Everything you need to know about GUA SHA
Gua Sha 💎 Are they worth the hype?
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You know I love a good Gua sha (pronounced gwa-sha) face sculpting situation + I get asked about this ancient Chinese tool often. Here’s the specifics and v straight to the point.
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Q: What is a Gua Sha?
A: a Chinese medical practice that involves scraping + sculpting your skin with a natural jade or quartz stone that is flat. It is used to sculpt over the skin to relax stiff muscles, increase blood flow, and promote tissue and lymphatic drainage.
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Q: Will a Gua Sha help my under eye puffiness?
A: Yes. If your eyes are puffy from fluid retention then gently scraping this stone with light to medium pressure, in upward and outward motions, moving center of your face to outer edges, from inner corners of your eyes to outer will help with puffiness. This will also help loosen up any facial tension.
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Q: Will a Gua Sha decrease my wrinkles or dark circles?
A: Not necessary dark circles, but it is said to help smooth out fine lines over time.
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Q: Does a Guasha help with lymphatic drainage and over all skin “bloat” or puffiness?
A: Yes. The oxygen from increased circulation allows the skin to calm inflammation. Improved circulation from regular massages, gua sha-ing, jade rolling, etc., can make skin look brighter and more awake.
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Q: Do I keep it in my refrigerator?
A: It depends on your skin. Are you using this to calm inflammation or is your skin angry and irritated? If so then for sure yes, you want to put it in the fridge bc the cold acts as a cold compress which also reduces puffiness, calms redness, and helps inflammation. Otherwise, NO. Heat helps amplify this tool to increase circulation in your tissues.
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Q: Do I put serum on first?
A: You don’t want to use this on dry skin + create heavy friction. Start with a hydrating toner (@paulaschoice is my fav) + then apply some light facial oils on top, then proceed to your Gua Sha.
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Q: Do I wash my tool?
A: yes, wash your Gua Sha tool w hot water + non fragrant soap after every use.
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Q: Is this good for all skin types?
A: This is a safe tool for all skin types. However, I personally wouldn’t use it on severe acne skin.
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Always use as much of the flat surface of the tool.x