SKINCARE SUNDAY: GUA SHA TOOLS | WHAT THEY ARE, THEIR PURPOSE + SAY GOODBYE TO PUFFY SKIN

OK, there are...

so many different tools within the realm of beauty. To those who are new to my blog, I have been researching + made it a priority to understand the ins and outs of skincare, skin anatomy/function + the effect different ingredients have on different skin types (fun fact, skin types aren't technically a 'real thing' but I will do an entire blog post on this as well!) Skin is fascinating to me + it is an incredibly unique journey since everyone's skin is vastly different and requires its own unique routine to keep those sweet cheeks happy! Here's the deal, I love skin. I love skin care. 

Anywho, I will do an updated post filling you in on who I am + my background in skincare but LET'S DIVE INTO GUA SHA!
Gua sha is one of those tools where it is safe for all to use (I am BIG on the safety/sanitary info. on tools), and I absolutely LOVE GUA SHA. It is my jam, so what are we waiting for?! Let's get skintimate with Gua Sha's.

HISTORY + background OF GUA SHA

It's incredibly important to understand the history of skincare + tools since a lot of the time these 'self-care' look alike tools stemmed from traditional Eastern beauty and wellness treatments. Gua Sha in particular, is an ancient Chinese beauty tool that was sought to have been used back in the Yuan dynasty.

Sha in english translates to 'scraping.' The tool was literally used to 'scape' the skin of those who had heat stroke or exhaustion like symptoms while working on farms in hot, hot weather (not the only circumstance but most common it seems). It would help break up lymph + help regulate your body natural cleansing abilities. Oh and by the way, at the time the 'tool' was anything ranging from spoons, animal bone, anything that can achieve that scraping motion! At the time, those using were absolutely on to something + most likely had a strong reasoning for the benefits but now we have the understanding as to why - and we can thank acupuncture for that!

Acupuncture is often used to help alleviate facial pressure points so the benefits of gua sha weren't necessarily sought after, but instead an awesome discovery! There is scientific backing showing that this pressure can help reduce inflammation + puffiness in the skin through breaking up built up fluid + in turn kickstart our ability to naturally cleanse.

---

WHY GUA SHA?

The anatomy of our face is complex + pretty amazing. Our head has 22 bones (14 being in the face directly) and 30 muscles in our face - meaning, we can hold a great deal of tension in our face! ​With that said, Gua Sha can alleviate a great amount of facial tension + pain. This is one of the main uses for the tool! 

Now let's chat microscopic anatomy, specifically Fascia - a sheet of connective tissue mainly composed of collagen. Why is this important, Jo? This is important because Fascia is a connective tissue that stabilizes + separates the muscles in the face (by the way, this all comes from my state wide approved esthetics book so thats on facts babayyy). Occasionally this can become clogged + need to be broken up for optimal circulation. Lymph directly relates to our immunity + protects our body from all the toxins + bacteria we don't want. When this becomes congested is when we visibly see puffiness + a lethargic look to the skin. 


I will add, Gua Sha CAN cause slight bruising but when using at home you may find you need to scrape a bit harder on some areas but for the most part, light pressure works great. This way you aren't leaving your skin red, bruised or overworked. Gua Sha you will start to see the benefits in about 1 to 3 minutes. NOw, gua sha + lymphatic drainage go hand-in-hand but lymphatic drainage I will cover fully later on (it is one of my FAVORITE topics).

GUA SHA BENEFITS + BREAKDOWN + sanitary instruction

You can read my full jade roller review here (where I debunk the myths as well) but here is a quick breakdown on the difference!
Essentially, the main difference is that there are claims made that jade rollers can help with anti-aging. I personally believe this to not be true but I do believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions + i'm always open to educational conversations! I find that Jade Rollers have incredible cooling benefits + can help promote lymph drainage - I just think Gua Sha tackles it in a more effective way!

Gua sha you are shaping, sculpting + lifting on a more microscopic anatomical level. You also have more control overall.
Jade roller is great for drainage + more benefits related to the physiology (function of body structures). I personally love my jade roller for cooling benefits!

You can absolutely use both!

My breakdown of the benefits of using a Gua Sha tool

GUA SHA | traditional eastern beauty tool used to relieve muscle tension + pain in the face, neck, shoulders, promote lymphatic drainage + blood circulation. 
We don't want to jam the gua sha into our skin/face but the scraping motion will not damage your skin, it is definitely important to use an oil to help the tools glide smoothly + effortlessly over the skin. Don't be afraid to use pressure based on your skin tension needs. 
​
​HOW TO USE 

• ​begin at center of face moving up + outward motions (our skin literally is pulled down by gravity, always use an upward motion)
• medium pressure on jawline (this is where a great deal of tension lies)
• Always use serum or oil + should be a rose quartz gua sha (Jade is porous allowing product inside + oil allows the tool to glide without tugging)

​​​​​            *warm the oil + press into skin using the palms of your hands*

• Repeat each motion 4 - 5x (use same number on all movements + sides for symmetry)
• Avoid going over any areas of irritation, acne flare ups
• Vibrating motions can help wake skin up, especially on 11’s
• Gentle around eyes
• Support skin always by holding
• Massage at end
• Clean thoroughly with warm water + soap, spray with isopropyl alcohol BEFORE + AFTER USE
• Store in silk packaging and in a cool place (like your skin fridge!)
• 2-3x a week is great! You can use the tool daily + this is when you will see the most benefits
  

SEE THE TOOLs IN ACTION

---

@jordynoakland

Do you sha? ##indoorlooks ##minivlog ##skincare ##beauty ##skin ##guasha ##lymphaticdrainage ##facialtools ##skintools ##skincareblogger ##futureesthetician

♬ Airplane Mode - limbo

---

MY FAVORITE TOOLS

Herbivore is hands down my favorite for most serums + jade roller/gua sha tools. They use quality ingredients that are ethically sourced, safe + effective. Their are all  glass packaging as well making them a great sustainably conscious brand. Below is a great started gua sha tool! I have a few others and I love to use them in tandem based on what my skin needs! 

I have linked these items through the images as well. 

OUTWARD CURVED EDGE | sculpt + reduce puffiness in jawline, cheekbones 
​INWARDLY CURVED EDGE | lymphatic drainage
SCALLOPED EDGE | light pressure + massage

​GUA SHA TRIO
The center tool I personally use + love for sculpting my cheeks. The flat edge works great for forehead. I use Herbivore's tool but found this great little set on amazon with all 3! It's fun to play around + see how you like to use the tools to best fit the needs of your skin.

Herbivore Phoenix Cell Regenerating Oil 
This is a favorite of mine because its packed with fatty acids, vitamins + antioxidants. It's a hydration hero for my drier/sensitive skin + absorbs really nicely into the skin without a greasy feel. This product is also non comedogenic, free of fillers, parabens, fragrance and all the irritants we don't want in our skincare. This is my morning gua sha oil. 

Herbivore Emerald Oil
This is another absolute favorite of mine. CBD has incredible anti-inflammatory + antibacterial properties making it a great choice for all skin types. This oil I use whenever I have any skin irritation, am incredibly dry + need hydration and honestly it has become a nightly use for me. This is the oil I use at night when I gua sha. I am always glowing after use.

xx, 
​jo