Gua sha: the benefits of this new face treatment
Gua sha is a facial massage of Chinese origin that uses the properties of stones, such as quartz and jade, to relax the muscles of the face and deflate the area around the eyes. The most famous supermodels are crazy for this treatment that promises an anti-wrinkle action and tutorials on how to practice it are depopulated on the net. Watch the video to find out how to perform the facial massage with the jade roller!
So is gua sha
There are those who think that gua sha is the new natural botox, so much so that models, influencers and beauty addicts from all over the world are used to practicing this new treatment of oriental origin that promises to give a relaxed and wrinkle-free face. a facial massage that is based on an ancient technique of traditional Chinese medicine and is performed by gently rubbing particular flat stones of jade or quartz with the aim of stimulating the blood circulation of the tissues and oxygenating the skin. also rollers, called jade rollers, always made of jade or quartz, which have the same purpose even if they are used in a different way.
Gua sha is very popular in spas and beauty centers in Los Angeles, Milan, New York, however it can also be practiced successfully at home. Its name derives from the Chinese words Gua, which means to rub, and Sha, that is heat, in fact it exploits the invigorating action of the massage to tone the face. Its effectiveness derives from the fact that the heat produced by rubbing helps to dissolve tension. The result is a toned, healthy, radiant and relaxed skin.
All the benefits of gua sha
The gua sha massage brings numerous benefits to the face and body, here are what they are:
- stimulates lymphatic and blood circulation, making the skin more luminous and toned.
- relaxes small expression lines
- it decongests the bags under the eyes and deflates the face, firming the oval of the face
- tones and smoothes the skin
- relieves muscle tension
- relaxes the whole body thanks to the pleasant sensation of well-being that the massage radiates
- helps absorb facial treatments like face masks, creams and serums better
You can buy Gua Sha sets of different sizes on Amazon:
- Green stone Gua Sha and Jade Roller set discounted at € 15.69
- Set Gua Sha, Jade Roller and 100% rose quartz spatula available at € 23.98
- Set of 3 jade Gua Sha on offer at € 16.99
How to perform the gua sha massage
The first rule of the gua sha massage is that it must be calibrated and gentle otherwise you risk annoying irritation, especially in the most delicate skin. Here's how it's done, step by step:
- cleanse the skin well to eliminate all traces of impurities
- apply an oil on the face as a carrier (it can be rosehip or almond, which can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here or here) or a cream. This step is essential because it serves to make the stone slide well on the face
- if you use the jade roller, massage the skin very slowly with the tool, insisting on the deeper wrinkles of the face and using the stones.
For the neck:
Start on the back side using the top of the heart-shaped stone. Slide it up to the hairline with light pressure and with movements from the bottom up. Then move to the sides, always sliding the stone from the bottom up (ie from the collarbone to the ear) and finally treat the front part always from the bottom up.
For the mandible:
The largest part of the heart stone is used with movements that follow the jaw bone and treating both sides. With the upper part of the stone, we move to the cheeks and then make movements from the base of the nose along the furrow of the nasolabial wrinkles.
For the forehead:
Using the longest part of the stone, start from between the eyebrows and proceed up to the hairline, always from the bottom to the other. After the treatment, the skin may also appear red for a few minutes due to the action of heat and rubbing, however this is considered normal. Finally, wash your face with warm water.
The properties of the stones
The gua sha massage is carried out with massage stones of different shapes. For the DIY massage, you can use fish-shaped or heart-shaped stones, which are intuitive and easy to pass over the face. Other shapes are the flat stone, the butterfly stone, the long spoon stone, each with its specific function.
The choice of stone, on the other hand, follows the precepts of crystal therapy, which believes that each stone brings certain benefits. Let's see what they are.
The Jade:
One of the most used stones for gua sha is jade, considered a healing stone since the times of the Chinese empire. Green in color, it is used in crystal therapy for its soothing and calming properties. It also appears to be able to reactivate circulation, purify the blood and strengthen the immune system. It has rebalancing properties and helps deflate the limbs. For this reason it is widely used on the face, on which it has a powerful anti-aging effect.
Rose Quartz:
Rose quartz, a symbol of beauty and love, is able to stimulate the intellect and imagination; it is known as the "Venus stone" and in crystal therapy it is used to release repressed emotions and soothe sadness. It also improves blood circulation, removes toxins from the skin and gives it a radiant and healthy look.
Black Nephritis:
Black nephritis is a stone with protective properties and is widely used in Chinese medicine to improve blood and lymphatic circulation.
The Amethyst:
Amethyst reduces wrinkles and dark circles, revives the skin and makes it radiant and healthy.
