The Gua Sha Facial

A closer look at the angles and edges of the stone

GUA SHA: a word that’s been heard and has rippled throughout the world with die hard followers and skeptics in equal form. It’s a popularized facial massage, which has been an industry standard, but perhaps overlooked and undervalued in its ability to shape the face and regulate the health of the skin. Facial massage is where the magic happens. It supports the skin’s function and increases the receptibility of the products that are applied. It can be argued that it’s the most important part of any facial and if true, Gua Sha may well be considered the sorcerer’s wand. If I’ve lost you by entertaining the idea that gliding a stone on the surface of the skin can create fundamental shifts in the health of the skin, let us peel back the layers to understand the science and skill behind the movements and the benefits of each angle and edges of the stone.

THE SCIENCE

Facial Gua Sha is part of modern Eastern Asian beauty therapy. It stems from modifications to the original friction-based technique of Gua Sha practiced on the body. It uses the same or similar tools, but the technique is much gentler and tailored to the delicate tissues of the face and neck. Facial Gua Sha encourages the beneficial flow of blood and fluids to and from the face. It stimulates the activation of acupressure points that lift, tone, and use your body’s resources to heal and slow the visible signs of aging.