Very popular on social media, gua sha is the favored technique for taking care of your skin. In this article, learn everything about this therapeutic rituall straight from Asia to reduce wrinkles, detoxify the skin and illuminate your face!

What is Gua Sha?

Its history

Before entering the world of beauty, Gua Sha was primarily used in Chinese medicine for many centuries! The Gua Sha is a massage ritual that consists of vigorously “scraping” the skin using a small tool, initially made of cow horns. Massages rid the body of its bad energies, treat muscle pain, relieve joint tension, and reduce fever and inflammation, by stimulating acupressure points. In Chinese, “GuaSha” means “grating fever” or “grating disease” (“Gua” for “grating” and “Sha” for “disease”). 

The friction is carried out on the lymphatic circulation and rids the body of its toxins. This routine improves the immune defenses and helps the energies to better circulate. According to Chinese medicine, the Gua Sha allows a real connection between the body, the spirit, and the energies.

Its use today

Today, Gua sha has been modernized and is found in our beauty routines. It designates both the massages performed and the tool used. Its appearance in the West dates back to 2019 and this ritual was quickly integrated into the world of aesthetics. The technique used is now based on a much softer gesture adapted to the tissues of the face. It consists of sliding the tool along the skin to encourage blood circulation and activates lymphatic drainage. 

Also Read: The Multiple Benefits of Gua Sha

These massages help fight skin aging, and tone, lift and firm the skin. The shape of the tool has been reworked to fit the hand and perfectly fit the contours of the face. The tool is no longer a cow horn. It is made with much more noble materials such as pink quartz, blue sodalite, or even jade stone. According to lithotherapy, each of these stones has its own virtues:

• Rose quartz: is the symbol of love and peace. It soothes emotions, stress and restores self-confidence.
• Blue sodalite: this stone calms anxieties, helps to control emotions, and activates creativity.
• The jade stone: is the symbol of purity, wisdom but also power. It represents temperance, dispels parasitic ideas, and promotes inner peace.

The Benefits of Gua Sha on the Skin

The facial massage performed with Gua Sha brings multiple benefits to the face and promises healthy skin. The effects are observable from the first weeks of usage.

Gua sha to boost facial radiance

Gua Sha promotes blood circulation and causes lymphatic drainage. Toxins from the face are evacuated, the skin tissues are oxygenated and the skin regains a luminous and radiant complexion. These massages also help reduce the signs of fatigue and stress, responsible for a dull complexion and marked skin.

The Gua Sha to mitigate the rides

Thanks to its lifting effect and the activation of blood circulation, Gua Sha stimulates the production of collagen and plumps up the tissues. The skin is smoothed, the features firmed. The gestures performed redraw the oval of the face by stimulating the muscle fibers. The latter gradually regain tone and prevents sagging of the skin.

Gua Sha to reduce puffiness and dark circles

Gua sha reduces the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes by activating microcirculation and harmonizing energy flows. The look is rested, dark circles reduced and puffiness gradually fades.

Gua Sha to decongest the face

Gua Sha massages performed in the early morning help the skin to decongest by activating blood circulation. The cooling effect of the stone also helps deflate the skin.

Gua Sha to regain healthy skin

Gua Sha is a real detox massage. It expels toxins and eliminates blackheads. Impurities are reduced, and inflammations are soothed. The coolness of the tool also helps to tighten large pores. This routine works in favor of acne and herbal combination skin.

Gua sha to relax body and mind

Its draining effect releases tension and relieves neck and neck stiffness. In addition to doing good to our face, the Gua Sha stretches our whole body thanks to the different acupressure points. A moment of intense relaxation awaits you!

All products featured on Body Care Art are independently selected by our editors. However, when you purchase something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo: Pexels/ Arina Krasnikov

All products featured on Body Care Art are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.