When it comes to the world of emerging skin care trends, the questions are virtually endless! It seems like everyone wants to know which trends are the real deal and which ones are mostly hype, and with good reason! We’ve all seen the beautiful Facial Rollers and Facial Gua Shas in a variety of colored stones and crystals but one of the most common questions I get asked is “Do these actually do something or are they just supposed to look good on my vanity?”.
Well, not only are Facial Rollers and Gua Shas really pretty objects, they are quite beneficial tools for you and your skin when used regularly and properly.
The Facial Gua Sha
Different from the traditional Gua Sha technique (as you may have seen in a number of youtube videos while trying to cure your Gua Sha curiosity), Facial Gua Sha involves the use of slow, steady and much gentler strokes. A Facial Gua Sha tool should be shaped to align with the contours of the face, making it comfortable to maneuver around your cheek bones and jaw line. The major benefits of this easy to learn, ancient technique include lifting and contouring the skin, increased blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and relieving facial tension.
When using your Gua Sha, hold the stone so it creates an acute angle with the surface of the skin, somewhere between 15 to 45 degrees. This position will maximize contact between the tool and your skin, and is also the most efficient for moving lymph. Do not hold the stone at a 90 degree angle to your skin so that only the edge of the stone is pressed against your face. You will need to use a facial oil, like the Calming Serum before you start and try to keep your face relaxed at all times during this process.
Begin at the center of the face and move the Gua Sha in an outward and upward motion. This motion will gently lift the skin when done regularly, earning it the nickname “The Natural Botox”. Each area should be passed over between 6-8 times for best results.
Start at the neck and chin area, working your way up the side of the face to the forehead and then return back to the neck. Here you will move the Gua Sha in a downward motion toward your lymph nodes, encouraging lymphatic drainage and detoxification.
Your strokes should be slow, steady and gentle but feel free to dig in a little wherever you might feel tension, especially in the jaw area for those suffering from TMJ disorder. You don’t want to press so hard that you end up experiencing bruising but a nice amount of pressure can greatly reduce jaw and facial tension.
We carry two different Gua Sha stones at ABURA, a Rose Quartz and a Bian Stone Gua Sha. Rose quartz is the crystal of love and is the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace and is said to bring inner healing, promote self love and open the heart chakra. Bian stone is said to emit ultrasound pulsations, far infrared rays, and negative ions, all of which are known for their antioxidant and anti-aging effects on our cells and DNA. It contains more than 40 minerals known to benefit overall health. It's also known to cleanse the aura and balance the energy body.
The Facial Roller
Made from a variety of crystals, these tools are great for increasing product penetration, soothing the skin and reducing puffiness. You will not get the same amount of movement of blood and lymphatic fluid as you will with the Gua Sha, so it is important to use each tool for their respective benefits.
After applying your serum, oil or moisturizer, hold your facial roller in a way that is easy to maneuver and gently glide it along your face, taking extra care around the eyes. The Gua Sha and the facial roller work best when used together, beginning with Gua Sha and finishing off with the roller, however, you can use them completely separately depending on what you and your skin need.
We carry Facial Rollers in Jade, Obsidian, Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz and Snow Quartz. Quartz and Jade are both very healing crystals and Obsidian encourages growth and creativity while repelling negativity.
If you’d like to see how to use a Facial Gua Sha in action, check out this video, which gives a very detailed demonstration of proper Gua Sha techniques.
