Originally posted and adapted from Asiaone.
There’s no denying that Asian beauty is sweeping the globe.
We’ve tried the infamous Korean ten-step skincare programme, as well as ‘glass skin’ facials and high-end Japanese products.
With its century-old rituals and procedures, ancient Chinese medicine and skincare is now taking centre stage. Following the success of acupuncture and the use of rice water as a cleanser, the Gua Sha is the next player to cause a social media craze.
Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese medicinal practise that uses a tool to run over the skin in a repeated scaping motion to break up muscular tension, enhance blood circulation, and drain stagnant lymph fluids. It is known as the “natural Botox.”
This treatment, which produced red markings all over the body, was originally employed to treat rapid body collapse caused by heatstroke (which is extremely appropriate for our hot Singapore weather!) and seasonal ailments.
The current facial version is considerably milder, resulting in glowing skin with more lifted and defined features.
Gua sha instruments exist in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, ranging from jade and rose quartz to stainless steel. Lanshin’s Pro Gua Sha tool ($179), designed by acupuncturist, herbalist, and renowned gua sha expert Sandra Lanshin Chiu, is the best of the bunch.
The tool, which is made of nephrite jade, is claimed to have healing abilities. Sacheu Beauty’s 100% Stainless Steel Gua Sha ($50) is a close second, since it is sturdy, self-cooling, and anti-bacterial when compared to other materials. A metal spoon can also be used as an alternative!
P.F.P – product, frequency, and placement – is our philosophy when it comes to technique.
You should always use a serum or oil with a lot of slide while using your Gua Sha instrument. Because you’ll be scraping the surface of your face frequently, a product that glides on smoothly will be less likely to irritate your skin or leave those pesky red stains.
Three is the magic number when it comes to frequency. Three times a week practise of the Gua Sha will not only yield faster visual effects, but will also keep facial muscles calm and well-circulated.
The correct positioning of the Gua Sha instrument on your skin is also critical. Make sure the tool is almost flat against your skin rather than at a 90-degree angle when you’re holding it. This improves lymph drainage while also helping to elevate your face and features.
If you’re not sure where to begin, you may watch many instructions on YouTube or have the treatment done professionally at one of Singapore’s many salons.
Sin Kang TCM’s luxurious 90-minute Gua Sha Facial Treatment ($136 Trial, $288 Full Price) provides clients with plumper, tighter, and younger-looking skin. The Gua Sha Facial Treatment is a stress-relieving facial that includes a well-deserved soothing massage for tensed muscles.
Is all that trouble and hype worth it, as you’ve been waiting for?
The ancient practise does have some results, as long as you don’t expect to emerge with a new face. The abundance of transformational selfies available on the internet demonstrates this.
A constant routine appears to work wonders, leaving fans with chiselled jaw lines, de-puffed cheeks, and a more contoured face.
However, because everyone’s skin is different, results may take longer in some cases, while others notice a difference in just four days.
Furthermore, there is relatively little literature and study on Gua Sha’s long-term advantages.
Nonetheless, because the treatment is safe, it seems worth a shot, and with enough repetition, it may become an important component of your overall skincare routine.
Gua sha has been shown to help ease facial tension, reduce puffiness and inflammation, and even lower sinus pressure. However, because the musculature of the face is significantly thinner, you should avoid exerting excessive pressure while working on it.
You will notice the following benefits after using a Gua Sha properly and consistently:
Puffiness, puffy skin, exhaustion, acne, and other skin problems can all be caused by a sluggish lymph system. Because lymph circulation can only be increased through muscle movement or massage, utilising a Gua Sha is the most effective technique to do it. Click here to learn more about lymphatic drainage.
A prevalent myth is that a Gua Sha cannot be used to treat acne. By reducing congestion and boosting circulation, the Gua Sha tool helps to minimise flare-ups, redness, and the size of acne. Always avoid using a Gua Sha on broken skin or pustules.
The Gua Sha brings fresh blood to the skin’s surface, renewing skin cells and reducing the appearance of acne scars.
Your skin tightens and becomes more sculpted as the Gua Sha eliminates lymph and other fluids from your face.
Less dark circles and a youthful glow result from improved blood circulation.
Gua Sha relaxes your rigid face muscles and tissues, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Scraping the Gua Sha on your face in the proper technique on a regular basis can give you a defined jawline and cheekbones. With time, your face will become more naturally shaped!
Gua sha can be done every day. However, if you have any redness or pain, you should wait until it goes away. It’s critical to work in a delicate manner that allows the skin to adapt to the movements and regenerate on its own.
Based on form:
1. Concave Side – The concave side of a Gua Sha is best for using on larger portions of the body.
2. Gua Sha with a Double Curved Side – This shape increases blood circulation under the eyes, cheeks, and cheekbones.
3. Cleft – Because the cleft or divot is tiny, it is better used for the jaw alone.
4. Pointed Convex Edge – The pointed convex edge of the Gua Sha is ideal for scooping the brows.
If you use your Gua Sha tool during the day, a serum is preferable because it is lighter. It won’t make your skin feel oily or sticky like oil does. Even though this is our advise, use whichever product your skin prefers, whether it’s a serum, face oil, or moisturiser.
To sustain effects, it is advised that you do a Chinese Gua Sha facial massage at least three times each week. You can perform it in the morning to reduce puffiness or at night to relax your facial muscles before sleeping.
It’s critical to keep your Gua Sha tool clean. Acne, greasiness, outbreaks, and other skin issues can all be caused by a dirty tool. We recommend wiping down your instrument with a soft towel before and after each use to keep it clean. Dip the cloth in some soapy water (water + your cleaner) and gently wipe your tool for a thorough clean. This removes the germs that has accumulated on your stone. Hot water can damage the stones in your tool, so avoid it. Make sure your Gua Sha tool is completely dry before returning it to its box.
Your Gua Sha tool is delicate because it is constructed of semi-precious stones. Dropping it can harm the crystals in your face tool, causing the results to change. It is critical to handle your Gua Sha with extreme caution. You should keep your tool somewhere dry and safe from falling. For an extra cooling effect, place it in your refrigerator (or a make-up fridge).
While gua sha may improve the appearance of the skin, the effects are usually just transitory, according to Garshick. For example, following a round of gua sha, your cheekbones may appear more chiselled, but they will normally puff up again the next morning.
No, after gua sha, you do not need to wash your face. Gua sha is actually preferable to scrubbing your face because cleansing our skin removes the natural oils and causes it to become oilier.
Don’t worry, your gua sha stone isn’t going to give you wrinkles if you use it correctly. Simply avoid applying excessive pressure, use oil, and always move upward. Your skin will glow.
In a nutshell, sure. Gua sha might help you get rid of your double chin (via Inspire Uplift). Just make sure you do it on a regular basis for a few weeks; it’s not something you can do once and expect immediate magical effects. All you need is a gua sha tool to get started.
“Practicing facial gua sha too forcefully or too quickly will result in “sha” or red markings,” Chiu warns. “Sha isn’t permanent, but you don’t want that with facial gua sha.”
