No, after gua sha, you do not need to wash your face. Gua sha is actually preferable to scrubbing your face because cleansing our skin removes the natural oils and causes it to become oilier.
No, you do not have to wash your face after gua sha. Having gua sha is actually better than cleansing your face because cleansing your face will remove the natural oils on our skin and make it more oily.
Always gua sha after showering. If you do want to shower after a gua sha treatment, wait at least two hours afterwards. Gua sha improves and increases circulation, and opens up the flow of energy along your meridian pathways. Hot showers after these sessions will undo the benefits that gua sha provides.
What should you do after Gua Sha? The treatment of Gua Sha consumes body's fluids and heat. Drink moderate amount of water, and rest for at least an hour. Avoid cold shower for 2 hours following completion of therapy, to prevent wind from entering the body through dilated pores.
For best results, our experts recommend performing gua sha three to four times a week for about three to five minutes each time.
Some important guidelines to remember:
Hold the tool or stone flat and connected to the skin with light to medium pressure. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after gua sha.
According to Dr. Nazarian, the best method is to use gentle pressure and "apply even strokes against your skin, preferably in the direction of lymphatic flow." “These benefits are often apparent even after the very first gua sha treatment,” says Tobia.
While gua sha's benefits haven't been clinically studied, practitioners say patients often notice skin looks more lifted after just one session.
“You can do gua sha on the face, body and scalp, and it's best to use with water (I do it in the shower) or with an oil, but never on bare skin,” says Brindle. “Hold the tool flat to the skin, under the eyes or over any redness, to soothe and de-puff.
'To achieve the best results, using a gua sha tool once or twice a day is recommended,' says Ooi. 'Regular use is best for maintaining the benefits long term within the face as stagnated fluid will be removed regularly and the build up over time will be minimal. '
SMH: Yes, you can incorporate your gua sha into your daily routine. Either in the morning or the evening works fine as long as you take the appropriate time to do it. I always do my facial gua sha in the morning, as it is a fantastic way to reduce puffiness and wake up your facial muscles at the beginning of the day.
The oil or serum should be fully absorbed after the gua sha facial. You may choose to apply a serum and moisturiser - or a sunscreen if you have used the gua sha in the morning - afterwards.
Handling your Gua Sha with extreme care is very important. You can store your tool in a dry place and somewhere it will not fall. You can even store it in your refrigerator (or a make-up fridge) for an added cooling effect.
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.
A: Yes, gua sha does help clear acne by moving the lymph, blood, and qi. Please note, you will never gua sha directly over active breakouts. Solution: Instead, work on the neck in downward strokes until the acne begins to clear.
Incorporating gua sha into your morning and/or evening skin care routines is an easy way to make it a consistent practice. According to Chen, doing facial gua sha in the morning can help with “reducing puffiness in the cheeks and under-eyes”, while gua sha at night “promotes relaxation and better sleep.”
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.
This encourages healthy circulation, releases muscular tension, and promotes lymphatic drainage for a more lifted, less puffy look and brighter, healthier looking skin. We particularly adore its effect on the jawline, where many of us hold tension.
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.
Facial Gua Sha uses a stroke that creates pressure and stretch at the same time, which makes it more effective than the jade roller for sculpting facial features like cheekbone and jawline. Gua Sha tools that are designed with shapes that fit around facial curves amplify this benefit even more.
Take a jade gua sha tool into the shower and use the water as a lubricant. Simply press-stroke gently all over your face for about a minute. Then you can repeat this technique before bed, using oil.”
Skincare: Before, During and After
"Gua sha is best done after both cleansing the face and applying a moisturizer or facial oil," says Lam, "as the gua massage not only gives your skin a 'workout,' but also helps products' nutrients absorb better into skin."
If you are looking to reduce double chin, using gua sha may be helpful for tightening up your neck skin and creating a better pronounced jawline. However, as any beauty procedure, it will be most efficient when combined with other healthy lifestyle choices.