Gua sha has found its way into many skincare routines in recent years – and for good reason. A few minutes of massage in the evening or morning helps your face look fresher and more rested. Here is what gua sha is, what you can realistically expect and how to do it properly at home.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a technique from traditional Chinese medicine in which the skin is massaged with a smooth tool with a flat edge. In facial care it is done gently: the tool glides over the skin with light pressure, always on top of a cream or oil.
Korean skincare has made gua sha especially easy – many creams come with a gua sha applicator built right into the packaging. That way you apply the cream and massage your face in one step.
What does gua sha do?
- Reduces puffiness – the massage helps lymph move, which is especially noticeable in the morning.
- Relaxes facial muscles – especially around the jaw and forehead, where tension builds up.
- Adds glow – circulation improves and the skin looks fresher.
- Helps your cream spread evenly – and turns your routine into a pleasant ritual.
Good to know: the effect of gua sha is temporary and shows best with regular use. It does not replace skincare or aesthetic treatments, but it is a great addition to your daily routine.
How to do a gua sha massage: step by step
The massage takes 5–10 minutes. Hold the tool as flat against the skin as possible (at roughly a 15–30° angle) and always move in one direction – from the centre outwards and upwards. Repeat each stroke 5–8 times.
- Cleanse your face and apply toner or serum.
- Apply a slippery base – a gua sha cream, a face oil or a rich cream. The skin should never be dry.
- Start with the neck: glide the tool down the sides of the neck from the ears towards the collarbones. This helps lymph drain later.
- Jawline: from the centre of the chin along the jaw towards the ears.
- Cheeks: from beside the nose, under the cheekbones, towards the temples.
- Under the eyes: with very light pressure from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner and the temple.
- Forehead: from between the brows up to the hairline and from the centre of the forehead towards the temples.
- Finish with the neck: again from the ears down towards the collarbones.
After the massage, wash the tool with warm water and soap and let it dry.
How often should you do gua sha?
A gentle massage can be done every day. A good rhythm is 3–5 times a week. A morning massage helps with puffiness, an evening one helps you relax.
Common mistakes
- Too much pressure – gua sha should not hurt. Slight redness is normal, bruises are not.
- Dry skin – without cream or oil the tool pulls the skin.
- Rubbing back and forth – always move in one direction.
- A dirty tool – wash the applicator after every use.
Who should avoid gua sha?
Skip the massage if your skin has inflamed breakouts, irritation, sunburn, wounds or a rosacea flare-up. If you have recently had injectable treatments (such as fillers or botulinum toxin) or take blood-thinning medication, ask your doctor first.
Our gua sha creams
All three creams have a gua sha applicator built into the packaging – no separate tool needed.
- ANUA Collagen Retinol Gua Sha Cream – a cream with retinol, collagen and peptides for the face, neck and décolleté. Firms and smooths fine lines.
- Medicube PDRN Collagen Gua Sha Neck Cream – a neck and décolleté cream with PDRN, collagen and peptides. The curved applicator follows the shape of the neck and jawline.
- VT Cosmetics V-Mode Gua Sha Cream – a massage cream with retinal and caffeine for the face contour and puffiness. Suitable for the face, neck and body.
Tip: the ANUA and VT creams contain retinol or retinal. Start with 2–3 evenings a week and always use sunscreen during the day – read more in our sunscreen guide.
For the eye area, try eye creams with a massage applicator: VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream and VT Cica Collagen Eye Cream with a vibrating applicator. Want to know more about PDRN? Read our article “What is PDRN?”.
Summary
Gua sha is a simple and pleasant way to turn your daily skincare into a small relaxing ritual. Use light pressure and a slippery cream, and always move from the centre outwards. If you need help choosing a cream, visit our store in Tallinn at Narva mnt 5 – we are happy to help.
Visit our store in Tallinn, Narva mnt 5 (Artius centre). We choose every product ourselves, test many of them, and will help you find the right routine for your skin.
