What is Gua Sha?

Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), Gua sha dates back almost 3,000 years. It uses several different tools to sculpt and firm skin by opening up energy pathways along the body's meridian lines. Gua sha benefits are both physical and psychological:

• Detoxifies by moving stagnant lymph fluid
• Breaks down facial tension
• Reduces facial lines and smoothes skin
• Decreases puffiness around the eyes and face
• Lifting effects - natural facelift
• Deeply relaxing
• Helps to improve anxiety

Gua sha is traditionally a body treatment but modified to treat the face and scalp safely. There are countless moves, but below are a few simple favorites.

*Gua sha should never be done on bare skin; always use a treatment oil for slip and a light touch. 

4 Basic Facial Gua Sha Moves

Step 1- Starting with the neck and the curved side of your tool to your face, hold the gua sha tool flat to the skin, raising the back end 30 degrees (I use my finger as a gauge), and gently glide up from the center to the outer face 3-5x with short, gentle strokes., Repeat for the jawline, chin, and around the mouth.

Step 2- Eyes - with the tool flat to the skin, soothe and de-puff the under eye area by sweeping from the inner undereye to the temple to your hairline. Repeat 3-5x per eye.

Step 3- Brow lift - Work from the inside corner of the brow bone near the nose to the temples. Horizontal strokes over the brow bone while lifting upwards will give a lift. If you have tension in that area, try holding and pressing lightly to release the brow.

Step 4- Drain and Release- Stroke down the neck to drain lymph starting from the outer corner of the jaw near the earlobe. A slow light touch is best. Do this on each side 3-5x at the end of every session to help the detox process.

I love to do this for a few minutes every morning in the shower as my wake-up ritual.
xoxo,
Katt