How to use gua sha for a perfectly sculpted face?

WEB DESK: A gua sha stone, also sometimes referred to as a jade scraper, is a little flat pebble of jade that can chisel out cheekbones you didn’t even know existed, de-puff hangover eye bags, and crank up the dial on skin brightness.

But what exactly is gua sha and how can a small stone offer so many beauty benefits? We reached out to several skincare experts, including a board-certified dermatologist and licensed esthetician

Gua sha is a method that promotes lymphatic drainage, which helps to eliminate bloating caused by interstitial fluid (fluid trapped under your skin that needs to be released to your lymph system. In other words, gua sha is good for you—and could have some additional benefits to your appearance.

BENEFITS

While modern-day jade scraping might be less invasive, it can still have pretty impressive results. Benefits are often apparent even after the very first gua sha treatment.

Stimulates Circulation:

 One pilot study found that gua sha can stimulate circulation in targeted areas. Anecdotal evidence has found that it could also help ease the appearance of cellulite by lowering fluid retention—though there’s not quite enough science to back that up.

Helps Produce Collagen:

Anecdotal evidence has found that gua sha can help decrease puffiness and soften fine lines and wrinkles by helping the body produce more collagen—thereby brightening the complexion.

Decreases Inflammation:

Science has found that gua sha can help temporarily relieve pain and tightness in certain parts of the body—even leading to results that last. Those studies suggest that gua sha has an impact on inflammation (which often leads to pain).

Diminishes Dark Circles:

By helping soften fine lines and stimulating collagen, gua sha can help diminish dark circles (at least, temporarily) and temporarily tighten skin.

Sculpts Facial Muscles:

 Used on the jawline and cheekbone area, gua sha can help release tight facial muscles and give the temporary appearance of a more sculpted face. It won’t get rid of a double chin (it can’t target fat), but it could help ease puffiness in the short term.

HOW TO USE

According to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, the best method is to use gentle pressure and “apply even strokes against your skin, preferably in the direction of lymphatic flow.”

Lymph nodes are located beneath the surface of the skin. “An easy, feather-like stroke of a gentle facial gua sha technique is all it takes to flush the lymph into your body’s drainage system,” Tobia says. The process stimulates lymphatic flow and drainage,1 releasing excess fluids that can make the complexion look a little, well, inflated.

Choose a good gua sha tool and use it every morning for five minutes. First, apply a face oil or serum, then gently sweep the stone up the neck working your way toward the hairline, focusing on the cheekbones and jaw; this helps drain fluid downward and promotes circulation, explains Haifa. The key word is gently—you don’t need to apply much pressure at all in order to reap the benefits.