What is Gua Sha?

Gua sha is a natural ancient self-care beauty ritual, originated from China. This facial massage technique has been used for several thousand years to achieve skin health and provide a youthful, radiant complexion.

The natural therapy involves sweeping the skin with a massage tool. These strokes help to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, which increases blood flow and encourages lymphatic drainage. With regular practice facial tension is relieved, the jawline becomes more defined, fine lines are reduced, the skin is lifted and de-puffed.

How to use

Cleanse the skin and gently pat dry before applying your favourite serum, moisturiser or masque. Simply apply your product as normal and then use the tool to make sweeping motions over the contours of your face. The layer of product is important to ensure the tool does not tug at the skin.

You should work through this seven-step routine on one side of the face, then repeat on the other side, making sure to repeat each stroke 3-5 times. Repeat 2-3 times a week to see the full benefits.

1. Neck – Start at the collar bone and sweep up the neck.
2. Under the chin – sweep from the soft part of the under the chin towards the earlobe.
3. Jawline – start from the middle of the chin, move under the lower lip up towards the ear.
4. Under cheeks – sweep from the corner of the mouth under the cheekbones to the hairline. 
5. Over cheeks - sweep from the corner of the nose over the cheekbone to the hairline, by the top of the ear.
6. Under eyes - be very gentle in this area. Sweep from the corner of the eye to the hairline. Use less pressure than on the rest of the face. 
7. Over eyebrows - start from between the eyebrows, sweep out towards the hairline 
8. Forehead - sweep upwards from the eyebrows the top of the head.

Clean and dry the tool after use. 

What are the benefits?

This natural therapy can help to activate the immune system, allowing the body to speed up its natural healing process. Gua Sha is performed on the back of the neck, shoulders and mid-back where the lymphatic system and drains the lymphatics which assists in decongestion. This has huge benefits for cold and flu symptoms. Gua sha is an anti-inflammatory therapy, great for dealing with chronic pain and sore muscles. Additionally, it is able to firm the skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles and plump skin to give it a youthful glow.

Pro Tips

•  Try keeping your jade tool in the fridge. This will intensify the cooling sensation, leaving you feeling refreshed.
• Use the tool to massage your head. Wiggling it against your scalp through your hair can help to relieve tension. 
• Once you have mastered the basics, feel free to experiment. You may want to focus on certain areas more than others.

Our in house therapist Kate Hardy performs gua sha using our jade tool in her treatments, so we asked her to tell us what she likes about it and why she uses this particular form of therapy. 

"I've been working the jade tool myself for several months now & have recently introduced it into facial treatments for clients. The jade tool really helps to stimulate the facial muscles. It's also great for increasing lymphatic drainage, helping the skin get rid of toxins. It gives the skin a natural boost with a lifting and firming effect, brightening the skin and reducing puffiness. It leaves you with a wonderful fresh-faced glow and is also super relaxing to do".

Where can you find out more?

You can view our Gua Sha tool here. Until the end of March 2020, this is also part of a discounted duo alongside our Hydration Injection Masque, saving you £17. This is part of our spring offers range which you can view here. 

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