Indispensable Beauty

The weight of the world shouldn’t be felt on one’s skin. Indispensable Beauty By Citlalli Gutierrez

Beauty tools can be essential to releasing the strain brought on by stress. A beauty tool called gua sha is technically nothing new but is having a significant moment among selfcare enthusiasts. It's known for the history of its practice and the ability to produce instant results. Incorporating the gua sha into a skincare routine can further enhance the process of taking care of your skin.

The Magic of the Gua Sha

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medical technique that involves scraping and massaging the skin. The device’s appearance is flat and made from gemstone crystals such as jade or quartz. The gemstone’s touch is cool with weight on the hand and various carved edges to fit the face and body’s contours. While known for diminishing facial tension, the results extend beyond relaxation.

Health and Beauty Benefits

The significance of practicing gua sha relates to its many long-term health benefits: blood circulation for inflammation, lymphatic drainage for toxin removal, and treatment for chronic pain. In terms of facial application, the gua sha promotes sculpting while smoothing out fine lines and strengthening the skin’s elasticity. This tool’s contouring property makes it a natural alternative to makeup and cosmetic injections.

Prep the Skin & Begin

The practice of gua sha requires time, effort, and the proper instruction. Prepping the skin is a must prior to using any facial roller. To begin, all you need is a clean face and your favorite oil or serum to lubricate the skin so the stone can glide across the face. For best results, the gua sha tool should be used at a slight angle against the skin’s surface with light to medium pressure.

5 Minute Glow: How to Gua Sha

Neck

Starting from the center above the collarbone, glide the tool up into the neck to lift the skin. This can be used on the sides of the neck as well.

Shoulder

Maneuver the tool following the natural curvature from shoulder to neck and end at the earlobe. This step will promote lymphatic drainage.

Cheek

To contour the cheek, start from the corner of the nose, sweep the tool towards the cheekbone, and end at the hairline.

Jawline

To define the jawline, start under the chin and gently drag the tool across, and wiggle at the end to release tension.

Eyebrow

From the arch of the brow, stroke up towards the hairline. Another method is laying the tool on the eyebrow and gently massaging it in a circular motion. The cooling sensation will release tension around the eye area.

Forehead

Where the brows meet or the third eye, enforce light to medium pressure and massage. Then sweep the tool into the forehead and end at the hairline.

These steps are vital to effectively use the gua sha and each is repeated at least five times on both sides of the face. Performing this ritual 2-3 times a week is recommended for ultimate relaxation. Ultimately, self-care may look different for everyone, so customize the gua sha’s usage/practice at your preference! as you wish, because, after all, we could all use/deserve some TLC.