

(Lighter is safer, and goes a long way!) Using Gua Sha To Treat Common Issuesīelow, tips (and videos!) on how to perform Gua Sha to help with forehead lines, under-eye bags, puffy eyes, and TMJ. One of the biggest things to remember when starting out is to be very gentle with the Gua Sha tool on your face, and use less pressure than you might think you need. You should be able to see a difference in terms of decreased puffiness and a sculpted appearance almost immediately. If you’re a beginner, start with a 10-minute session four to five times per week. A session can last anywhere from five minutes to 45 minutes depending on your speed and style. Practice each move about three to five times in a single session. To work on the facial issues you want to treat, pick and choose which moves below you’ll perform with your Gua Sha tool. Now that you’ve gotten your tools ready, you’re ready to start the Gua Sha practice! Starting with cleansed skin, dispense a pea-sized amount of cleansing oil into your palms and then massage all over your face, neck and décolletage. You want to perform your Gua Sha on skin that has been freshly cleansed, so that you don’t spread bacteria over your face and cause unwanted breakouts. Given that Gua Sha is an Asian cultural practice, consider buying your tool from an AAPI-owned brand, like Sabbatical Beauty, Mount Lai, or Lanshin. To begin your Gua Sha journey, the exact shape of the tool really doesn’t matter.

Gua Sha tools come in a large variety of shapes and forms, and generally all of them hug your facial curvature in slightly different ways. (My brand, Sabbatical Beauty, carries this Vacuum Cleansing Oil, which works well because the oil washes off completely with water when you’re done). If you practice without sufficient lubrication, there’s a chance that you may damage or tear your skin. This oil is important for you to achieve “slip” when you perform Gua Sha.

To start, you only need a few simple tools: To help you get started with Gua Sha and make sure you’re doing it correctly, find a how-to guide below so you can start incorporating the ancient practice into your at-home skincare routine. In traditional Chinese medicine, performing Gua Sha can help release stagnant energy, improve circulation and boost overall health. Gua Sha (刮痧) is a centuries-old Chinese practice that refers to a type of scraping using the flat edge of the tool. And if you’ve subsequently wondered what the heck they’re doing, well, they’re giving their skin ultimate TLC through Gua Sha. If you’ve scrolled TikTok recently, you’ve probably seen a ton of folks rubbing their faces with funky-shaped stones. Gua Sha, the ancient Chinese skincare practice, can help with common issues like forehead lines, puffy eyes, and TMJ.
