online shop based out of Montreal, with carefully selected and curated quality beauty and skincare products. Get free shipping and samples on all orders.
My Gua Sha Face Massage Routine
There are many “how-to” videos on how to use Gua Sha massage and tools.
I’ve created a quick routine that I can do in the evenings, although you can also do this in the morning (minus the night cream). Let’s start, step-by-step:
- Pull your hair back. You don’t want to get any of the massage oil in your hair.
- Cleanse your skin first. Since you’re going to be applying the product with pressure from the Gua Sha tools, you want a clean slate.
- Apply a couple of drops of the face oil to your jawline. Use the Gua Sha tool (handheld solid piece of quartz), holding it so that the indented side is pressed against your jawline. Hold your chin with one hand and gently massage each side of your jawline, from the chin up to your ear. Do this 30 times on each side.
- Apply a bit more face oil on your cheeks, from your nostril up toward the top of your ears. Use the same Gua Sha Tool – with the long straight edge – to massage with long strokes – following the path of where you added the oil. Do this about 5 times.
- Apply a touch of oil on your forehead and using the long side of the Gua Sha Tool, while holding your skin between your eyebrows, sweep up gently 5 times.
- Next focus on the eyes: add a bit of your eye cream to the area above your eyes and below. Use the de-puffer tool to glide from the inside of your eye to the outside and down your face, on the top and the bottom. Do this gently, using the tool to focus on drawing the puffiness out.
- If you’re doing this at bedtime, use your favourite soothing night cream. I’m using the one from Eminence – Lavender Age Corrective Night Cream – for extra moisturizing and firming.
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How Often Should You Do Gua Sha?
Some experts recommend you do Gua Sha facial exercises two times a day – in the morning and the evening.
However, if you’ve got kids and have a busy life, if you can sneak in Gua Sha twice a week, you’re bound to see a difference. It can be part of a self-care routine.
At most, if your eyes are super puffy and you find your jawline is sagging a bit, focus on these two areas.
Start Giving Yourself A Gua Sha Massage Regularly
There are other “face yoga” workouts you can try as well. You can find them on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
Squeeze in a few Gua Sha massages for the face and see the difference over time.
At the end of the day, if you take care of your face, you’ll look and feel better!
QUESTION: Have you considered a Gua Sha routine?
Love this – I purchased on and am embarrassed to say that it’s still in my drawer. Thanks for the reminder , I’ll definitely incorporate into my self-care routine.
Time to get it out of the drawer!
I have been thinking about Gua Sha..thanks for explaining the routine. I need to get one!
It doesn’t take much, but it certainly does make a difference.
I’ve always been curious about this. Thanks for explaining how gua sha works – and your skin looks amazing!
Thank you! It’s been a work in progress. :)