Jade rollers and gua sha tools help with relieving facial tension, reducing eye puffiness, relaxation and improving lymphatic flow throughout the body. By lymphatic flow, we mean moving waste fluids away from a tense area, using massage and gentle pressure.
Does Gua Sha actually work? Anecdotally, yes. Having a practitioner use a gua sha tool (or hands) on your face will help reduce inflammation and redness by stimulating the lymphatic system and helping your skin heal itself.
The benefits of gua sha include improving circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage, which helps reduce under eye circles and puffiness. The key is using a massage face roller with firm pressure that's also gentle enough not to cause irritation on delicate areas like the under eye region.
How often to Gua Sha? It is recommended to follow the practice of facial Gua Sha at least thrice a week to maintain results. You can choose to do it in the morning to reduce puffiness or at night, just before sleeping, to relax your facial muscles.
Both experts tell me I should repeat the ritual daily for the best results—or "at least three times a week," says Hamdan. As for time of day, it's entirely up to you.
Most people see results for just a few hours after treatment. “It's a temporary improvement in the overall texture and color of skin,” says Dr. Khetarpal.
Gua Sha has practically no side effects
Since this treatment involves rubbing or scraping of skin with a massage tool, tiny blood vessels present near the surface of the skin can burst. This can sometimes result in skin bruising and minor bleeding. But, these bruises usually disappear within a couple of days.
For best results, perform your gua sha facial massage daily or at least three to four times a week. But no matter how often you do it, you're likely to see and feel results more quickly than you might expect. Done properly, you will notice results immediately!
And because they're made of natural stone, jade rollers stay cool to the touch and can be even more effective if you store them in the refrigerator or freezer, says Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cohost of The Doctors.
Can you use gua sha without oil? You can use gua sha with a serum or even a moisturizer, but you need to use it with something. If you don't pair it with a product, it will pull at your skin, which is exactly what you don't want to be doing.
With every massage, fine lines are softened, under-eye puffiness is reduced, skin feels firmer, and the complexion looks more glowing. Plus, if you use the Gua Sha regularly (at least two or three times a week, and ideally every day), you'll see results very quickly. An effect on acne.
A: A best practice would be to use the facial roller first for the lymphatic drainage benefits, then use the gua sha for deeper muscle release.
Rose quartz stays cool whereas jade is adaptive in nature and tends to warm with skin contact. Rose quartz is better known for its wrinkle-reducing benefits. Because jade is a soft stone and can encounter wear and tear with repeated use, a rose quartz roller may last you longer (trust us, we did a drop test).
"Stagnation can look like excess fluid buildup in the face, which gua sha can help with, resulting in less puffiness or more defined facial features. Gua sha cannot, however, change bone structure," Zheng explains.
As a recap—should you not know the benefits of facial gua sha—it creates microcirculation in the face, which has been shown to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin quality overall.
“The coldness of the stone can certainly help reduce puffiness. But the drawbacks are if you rub too vigorously, you can actually aggravate acne or create irritation.” She agrees that using a roller regularly can have some skin-deep benefits, but adds that it's not the jade itself that's the special ingredient.
Generally speaking, you can't really overuse a Jade Roller unless you're applying too much pressure and using it excessively throughout the day. If you start to feel pain, or see bruising, then it's a sure sign you're overusing your Jade Roller.
Facial rollers are mini rollers that you use on your face that are usually made from jade, rose quartz or another type of crystal. They're crystal healing – for the face. It's best to use them after you've cleansed and before you apply moisturiser.
Another common mistake that most people make while massaging their face with a gua sha tool is not using it in the right motion or direction. It is important to always pull the tool upwards and outwards on both sides of the face. Never massage the tool downwards on the skin.
The unique edges of various Gua Sha stones work perfectly to lift, sculpt and tighten the skin. Regular use can prevent the signs of aging such as sagging, dull and wrinkled skin. Since Gua Sha helps stimulate circulation, the technique itself oxygenates and carries nutrients to the skin cells.
If you start to notice a little swelling after using your gua sha, it could be that the lymph might be pooling in that area. Neck work can help keep the lymph moving.
I understand that cupping/gua sha modalities should not be combined with aggressive exfoliation, after getting a sunburn or when I'm hungry or thirsty. I understand that I should avoid exposure to cold/wet/windy weather conditions, hot showers, baths, saunas, hot tubs and aggressive exercise for 4-6 hours.
Sculpts facial muscles: Used on the jawline and cheekbone area, gua sha can help release tight facial muscles and give the temporary appearance of a more sculpted face. It won't get rid of a double chin (it can't target fat), but it could help ease puffiness in the short term.
The gua sha massage technique can also help to increase blood supply and help to reduce puffiness and swelling. This may make your face appear temporarily slimmer and improve your complexion.