In the world of beauty, some things are timeless. They endure because they are not just effective; they add genuine joy to our daily lives. This is precisely why ancient beauty tools have found their way into our modern daily skincare rituals. As a dedicated holistic esthetician, I’ve always been drawn to traditions deeply rooted in their connection to our well-being. Whether it’s Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or ancient holistic practices, these gems offer us invaluable insights for radiant skin and a harmonious life.
My journey has been shaped by years of hands-on experience with Shiseido, emerced in Japanese traditional Shiatsu and a profound understanding of Chinese Gu Sha and cupping, and their profound impact on our health, beauty, and wellness. This knowledge, combined with a passion for clean beauty and consistent daily rituals, led me to popularize these ancient rituals in the early 2000s. Today, I invite you to embrace this self-care practice as a transformative part of your daily self care.
The ancient art of gua sha massage has been cherished for centuries for its profound support of a healthy sleep cycle and aiding in stress reduction by awakening Qi along our meridian pathways. This blog is an invitation to weave this self-care practice into the fabric of your daily life.
Let’s Dive In:
The Gua Sha Magic Unveiled: Gua Sha Massage is a powerful means to stimulate the flow of energy to your face, resulting in a lifted, toned, and plumped complexion. When embraced as a daily ritual, it facilitates cellular turnover, leaving your skin radiant and rejuvenated.
You may be wondering why you need a facial tool, and the truth is, you don’t need one. Yes, you can use your hands to get a ton of flow and movement, but the crystals do hold amazing energy and my personal favorite is a budget-friendly jade stone $18, boasting rounded ridges along its outer curvature—ideal for encouraging lymphatic drainage and best results.
Important Considerations:
- Avoid using on irritations, breakouts, open wounds, or raised scars.
- If you’ve recently undergone fillers or Botox, wait a month or consult your healthcare professional.
How To Prep The Skin:
- Cleanse first and rinse
- Spritz a hydrasol or complexion mist onto your face.
- Warm Om Beauty Oil in your hands and gently press it into the skin on the face, neck, and chest.
My Daily Three Step Gua Sha Technique:
The Neck:
- Back of the Neck: Glide the gua sha tool gently up your spine from the base to the hairline, using the large U-shaped notch (4-6 times).
- Front of the Neck: Use feather-light strokes to glide the tool from the front of your neck towards the tip of your chin, allowing the gua sha’s weight to do the work (4-6 times on both sides).
- Side of the Neck: Begin at the top of your shoulder and glide the tool upwards along the side of your neck, ending just below your ear (not recommended during pregnancy).
The Face:
- Forehead: Start in the center of your forehead. Using the flat side of the gua sha, gently lift from the tip of your nose to the hairline. Repeat on both sides, lifting from the eyebrow to the hairline.
- Side of the Eye: Gently stroke from the center towards the side to address crow’s feet.
- Jawline & Cheekbone: Using the large notch, anchor your chin with the opposite hand and gently swipe upwards along your entire jawline, ending at the edge of your ear.
The Eyes:
- Use the small tip to gently lift from the inner corner of the eye under the eyebrow to your temple.
- Use the ridged side between your eyebrows, gently pressing and lifting with your peace sign fingers to alleviate tension.
Remember to think of this as a breathing fresh Qi and vitality into our faces, detoxifying our meridian systems. Think of it as clearing a traffic jam within your system, allowing the energy to flow freely. The routine takes about 6 minutes, with 3-4 strokes per movement. If time permits, you can certainly indulge in more strokes per movement, as I encourage 5-6 strokes per movement for maximum benefits.
Recap of My Step-by-Step Gua Sha Routine:
