A real beauty trend of the moment, the Gua Sha is an increasingly popular beauty tool. Discover all the benefits of this little beauty accessory.

WHAT IS GUA SHA AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

Gua Sha is a massage tool widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Its name derives from "Gua", meaning scratch, and "Sha", meaning disease. Originally made from cow or buffalo horn, today they are crafted from more noble materials such as jade, quartz or stainless steel. 

Designed to relieve aches and pains, the face Gua Sha stimulates accupressure points and blood circulation. It also activates collagen production and eliminates body's toxins.

Daily use of Gua Sha on the face helps to:

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Sculpting the face
• Relieve tension
• Fighting acne
• Reduce double chin
• Promote better skin penetration of skincare products 

Over time, the effects are long-lasting: skin texture is firmer, the face relaxed and rejuvenated.
There are also Gua Sha body products to combat cellulite.

HOW TO USE YOUR GUA SHA?

You can perform a 10-minutes session every other day, morning or evening. If you want to wake up your skin, use in the morning. If you want to relieve facial tension, use in the evening. 

Step 1 Apply your cream, oil or serum to cleansed skin.

Step 2 Tilt your Gua Sha at 45° while maintaining gentle pressure.

Step 3 Carry out the following gestures from the inside to the outside and from the bottom to the top on the various parts of the face:

• Neck: divide your neck into three zones. Move the slightly domed part of your Gua Sha up both sides of your neck. Then slide the heart hollow of your Gua Sha up and down from your collarbone.
• Jaw: place the heart of your Gua Sha at chin level and slide it towards the right earlobe. Repeat on the left.
• Cheeks: use the slightly hollowed part of your Gua Sha and, starting from the right side of the nose, work your way up to the right temple. Repeat on the left.  
• Eye contour: use the tip of your Gua Sha and, starting from the inner corner of the eye, glide up to the temples.
• Eyebrows: use the tip of your Gua Sha and slide your massage tool from the inside to the outside of the brow bone.
• Forehead: divide your forehead into three zones and slide the slightly recessed part of your tool from your eyes to your hair. Then slide it sideways towards your temples.

Repeat each movement with your Gua Sha 10 to 15 times.
Your skin may turn red during the session. This means that blood circulation is activated.

Step 4 Clean your Gua Sha with warm water and soap.

IS THERE ANY DANGER IN USING GUA SHA?

As a natural remedy, there are no known risks in using Gua Sha.
After the first few uses, you may notice the appearance of pimples. But nothing abnormal, apart from mild acne: these are toxins released by the drainage process.

A word of advice: if you opt for a stone Gua Sha, check the quality of the stone when you buy it. Lower-quality stones may contain products that are irritating to your skin.
You can also opt for a Gua Sha in hypoallergenic stainless steel, like the Beautigloo4S, to protect your skin. 

WHICH GUA SHA TO CHOOSE?

1. The Gua Sha in stainless steel

Made from hypoallergenic material, the stainless steel Gua Sha is recommended for sensitive skin. Naturally fresh, Gua Sha effects are maximized. It's also a safe bet if you're unsure about the quality of the stones.

2. The stone Gua Sha

If you're into lithotherapy, you can choose your Gua Sha stone according to its energetic properties:

• Jade is the most widely used gemstone in China. It relaxes the nervous system and heals redness and inflammation. It is suitable for normal to oily skin, and especially for irritated skin.
• The rose quartz Gua Sha is one of the most widely used for its soothing and anti-aging effects. The use of rose quartz adds glow to the skin. The stone is ideal for mature, dry or dull, tired skin.
• Amethyst brings calm and serenity. Its use smoothes, decongests and soothes the skin. It is particularly suitable for intolerant and blemish-prone skin.
• Green aventurine purifies the skin and relieves inflammation in problem skin (acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea). It also has anti-imperfection properties.
• Black obsidian has beneficial effects on the cell renewal process. Derived from volcanic rock, it regenerates and smoothes the skin. It is ideal for healing acne-prone skin.

Caution! Many of the stones on sale, such as jade, are not genuine because they are expensive and difficult to work. Assume that any Gua Sha sold at a ridiculously low price is unfortunately not genuine.
Tip : to recognize a genuine Gua Sha stone, carefully run a sharp blade over it. If it slips and doesn't scratch the stone, it's genuine.

WHICH GUA SHA SHAPE TO CHOOSE?

Concerning the shapeIf you want to work on the oval of the face and shape it, opt for the heart shape.

If you want to lift your face, opt for the wing shape.

WHICH OIL TO USE FOR GUA SHA?

To avoid complicating your skincare routine, apply an oil, serum or cream you already use. Choose an oil according to your skin type. 

• For normal to dry skin, use borage oil.
• For irritated skin, opt for camelina oil.
• For sensitive or reactive skin, apply hemp oil.
• For combination to oily skin, opt for hazelnut oil. It is also recommended for mature skin. 

WHY KEEP YOUR GUA SHA COOL?

Applying fresh Gua Sha has vasoconstrictive effects on the skin. This reduces the size of pores for an even more radiant complexion.
A stainless steel massage accessory is able to store enough freshness to diffuse it continuously throughout the treatment, increasing its effectiveness tenfold. The same applies to stone Gua Sha: keeping them cool also enhances the effect of the treatment.

However, avoid placing your Gua Sha in the freezer as the application of a stone that is too cold will shock your skin. Instead, place your facial massage tool in an environment with a suitable temperature, such as the Refrigerated Beauty Box by Beautigloo (temperature adjustable between 8 and 14°C).

GUA SHA OR JADE ROLLER?

The Jade Roller and the Gua Sha are two complementary beauty tools. However, their benefits on the skin are different.

• Roller Jade 

The effects of the jade roller are focused on the skin's surface. It stimulates blood circulation and reduces puffiness and dark circles (see "What is the jade roller and how do I use it?). The jade roller is ideal for quick and easy massages (5 minutes a day is enough). Unlike Gua Sha, it can be used without cream.

• Gua Sha

The Gua Sha has a deeper effect: it reaches deeper into the muscle fibers to release muscle tension more intensely than a jade roller. Its shape allows it to sculpt the face.
Using this facial massage tool is more complex than using a roller, but you just have to get the hang of it! Use it if you're looking for a highly effective massage tool.