A quick review of gua sha tools by our founder, Natalia.
Discover the Ancient Art of Gua Sha
Many have already noticed a new gadget among celebrities and beauty bloggers – a small scraper made of stone or wood. It’s called gua sha stone (gua sha tool if made out material other than stone), and it’s not just a trendy facial care tool but an ancient tool for restorative massage.
Gua sha is truly riding a wave of popularity right now. Estheticians and makeup artists showcase gua sha tools in video tutorials, salons specializing in gua sha facial massage are popping up in big cities, and gua sha corners have started appearing in skincare and cosmetics stores, like Sephora, Ulta, and naturally, Detox Market and Credo Beauty. Gua sha tools are already popular with stars like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Sandra Bullock, Rachel Zoe, and Karlie Kloss.
My gua sha discovery story began more than 10 years ago. I dove into the study of gua sha technique seriously, learning from Chinese and American schools. Their approaches differ, but now I’ve combined a variety of techniques into my teaching, which I share regularly on our Pari Satiss social media channels for bite-size learning, through the courses we offer from time to time, and of course here, within our Rituals Section you will find a comprehensive guide to start you on your gua sha journey.
What is Gua Sha
Gua sha massage is an ancient technique that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. This traditional method was used for healing and restoration. The term “gua sha” translates from Chinese as “scrape away all the bad.”
Immigrants from the East brought this knowledge to the West, and within a few decades, gua sha massage became a highly popular procedure in European and American beauty salons.
This success is easy to understand: with the help of a simple beauty gadget – a scraper – you can significantly improve the condition of your facial skin in a short time.
Different Types of Gua Sha Tools
I have 15 gua sha tools! They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. The scrapers are highly ergonomic; their surfaces allow you to work on any area of the face, neck, and body and they almost seem to intuitively guide you to the right spot with the shape of the curve.
Gua Sha Tools can be made from:
- Stones – such as quartz, jade, bian stone, agate, and jasper, and one of the most precious to be used for gua sha – nephrite. According to Chinese culture gua sha stone helps cleanse, detoxify the body. Different stones have their own healing and clearing properties.
- Animal bones and horns – natural scrapers that harmonize energy circulation.
- Metal – typically brass or copper, which are believed to improve skin elasticity.
- Wood
- Plastic
Scrapers come in many shapes but are most often heart-shaped, fish-like, crescent-shaped, or resemble an animal’s paw.
When using gua sha stones, remember of their fragility and handle them with care. My first two gua sha stones, made from bian stone and rose quartz, broke on a ceramic floor (both at once!).
Why Fall in Love with Gua Sha?
I love gua sha massage for its simplicity, effectiveness, and meditative self care quality. During gua sha massage, blood circulation increases dramatically, delivering nutrients to the skin faster and making it healthy and radiant.
Gua sha activates metabolic processes, smooths out wrinkles, and restores facial tone. After a session, the skin appears glowing, firm, and healthy, and puffiness disappears as excess water is drained. Additionally, gua sha awakens “Qi” energy, triggering rejuvenation processes within the body.
Gua Sha Results? Gua sha stone massage can helps with:
- Smoothing out wrinkles
- Reducing puffiness
- Improving facial contours and tightening of skin
- Brightening dark circles under the eyes
- Accelerating the healing of acne
- Reducing pigmentation
- Boosting blood flow, helping with cellular metabolism and regeneration
- Stimulating lymphatic drainage to remove toxins
- Easing the symptoms of rosacea and couperose
- Oxygenating the skin
Moreover, gua sha massage is a wonderfully relaxing activity for self care! For me, the gua sha technique allows a moment to slow down, focus on sensations, and immerse myself in meditation.
While the scraper’s potential is vast, the best part is that it’s easy to master!
Gua Sha Technique
There are many gua sha techniques, but three basic methods differ in pressure, speed, and angle:
- Se-gua – strong pressure and fast movements.
- Bu-gua – slow movements and gentle pressure.
- Ping-bu ping-se – slow movements and strong pressure.
For daily massage, soft techniques with slow movements and light pressure are ideal. Deeper and more intensive techniques should not be performed more than 2–3 times a week. You can practice all three techniques using our Before You Begin ritual, it takes just a few minutes.
Before the procedure, it’s essential to prepare the skin: cleanse, mist your facial toner, and apply face oil or essence to ensure the gua sha tool glides smoothly without stretching the skin. If you are new to gua sha, I have created a beginner 5-minute follow along gua sha routine, that eases you into the practice.
Is Gua Sha Massage for Everyone?
Unfortunately, gua sha massage isn’t suitable for everyone. Avoid the procedure in cases of severe acne, open wounds, or abrasions. Instead, focus on the neck area to help speed up recovery.
Gua sha should not be performed if you have:
- Cancer (above chest level)
- Hypersensitivity
- Demodex
- Skin infections
Gua Sha Tips
Even though gua sha massage is effective on its own, here are some tips to enhance the experience:
- For an extra toning effect, place the scraper in the fridge for 2–3 minutes to cool it down.
- For relaxation, warm the scraper under a stream of hot water.
Why Try Gua Sha?
Affordability – Invest in a gua sha tool and your favorite face oil, learn the techniques, and you’ll save on expensive salon treatments. You’ll be able to maintain your skin’s health and radiance at home.
Simplicity – Gua sha is an easy technique that anyone can learn.
Effectiveness – You’ll see noticable effect after the very first massage: a glowing, lifted face with reduced puffiness and brightened dark circles.
Convenience – Choose the frequency that works for you. Whether you practice daily or a couple of times a week, you’ll notice positive changes.
