Facial bloat- a term we’re hearing more and more often. Whether it’s from a lack of sleep, a salty meal or perhaps an extra glass of wine, water retention in the face is something that no amount of contouring can hide. When investing time and money into serums, cleansers and multiple additional skincare steps, it’s a shame to let a puffy face counteract all of our efforts. That’s why people everywhere are googling ‘how to use a gua sha on the face’. Proven to release tension, inflammation, and swelling, this Chinese medicinal instrument is taking the world by a storm. There’s the obvious skepticism- can rubbing a flat stone against the cheeks really give a natural face lift? With the right facial massage techniques and oil to accompany it, the gua sha is not only facial-sculpting, but can make a great addition to a wellness ritual.
What are the benefits of a gua sha?
In order to protect long-term health and beauty, we must go beneath the surface of the skin. Taking care of your mind, body and spirit each day will induce that awakened and bright-eyed glow. The spiritual benefits of a gua sha is that it is an inexpensive, simple way to start your wellness journey. Ten minutes of facial massage in the mornings is a way to find your calm and set the tone for the day. When used in the evenings, it can release any tension you may have picked up throughout the day, whether that be from the morning commute, back-to-back meetings or looking after someone.
Aside from this, once you know how to use the gua sha on the face, you can benefit from all of it’s other perks. The benefits of a gua sha include the friction of the stone against the face which creates a controlled trauma and stimulates blood circulation to the area (the flushed cheeks afterwards). The skin will then start to repair this trauma by making new collagen which contributes to that plump, bouncy look. The gua sha also promotes lymphatic drainage which shifts excess fluid build-up from the face. The benefits of a gua sha are holistic. It multi-functions as both a skin-sculpting and meditative tool.