What is a Gua Sha?

Beauty trends come and go but what about the ones that have reigned supreme? In 2006 Kim Kardashian introduced the world to contouring which sculpted her nose and cheekbones to perfection through the use of makeup that is slightly darker than her actual complexion. This technique revolutionized the makeup industry as brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kat Von D began to profit off it by selling contour kits promising their customers chiseled jawlines and snatched noses. The fox eye trend, inspired by the likes of models such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid has been one of the latest trends in the beauty world. Smoked out eyeliner on the lash line and slanted eyelash placement has been used to achieve an upward appearance on the eyes and brows. But with the rise of the clean girl aesthetic in 2022, how do our favorite celebrities and influencers remain chiseled to perfection with minimal makeup? The gua sha has taken over the beauty industry by storm, with celebrities such as Bella Hadid coining it the secret behind her perfect complexion. In this post, we’ll define a gua sha, show a few examples of how it can be incorporated into your beauty routine, and go over a few tips and reminders.  

What is a gua-sha? The gua-sha is a small facial massage tool that is usually made of jade or rose quartz. The term itself comes from the Chinese word for scraping and has been rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It is commonly used to relieve tensions in the face muscles and stimulate blood circulation.

What has caught the attention of the beauty world is the gua sha’s ability to banish bloat by encouraging lymphatic drainage in the face. Facial lymph nodes are located in front of the eyes, cheeks, and the scalp near your temples. Therefore, when one massages these areas with the gua-sha tool the lymph nodes are drained resulting in less bloat in these areas. This means your jaw becomes more chiseled, under eyes depuff, and eyebrows are lifted!

The Gua Sha has existed for over 600 years dating back all the way to the Ming Dynasty (only 586 years before Kim Kardashian shared her contour routine with us!)

The Gua Sha is not only for the face though. People have also been known to use the tool to treat chronic pain all over the body. The popular areas many get Gua Sha treatment on is on their back, neck, butt, arms, and legs. According to medical professionals, the process of using a Gua Sha is not only believed to help blood flow but also help lessen toxins in your body. Not only does the Gua Sha make you feel even more beautiful, but it also provides many health benefits! It’s no wonder Kourtney Kardashian loves it.

But if you are looking to only incorporate the tool in your daily beauty regime, here’s what you need to do. According to our favorite model, Bella Hadid, the most pivotal time to use your Gua Sha is in the morning. All of us wakeup a little puffy in the morning so after you wash your face, lather your face with your favorite oil or moisturize and then massage with your Gua Sha to wake up your complexion. Not only does it get the blood flowing in your face but prolong use will have you looking snatched!

Supermodel Bella Hadid shares her beauty secrets to Vogue Magazine.

There is no doubt that you have seen a Tik Tok or Instagram reel showcasing this viral beauty hack/tool. Because of its rising popularity, retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are trying to capitalize off the trend and sale their own resulting in an overwhelming selection for customers. Advice #1 is to not overthink your purchase. The $7 Amazon Gua Sha works just the same as the $20 Sephora one. #2 is don’t expect results overnight. Consistency is important. Incorporating this into your beauty routine is the same as going to the gym, progress is gradual, but you will notice the change with due time. Lastly, do not put your Gua-Sha in the freezer. Many of us love hydrating skincare, when it’s cold we just feel like it’s working better, right? However, professional acupuncturist Sandra Lanskin Chiu recommends avoiding using cold tools because cold constricts circulation.

Kat Von D contour palettes, Charlotte Tilburry contour wands, and smoked out eyeliner aren’t the only way to achieve the Kardashian/model-esque look. Not only does the Gua Sha provide lasting outcomes but there are also health benefits linked to it. Plus, it’s simply cool to know that you’re incorporating a 600-year-old technique into your beauty routine!

For more information of Gua Sha’s and how to use them, check out Gua Sha Technique Breakdown (video). Have you tried a Gua Sha? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!