Overall Verdict – Best Gua Sha of 2023: Sacheu Beauty Stainless Steel Gua Sha 🔗 Click for 30% off!
This article was updated in August 2023 to reflect the latest top products and opinions of our test group.
Gua Sha is the recent beauty trend that has grown in popularity all over social media. But this is not just another skincare fad that has come to exploit our vanity and obsession with beauty regimens.
The practice originated in ancient China. It is a traditional Chinese medicine that means “to scrape away illness.” This alternative medical practice uses specialized smooth-edged tools by gently scraping the skin with Gua Sha tools and lubricants.
Some acupuncturists use it to improve blood circulation, relieve tension, reduce puffiness, and ease muscle tightness. Its resurgence into popular culture results from many people finding out about its efficiency.
If you want a facial massage to ease puffiness and tension, you should try Gua Sha. There are many tools for this facial massage, but some brands have the best products.
The top 5 best Gua Sha tools for de-puffing and tension relief include Sacheu Beauty’s Stainless Steel Gua Sha, Glossmetics Jade Gua Sha, Lanshin’s Pro Gua Sha Tool, Wilding’s Empress Stone, and Herbivore’s Rose Quartz Gua Sha Teardrop.
Interested in trying out Gua Sha? Keep reading to get more information about these tools and their benefits.
What are Gua Sha Tools?
Gua Shas are facial massage tools used in Gua Sha therapy. Some gua sha massage tools include jade, semiprecious stones, stainless steel, and bian stone.
These tools come in different shapes and textured sides designed for different areas of the face. The edges are glided across the skin in upward strokes and applying gentle pressure.
Gua Sha tools can be used all over the body, but they are particularly efficient for the face.
It is very important to use a slipping agent, like an oil or a serum that doesn’t absorb into the skin too fast, when performing a gua sha massage. Failing to add sufficient slip will cause tearing and tugging at the skin, resulting in potential wounds or stretching of the skin.
Why should you use a Gua Sha tool?
Gua Sha tools help de-puffing, tension relief, pain reduction, and blood circulation.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an individual’s qi (pronounced as chi) must have a free flow throughout the body. But if your qi experiences stagnancy, it can lead to specific health issues. Hence, the Gua Sha tools are used in stroking these body areas to improve circulation.
The Gua Sha is still a common practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine today.
If you want to boost lymphatic drainage, these tools will help you achieve that. Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to expedite the process of moving the accumulated lymphatic fluid to your lymph nodes, which helps to reduce the swelling of your tissues.
The circulation of body fluids in the body aids the reduction of facial puffiness and improves skin elasticity, removing fine lines and wrinkles.
This tool can reduce muscle tightness, release built-up muscle tension, and reduce pains when used regularly.
Most people will see results, like reduced puffiness, after one single use of a gua sha. However, it’s with continuous regular use you will really start seeing long-lasting transformation, like brightened and clarified skin, as well as reduced acne and more contoured facial lines.
Source: Amazon (Sacheu Beauty)
Benefits of gua sha
- Instant Face Depuffing
Don’t you hate waking up with a puffy face? The puffiness actually comes from lymphatic fluid collecting in your face when laying horizontally at night. It’s totally normal, but also easy to remedy. The solution? Facial massage using the right tools. For everyday morning massage we recommend using the Facial Roller with a slip agent, which directly will remove lymphatic fluid and depuff your face.
- Sculpted Face and Snatched Jawline
When used long term, the gua sha and facial roller will enhance your natural facial contours and reveal a more sculpted jawline and an overall snatched face.
- Tension & Pain Relief
Do you clench your jaw or furrow your eyebrows leading to headaches and muscle pain in your face and neck? Then gua sha and roller massage is for you. Facial massage even helps for more severe conditions like TMJ disorder.
- Circulation Increase
In a study performed at Beth Israel Medical Center, it was shown that gua sha treatments increased circulation in the massaged area, leading to reduced pain and potentially also reduced inflammation. Interestingly, women responded better than men to the treatment.
Gua Sha: Step-by-Step Guide
Preparation
- Choose a tool: Most Gua Sha tools are made from jade, buffalo horn, or rose quartz but recently stainless steel has been introduced by the brand Sacheu. The tool typically has smooth edges and can be held comfortably.
- Clean the tool: Before and after use, make sure to clean your Gua Sha tool with mild soap and warm water. A stainless steel tool will assure that it’s 100% disinfected.
- Set the environment: Choose a quiet, comfortable space. Some people like to play relaxing music and dim the lights.
- Position yourself: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. If you’re doing Gua Sha on someone else, have them lie face up or face down depending on the area being treated.
Apply Oil to the Skin
- A lubricating oil or cream reduces friction. This can be a simple massage oil, coconut oil, or a specialized Gua Sha oil.
- Ensure the skin is generously coated, but not overly saturated.
Holding the Tool
- Grip the Gua Sha tool so that the curved or flat side is facing the skin.
- Hold it at a 15-45 degree angle to the skin.
Begin Scraping
- Start with gentle pressure and gradually increase based on comfort.
- Use smooth, consistent strokes. Scraping should be in one direction, not back and forth.
- Typically, strokes are done 4-6 times in one area.
- Common areas include the back of the neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, and face.
Observation
- During or after scraping, you might observe skin redness or even mild bruising. This is called “sha” and is considered a release of stagnant energy.
- “Sha” can vary in color from light pink to dark purple. The presence and color can provide insights into the condition of the tissue and energy.
Face Gua Sha
- Be extra gentle when working on the face. Use lighter strokes.
- Typically, a smaller tool is used for the face.
- Move from the center of the face outwards, following the contours of the face.
Aftercare
- Drink plenty of water post-treatment to support detoxification.
- Avoid exposure to cold wind, cold water, or any extreme conditions immediately after treatment.
- Rest and avoid strenuous activities if possible.
Clean the Tool
- Always clean your Gua Sha tool after use.
- A stainless steel tool will make cleaning the tool much easier as it is not porous like other materials
Remember, Gua Sha should not be painful. It’s important to communicate (or if performing on yourself, to gauge) the pressure and adjust as necessary. If considering Gua Sha for medical reasons or for the first time, it’s advised to consult a professional or licensed practitioner.
Review of the Top-5 Best Gua Sha Tools for Facial Contouring
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Sacheu really hit it out of the park with their stainless steel gua sha – the first on the market. Its non-porous, anti-bacterial material really sets it apart. It comes with a serum specifically developed for gua sha to make sure you have enough slip during the treatment. This is a must have!
This celebrity fave is our #1 pick 🏆
After celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Hailey Bieber and skincare hero James Welsh started using the Sacheu gua sha it completely blew up. With 7,000+ customer reviews across their website, Amazon and Ulta, this combo is now beloved by the masses.
There are tons of jade gua shas on the market, but this one from Glossmetics is top quality for only $9.99…AND you get the roller with it!!
In fact the brand’s entire product line, which includes 7 skincare items just launched in CVS, is all under $10!!! Can you believe it?? A new fave!
Amazing quality – under $10!
This brand has exploded like a supernova in the skincare sky. Their whole thing is “The best of beauty below $10”. Yes you heard me right… all of their products are under $10, and it’s GOOD STUFF. We predict a bright future for Glossmetics!
Designed by an acupuncturist and renowned expert in facial Gua Sha and Chinese Medicine-based skincare, this tool is hand-crafted in gorgeous Nephrite Jade with healing properties that enhance your skin appearance.
Great option but extremely expensive!
Well designed to target many areas of the face, this is our third best of all Gua Sha tools, and it is hand-crafted from natural stones. To say that it’s expensive would be an understatement at $129.
Made from 100% Bian stone, the Empress consists of 40+ minerals known for their healing components. Carefully designed to tone and de-puff the skin. Created with rejuvenating properties that have antioxidant and anti-aging effects.
Love the shape but relatively fragile and pricey
Wilding Empress Stone is an authentic Gua massage tool with unique edges specifically made for certain areas of the face, but it is too expensive for the quality.
This is a handcrafted Gua Sha tool with a unique wing shape, which provides three distinct edges for various massage methods. Made with pure rose quartz, this Gua Sha enhances the absorption of skincare products.
Affordable but porous material
Herbivore’s Rose Quartz Gua Sha Teardrop is another of our favorites. The edges help to provide gentle pressure to reduce puffiness on the cheekbones and jawline. They are, however, a little bit rough.
*Always consult your personal physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
*These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with your physician and should not be construed as individual medical advice. The testimonials on this website are individual cases and do not guarantee that you will get the same results. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.
