How to use a gua sha on your face for fresh, bright skin
Gua sha is so much more than the before-and-after sculpting facial routines you see on Instagram – it's an ancient Chinese medicine technique that goes back centuries.
Involving the use of a curved-edge stone tool (often made from jade or quartz), the best gua sha stones (pronounced ‘gwah shah’) are used to move along stagnant ‘qi’ (pronounced ‘chee’) – or vital energy – and boost blood flow. When used on the face, this can give a fresh, bright and lifted look.
Best facial gua shas in this article:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
“While the face has been included in gua sha treatments throughout its history – partly because several important yang meridians, such as the stomach meridian and the governing vessel, pass through it – the modern practice of facial gua sha as a dedicated beauty ritual developed more recently,” says Ada Ooi, integrative Chinese medicine clinician and founder of 001 London. “Today, it is widely associated with skincare benefits, including stimulating circulation, supporting lymphatic drainage, releasing facial tension and promoting a natural ‘inside-out’ glow. However, these aesthetic benefits are still rooted in the original therapeutic goal of improving circulation and energetic flow throughout the body.”
These days, a gua sha is a common tool in many Western beauty routines – you may have heard that the likes of Kendall Jenner, Miranda Kerr and Beyoncé are fans – but to really reap the benefits from this ancient technique, it's best to learn from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. Here’s everything you need to know, according to the experts.
Meet the experts:
- Ada Ooi, integrative Chinese Medicine clinician and founder of 001 London
- Sandra Lanshin Chiu, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and founder of Lanshin
At-home sculpting for face and body.
What is gua sha?
“Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medical (TCM) practice that goes back centuries," says Sandra. “It was used to treat pain, and even illnesses as serious as cholera. Today, gua sha remains an important modality that TCM practitioners use to treat pain and boost immune function.”
“The practice involves using a Gua Sha tool to stroke or ‘scrape’ tight, tense or pathological areas of the body to break down and remove blood stagnation in those areas. This in turn improves the circulation of blood, fluids and qi – or energy,” she adds.
What is facial gua sha?
“Facial gua sha is a more modern evolution of this traditional gua sha practice," says Sandra. “While that form is more vigorous and is used therapeutically to treat pain and illness, facial gua sha uses the same underlying principles with much lighter pressure and slower movements appropriate for the face. But it retains the circulation-boosting benefits of gua sha to help with cosmetic concerns or even medical issues affecting the face and head.”
What are the benefits of facial gua sha?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the face is often considered a marker for internal organ health – and so facial gua sha can be beneficial from an aesthetic perspective as well as a holistic one.
“Facial gua sha is an important way to stimulate circulation – in other words, better blood flow – to the skin, tissues and deeper structures that support youthful skin like fascia and bone," says Sandra. “In Chinese medicine we place a lot of importance on circulation because the face is where qi and blood from the whole body gather. When circulation improves, the skin receives more oxygen and nutrients and the tissues function better, which is why the complexion often looks brighter, healthier and more vibrant afterward.”
“Facial gua sha also works by stimulating the many acupuncture channels and points that travel through the face. When those pathways are moving well, qi and blood flow more freely, which helps support things like skin tone, elasticity and overall facial vitality. In traditional thinking, the face is also considered a reflection of the internal organs, so improving circulation and movement in the face can influence things like dull complexion, puffiness, tension in the jaw and brow, and other signs of stagnation that show up in the skin.”
Ada adds: “From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, it moves stagnant energy and blood through the facial meridians, balancing internal systems and promoting a sense of calm and well-being. Beyond aesthetics, it is a mindful ritual that relieves tension and stress, connecting the skin, muscles and nervous system holistically.”
Meet the non-invasive method that rebalances from the inside out.
How to use a gua sha on your face
Sandra shares a simple facial routine anyone can try:
- Start on the back of the neck. Stroke upward from the base of the neck all the way up to the skull about 10–15 times. This helps release tension and improves circulation to the head and face.
- Move to the sides of the neck. Repeat the strokes on each side of the neck to continue warming up the tissues.
- Work along the jawline. Stroke from the chin along the angle of the jaw toward the ear. This area holds a lot of tension for many people.
- Move to the mouth area. Glide from the corners of the mouth outward toward the ear, just under the cheekbone.
- Lift the cheeks. Stroke from the side of the nose across the cheekbone toward the temple.
- Be very gentle under the eyes. Use feather-light pressure and glide from the inner corner outward toward the temple.
- Finish with the brow and forehead. Stroke from the centre of the face outward toward the temples and hairline.
.jpg)
Should gua sha be used with a serum?
You don't want your skin to be dry when performing gua sha – it could potentially damage any delicate skin. “Gua sha should always be used with a serum or facial oil,” says Ada.
“The glide is essential to avoid friction that can irritate facial tissues or create micro-tears. Using a serum also nourishes the skin and supports the movement of qi and blood along the meridians. The product transforms the practice into an elegant, mindful experience that is both effective and restorative.”
You could also try spritzing a face mist on top of your oil or serum to add extra glide, or you could try a cleansing balm which you can wash off afterwards. Always choose something that suits your skin type.
.jpg)
Everything else you need to know about facial gua sha:
What pressure to use with facial gua sha
“The level of pressure depends on the intention of the treatment,” says Ada. "For overall circulation and lymphatic stimulation, gentle, slow strokes are typically used to encourage fluid movement and support detoxification.
“In more targeted areas, such as the jaw, where muscle tension and adhesions often accumulate, slightly firmer pressure can be applied to help release tightness and improve mobility. On the forehead, which commonly holds stress and tension, a medium pressure may be used to stimulate circulation and help awaken yang qi, the rising energy that supports blood flow to the face.”
Which edge of the gua sha should I use?
Many gua shas come in different shapes and sizes, with specific edges that can be used in different ways. For beginners, Sandra suggests holding the gua sha flat and using the main body of the tool rather than the thinner edge.
“When you use that flat surface, the pressure spreads out across the skin instead of pressing into one narrow line,” she says. “That helps prevent the skin from getting too red or irritated, and most people find it feels much more comfortable too.”
What direction should I use my gua sha?
Gua sha often gets confused as a lymphatic drainage technique, according to Sandra, though traditionally it is not – although it can be used as a tool to stimulate the flow of lymph fluid. To this end, it doesn't really matter which direction you move your gua sha in, though the general rule is that you stick with one direction and repeat it, rather than go back and forth.
“You do not need to follow the same rules used in lymphatic drainage, like always finishing with downward draining strokes,” she says. “You also do not need to tap or ‘open’ the lymphatic terminus before doing gua sha. You can if you want to, but it's not required. I do want to be clear that gua sha does improve lymphatic fluid circulation, but it also improves the circulation of blood and energy (chi). Plus it helps the body release tension. It does not just work at the surface of the skin, it also helps improve the condition of deeper tissues like fascia and muscles.”
