09/12/2024
What is a Gua Sha stone?
The Gua Sha stone is an ancient cosmetic accessory, having been used for thousands of years. It originated in East Asia, where it was used in various facial treatments to improve circulation.
The literal translation of the word "Gua" is scraping, and the translation of the word "Sha" is sand.
Gua Sha (pronounced: gua shah) is a stone that you gently “scrape” the skin of your body with to redirect the flow of energy (chi or qi), reduce swelling in your cheekbones, and even reduce dark circles (bags under your eyes) from lack of sleep or a hangover. This will stimulate circulation and potentially tighten the skin.
So, the goal is gentle drainage and relief from stress and tension that can cause fine lines or wrinkles.
They can be found on the market in a variety of shapes, from heart-shaped to moon-shaped, and various variations of rectangular shapes. Some have sharp and smooth edges, rounded and beveled edges, and are designed for different parts of the face.
In addition to their shape, Gua Sha stones are also divided into types based on the materials they are made of. They are most commonly made of: rose quartz, jade, obsidian, glass, and even wood.
The benefits of the Gua Sha stone
Gua Sha stone massage can potentially bring numerous benefits to the skin of the face and body.
What are the advantages:
- Skin regeneration
- Gentle peeling
- Reducing inflammation and swelling
- Smoothing fine lines and wrinkles
- Tightened skin
- Improves the appearance of "bags" under the eyes
- Improving the supply of oxygen and nutrients
- Removal of toxins and excess fluid
In addition to the Gua Sha stone, the Jade roller is often used in the same treatment. The difference is in the primary purpose, the Jade roller is primarily for improving circulation. On the other hand, the Gua Sha is a stone for relaxing the muscular system.
What is the Jade roller?
The jade roller is another cosmetic accessory for facial massage. It is most often made from natural jade stone.
It comes in the form of a roller with a handle and one or two rollers of different sizes. The smaller roller is used for more sensitive areas such as the under-eye area, while the larger one is used for the rest of the face, neck, shoulders or back.
Advantages of the Jade roller:
Stimulates blood circulation - improves blood flow to the skin, making it fresher.
Reduces swelling - especially in the morning, it can help reduce dark circles and swelling.
Improves product absorption - used after applying serum or cream to help them absorb better into the skin.
Relaxes facial muscles - can reduce muscle tension, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Cooling and soothing the skin - natural stone often remains cool, which helps soothe the skin and reduce redness.
With regular use, a jade roller can help maintain skin elasticity and provide a mild lifting effect.
It is recommended to use on clean skin and with light pressure to avoid irritation.
How is the Gua Sha stone used ?
In China, the Gua Sha stone massage technique has been used for thousands of years. While in Europe it is still a novelty for many beauty lovers.
We can say that Gua Sha stone massage is close to acupuncture, as certain points on the body are targeted and stimulated.
For maximum effectiveness of the Gua Sha stone, proper movements, direction, angle and pressure are necessary. The most common materials used to make Gua Sha stones are various minerals, jade and quartz. In China, jade represents longevity, happiness and prosperity.
How to use the Gua Sha stone? First of all, it is necessary to prepare the skin of the face, shoulders and back so that the aforementioned areas can be massaged with the stone as easily as possible.
Steps:
- Facial cleansing
Thoroughly cleanse your face before treatment and massage. This is to prevent impurities from penetrating deeper into the skin layers.
- Apply lotion or cream to the skin
Lotion or cream will reduce the possibility of skin damage during a stone massage.
- Always pull the Gua Sha stone in the same direction, upwards and outwards.
In fact, the goal is to massage in one direction in order to better stimulate a specific area and improve circulation.
- Hold the stone firmly in your hand, repeat the same movements
According to experience, a 10-minute massage with a Gua Sha stone is recommended for best results.
Shoulders, neck, cheeks, forehead are the areas of the body where the Gua Sha stone is most often used. Do not press the stone too hard, just a moderate pulling on the skin is enough.
The Gua Sha stone and Jade roller can be chilled in the refrigerator before treatment to achieve an additional cooling sensation on the skin.
