How-To: Gua Sha

Gua Sha is the ancient Chinese technique of scraping a flat piece of stone (most often jade or rose quartz) along the skin to relieve dryness, acne, rosacea, as well as firm and tighten skin.

Step 1: After cleansing, apply your favorite oil by gently pressing it into your neck and face.

Step 2: Beginning on the right side of your face, hold the scraper at a 15-30° angle against your skin.

Step 3: Start by moving the scraper from your jawbone (under ear) down to your collarbone. Repeat this process of jawbone to collarbone moving towards your chin. Repeat each scraping motion 3-5x, as much or as little as is comfortable.

Step 4: From the center of your chin, scrape out towards your earlobe. Repeat this motion of scraping from center > outwards throughout your cheeks. Mind the pressure you use around your lips.

Step 5: Scrape from the center of browline (third eye) to edge of hairline, taking care to apply very light pressure around your eyes. (This one is especially relaxing for your nervous system, and can help with insomnia.)

Step 6: Scrape from center of forehead to outer temple.

Step 7: Perhaps the most important step, you want to bring all the toxins you just scraped down so they can properly drain. Starting at the center of your forehead, scrape along your hairline, behind your ears, and down your neck until you reach the top of your collarbone. 

Step 8: Repeat steps 2-7 on left side. 

 

Jade Gua Sha Scraper

Rose Quartz Gua Sha Scraper

 

Things to remember:

Direction matters! Gua Sha aids in draining lymph and it can't do that if you don't get the lymph to the right area. 

Pressure matters. Apply very light pressure around delicate areas like your eyes and lips, use more pressure on your cheeks and forehead.