Though I generally try to avoid scrolling endlessly through tiktok & instagram, when I do go on there I am bombarded with suggestions about skincare. From botox to redlight to gua sha and "eating your skincare" recipes, the possibilities for adding to one's skincare routine are pretty much endless.
I will admit that I am a bit obsessed with this topic and have taken it upon myself to make it one of my life's missions to care for my skin with at home solutions. There will be no botox or plastic surgery for me personally but, I have tried a majority of the natural & alternative trends during the past two years. And today is the day that I begin reporting to my fellow skin care enthusiasts here on HIVE!
So, let me tell you about Gua Sha
From what I have heard and light research online, this is a massage method that comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Though I first heard about gua sha as a means to improve facial structure and skin tone. But, the benefits of this massage go way beyond that. The tool itself may vary though usually it is a rounded stone that fits the natural curves of the body. Some people use it to massage the entire body form the face, to the neck, to arms and legs with the goal of improving lymphatic drainage in the body.
But first, before we get to the massage itself, we need to oil up. Someday I will have a post about oil very soon. For now I will simply say that adding a bit of oil to your hands & face before doing any type of facial massage is key for a relaxing and beneficial massage. You can also use a facial lotion if that is your preference. I use lavender infused almond oil on a daily basis.
Then, I get my Gua Sha I purchased this one from Sprouts when I visited California and I have been using it for about a year.
The goal of this massage is to relax the muscles in the face & neck. Those muscles work hard all day which can lead to fatigue, strain, and eventually fine lines. The gua sha tool helps move any stagnant energy and improves blood flow which creates a fuller face and a youthful appearance.
There are a lot of videos online showing specific techniques of how to massage but, I will do my best to explain in words.
Personally I tend to focus on sculpting the cheek bones and massaging out any tense muscles. I always start by pressing the tool into the bottom of my cheek then slowly pushing upwards. This shouldn't hurt. I also pull the stone across my jaw line on each side of my face, push it across my forehead (a place where I tend to hold a lot of tension), massage very gently under my eyes, between my eyes and at my temples. It is all so relaxing and I definately notice a plumper face and reduction of fine lines when I do this daily, twice a day even better!
I most often do this in the morning, after washing my face and before putting make up on. But, I have noticed the best results when I really take my time to massage as long as I need, using different technique besides just the Gua Sha tool.
Gua Sha vs. Jade Roller
Previous to buying my rose quartz gua sha tool I simply used my fingers to massage my face and then tried the jade roller too. Both have their benefits. The gua sha tool is great for lifting the cheek bones and massaging the neck but I feel that the jade roller is better for massaging under and around the eyes, simply because it is smaller.
So, my verdict is that both tools work quite well for facial massage and are definitely worth the hype when used regularly. Trying out facial massage just once in a long while will not produce drastic results, dedication is key!
That being said, I think similar results can be achieved by using your hands to massage your face and do facial massages that build the muscles there. I have been doing a combination of all of these things for a couple of years now and feel that my skin & facial muscles have been rejuvenated. More importantly, I feel much more relaxed when I take my time with my self care routine.