How to Gua Sha Your Face for a Natural Lift - A Quick Routine Anyone Can Do

If you love skincare I’m sure you’ve seen or even tried a few gua shas by now but you may not know what they’re actually supposed to do or how to use it. Gua sha actually has many benefits and isn’t just a trendy skincare item. Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese beauty ritual that has been used for hundreds of years where the skin is “scraped” to create therapeutic petechiae (bruising) to stimulate blood flow and circulation and loosen blocked chi.

With correct + consistent use gua sha can create some seriously impressive skincare results like increasing circulation (aka glowing skin), stimulating collagen production, relieving tension headaches, increasing lymphatic drainage to decrease puffiness, and creating a natural lifting & contouring effect on the face. It’s like a natural face lift you can do yourself and the best part is it takes less than 5 mins! 

Intrigued yet?

Let’s dive into how to do gua sha the right way for results + what type of gua sha is best. 

Understanding Gua Sha Massage

Gua sha, which translates to "scraping sand," involves using a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape the skin in upward strokes. The pressure applied during the massage helps to increase blood flow, release tension in facial muscles, and promote lymphatic drainage, resulting in a brighter, more lifted complexion. Additionally, the repeated motions stimulate collagen production, which can contribute to firmer, more youthful-looking skin over time.

How do you use it?

On a clean, dry face with clean hands, add a generous amount of a face oil before you start. Then take the gua sha and with light pressure apply in upward motions at a 45 degree angle starting with your cheeks and following the map below on both sides of your face. I like to do about 5-10 strokes in each area. When you're finished don't forget to slide the gua sha down your neck to complete the lymphatic drainage too. I like to do a gua sha massage every morning and evening as the last step in my skincare routine every day. Like with most skincare and wellness hacks - consistency is key for results. Here's my full routine:

The Easiest Daily Gua Sha Routine

Step 1: Cleanse the skin

Step 2: Apply your favorite serum

Step 3: Apply 3-4 drops of your favorite face oil

Step 4: Start your gua sha massage - use the provided map and do each stroke 5-10 times in an upward motion with gentle pressure

**When not to use your gua sha**

If you have broken skin, sunburns, rashes or blood circulation issues. Remember to always ask your doctor if you have any other concerns!

What Type of Gua Sha is Best?

Crystal Gua Sha vs. Sustainable Steel Gua Sha

You’ve probably seen crystal gua shas before and while they work well I actually prefer the stainless steel gua shas. Crystal gua sha tools, typically crafted from stones like jade or rose quartz, are super trendy online and in the wellness space. However, they also come with some drawbacks. Crystal gua shas are fragile and can break if dropped and the porous nature of crystals may harbor bacteria if not cleaned properly, potentially leading to skin irritation or breakouts. From a sustainability point of view they are 100% natural and if they do break you could easily put them in your garden or repurpose as decor (love that!) However the ethics is where things get tricky. Most crystals do not have a clear or transparent supply chain which is a good indicator there are some shady sourcing practices. For instance, even at the biggest gem show in the US, the Tucson Gem Show, most vendors either cannot or will not tell you where their crystals come from - like not even the country in some cases. This is because most crystals are byproducts of mining for other precious metals and often come from countries with very lax labor & environmental laws. I always say - if a company isn't transparent in their sourcing practices there's probably a reason why and this is certainly true for crystals.

On the other hand, sustainable steel gua sha tools offer a durable, effective, and ethical alternative. Made from high-quality stainless steel that's infinitely recyclable, these tools are virtually indestructible and easy to clean. They can also work better to de-puff if you put it in the fridge prior to use and use as cold therapy massage on the face. I was in Tulum recently and let me tell you in that heat & humidity it was freakin heaven pulling my Nice & chilled gua sha from the mini fridge for a facial massage every evening before bed.

My favorite is definitely a stainless steel gua sha but you do you and find the one that you like best.

You can shop my picks here: