The year behind us, and the time ahead brings a little more space, time and awareness that through face, body and hair care, we dedicate ourselves to ourselves, reduce the overall impact of stress, relax the body and mind. It is not surprising that just now beauty gadgets and tools got their 5 minutes, and the so-called gua sha , a stone fashioned from semi-precious stones such as green jade or rose quartz. A gua sha stone massage brings numerous benefits, and below, find out what it does for the skin and how to use it.
Chinese tradition in a modern routine
Gua sha may be a novelty in modern skin care methods, but its origins go back to ancient times. The stone massage technique with specifically formed edges has been perfected in traditional Chinese medicine as a method of relieving tension in the muscles of the face and neck, as well as stimulating better blood circulation. The special feature of these tiles is that they are made of semi-precious stones, which is why each copy is special, with a unique texture and color.
The Internet has brought this method into our homes, but it has also - quite wrongly - declared such beauty additions to the routine as an all-powerful tool that erases wrinkles, pores and age from the face. Gua sha stone is not a magic wand and you should not expect miracles from this type of massage, which does not mean that benefits do not exist. Rather, they are numerous because this aesthetically wonderful piece of semi-precious stone, used in the right strokes, does the following:
- accelerates circulation
- relieves swelling and puffiness of the skin
- relaxes the muscles and removes the feeling of tension
- in the long term it helps shape the contours of the face
No less important is the aspect of the spa moment in everyday life, which turns the usual care and routine into a real ritual and time for yourself. You will agree, such moments are truly priceless.
Stock up on time and facial oil
Although it seems like a method that requires unprecedented stone handling skills, gua sha massage is really simple. What you will need is time, a product to apply to your skin before the massage and – your gua sha stone. The optimal time and duration of the massage is from 15 to 20 minutes, so the massage is usually recommended in the evening care. Of course, this is not a rule; you can adjust everything to your wishes.
Before the treatment, clean your face, wash yourself and apply care, be it a serum and a more nourishing cream or an oil such as Golden Immortal Oil and Omega Elixir . The point is to provide a good slip surface on which the stone will slide nicely. Gently warm the oil in your palms, apply it to your forehead, chin, cheeks and neck and gently massage it with your fingertips. Don't forget, you can cool the gua sha stone in the refrigerator before the massage itself. If you have already done so, now is the time to get it out!
You can also massage the neck and lips
Start with the massage from the shoulders to the neck and face. Gently pull the gua sha stone with a hollow from the shoulder towards the neck. When you get to the area behind the ear, massage in circular motions in place.
Using the same motions of indentation in the stone, cross the edges from the middle of the chin to the cheeks, then from the nose to the temples. Massage the highest points again in place.
You can increase blood circulation in the area of ​​the lips. With gentle movements of the edge, move from left to right and vice versa.
Turn the stone over and gently pull the straight edge from the root of the nose to the scalp, in the middle and on each side. If desired, apply the rest of the care. Wash the gua sha in lukewarm water (disinfect with alcohol if necessary) and store in a dry place for future use.
It is important to note that this is only one of the suggestions for the massage procedure. There are many of them, they are individually adjustable, and many ideas for gua sha maneuvering can be found in video tutorials on YouTube.
Avoid retinoids and the sun
The beauty of gua sha stone massage lies in the fact that it can be applied regardless of age and skin type. However, there are some limitations, so it is not recommended for skin prone to capillary sensitivity and changes, people with problems related to blood clotting and fat formation, rosacea skin and damaged skin with active inflammation of any cause. Also, this tool is ideal to use with nourishing, neutral and moisturizing formulas that do not contain active ingredients with potential irritant potential (for example, retinoids). A good example is the Professional set 4H , which includes a moisturizing tonic, a skin rehydration serum and a rose quartz gua sha massage tile. After the massage, it is good to avoid hot showers and saunas, as well as exposure to the sun.
