Yes, you absolutely can and should put moisturizer after using a gua sha, as it helps to soothe, hydrate, and lock in benefits, typically following your oil/serum application which provides the slip for the tool and is then followed by your full routine. After your gua sha session, cleanse any residue (if using oil/balm), then apply moisturizer to replenish skin moisture and calm potential redness, choosing calming ingredients like aloe or hyaluronic acid.
Whether you practice Gua Sha in the morning or night, your regular skincare and beauty routine—including a cleanser, serums, and moisturizer—should still be completed after a session to maximize the benefits.
Recovery after Gua Sha Treatment
If you can't take it easy for most of the day following the treatment, you may want to avoid strenuous activities that would promote even more blood flow as well as hot baths or showers that could increase bruising.
Always listen to your body and pay attention to how it feels. Do you have to use face oil? No, it's not necessary to use a face oil, but it's recommended to use at least a moisturiser or something that provides a slippery surface to work on. This helps prevent tugging and dragging on your skin during the massage.
Following the application of serums, moisturizers, or facial oils, gently glide the Gua Sha tool over your face to help in product absorption and provide a relaxing massage. This post-skincare Gua Sha ritual can amplify the benefits of your skincare products and promote a luminous complexion.
Bottom line: Use Gua Sha based on your skin goals—morning for glow, night for repair—or do both for the best results.
Start With a Thorough Cleanse
Before breaking out your gua sha stone, Aguilar says you'll want to cleanse and tone your face. We recommend reaching for a mild facial cleanser, like Ultra Facial Cleanser.
Results from Gua Sha can be visible after just a few weeks of consistent use, especially in terms of skin brightness and firmness. For anti-wrinkle and firming effects, results become evident after 1 to 2 months of regular use.
Side Effects of Gua Sha
Gua Sha treatment often leads to temporary redness or bruising, which develops in the areas where the practitioner performs the scraping motion. The scraping motion activates blood flow to the skin surface, enhancing blood circulation and breaking tiny blood vessels.
Best Types of Face Oils for Gua Sha
Gua Sha offers immediate benefits like reduced puffiness and a radiant glow, with results varying based on skin type and consistency of use. After two weeks of regular practice, you may notice smoother, firmer skin and enhanced facial contours as circulation and collagen production increase.
Myth #2: You Need to Use Strong Pressure for Results
Gua sha should never hurt. In fact, applying too much pressure can damage your skin, causing bruising, irritation, and broken capillaries (yikes!). A light touch is not only gentler, but far more effective.
Gua sha = ancient Chinese skincare ritual that gently scrapes your face to help de-puff, sculpt, and drain lymphatic fluids (how to fake a 10-hour sleep). ✨ Lazy girl tips: — Always apply serum or moisturizer (hi, CeraVe) before. — Use light, upward strokes (this isn't arm day).
It's critical to keep your Gua Sha tool clean. Acne, greasiness, outbreaks, and other skin issues can all be caused by a dirty tool. We recommend wiping down your instrument with a soft towel before and after each use to keep it clean.
When done incorrectly—without oil, with too much pressure, or using the wrong technique—gua sha can cause long-term skin issues like sagging or uneven texture. Proper technique prevents damage.
You don't need medical training to recognize when your lymphatic system is struggling. The most common sign is swelling that lingers, often in the arms, legs, or face. That swelling might feel heavy or tight, like your skin is stretched from the inside.
Dermatologists generally view gua sha as a safe, temporary fix for puffiness and tension due to improved circulation and lymphatic drainage, offering a relaxing ritual, but caution against expecting dramatic anti-aging or permanent contouring like jawline sculpting; they emphasize using oil, gentle pressure, and clean tools to avoid irritation, infection, and bruising, stressing it's a quick fix, not a miracle cure for wrinkles or structure.
Yes, gua sha can help create a more defined jawline by reducing puffiness from fluid retention, improving circulation, and temporarily sculpting features, but it won't change bone structure or eliminate fat; results are temporary and require consistent practice for the best effect, focusing on lymphatic drainage and muscle tension release for a contoured look.
However, before you do– apply a skincare product like facial oil, serum, or moisturizer. This will allow the gua sha to gently glide over your face. Not only will the massage feel oh-so good, but it'll also gently work these products into your skin so that the active ingredients are most effective.
Jojoba oil is one of the best oils for gua sha because it's highly skin compatible and non-pore clogging – making it ideal for all skin types, including sensitive. It is similar to the sebum (oil) our skin produces, which is why we consider it mother nature's perfect moisturizer.
Gua sha helps strengthen and sculpt certain muscles in the face to promote plump and bright skin. The light pressure from the gua sha stone also helps relieve tension, which can reduce wrinkles.