“Traditionally, the gua sha technique was used to scape out inflammation in the body,” adds celebrity facialist Georgia Louise Vassanelli, whose A-list clients include Jennifer Aniston, Karlie Kloss, and Zoey Deutch among others.

In TCM, by moving the qi and blood in the channels, we help break up this stagnant energy, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.”

By scraping a certain area, we are able to move the qi and blood so circulation is improved. In TCM, ‘wind’ is now known as ‘catching a cold’, and ‘stagnation’ usually refers to pain. “Traditionally it was used to remove ‘wind’ or ‘stagnation’ from the body. “Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that involves ‘scraping’ the skin using a stone tool or bone,” says acupuncturist Elaine Huntzinger, whose gua sha facials remain some of the most sought-after treatments in Paris. From tips on how to practice gua sha at home to the benefits that it can provide, see below for everything you need to know about the art of gua sha. But could it be possible that a small, vanity-worthy stone is in fact the key to achieving everything from glowing skin to a firmer, more sculpted appearance? To uncover the secrets of the trending beauty tool and massage technique, we turned to gua sha experts Georgia Louise Vassanelli and Elaine Huntzinger to share their complete guide to mastering the ancient beauty ritual. It’s also arguably one of the original forms of at-home self-care, as those who swear by the ancient practice also purport its unique, calming, tension-reducing, and toxin-clearing capabilities. Sleek, smooth, and often created from Insta-worthy colored gemstones, the lymph-draining beauty tool has been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and more recently, has enjoyed a resurgence in mainstream popularity as those of us confined to our homes following the COVID-19 outbreak have sought out new, low-maintenance ways to not only elevate our skincare routines but our self-care routines too.Īs the daily stresses put upon us by the global pandemic continue to manifest themselves in a myriad of skin concerns, gua sha has presented itself as a viable, low-key way to address everything from stress-induced breakouts and rashes to persistent dark circles and a puffy complexion. If you’ve been on Instagram anytime in the past several months, you’ve undoubtedly come across it in a beautiful flat lay image or two: we’re referring of course, to the gua sha tool.

How to use a gua sha