Using the best face oils for gua sha can amplify your results and nourish your skin. But first, what is gua sha and is there any validity to it, or is just the latest trend on TikTok?
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What Is Gua Sha?
Gua sha is a flat-edged facial massage tool that can give your face a brighter, tighter, lifted look. Some say it can give you a botox-like effect but I don’t want to get carried away.
Gua sha in Chinese comes from the word for “scraping”. Sounds painful, right? What is meant by scraping, is simply using a smooth-edged stone to press down on the skin in short or long strokes to stimulate blood flow.
The theory behind gua sha is that improved blood flow will lead to improved health and healing in the body.
Related Content: Wildling Empress Gua Sha Stone (How To Use It)
What Are The Benefits Of Gua Sha?
When you improve circulation and reduce inflammation, there can be a host of benefits, some of the notable ones are relief from:
- Muscle pain/soreness
- Tension headaches and migraines
- Puffiness
- Hyperpigmentation
- Collagen production
Gua Sha doesn’t have to be relegated to the face, it’s also commonly used on the neck and back to ease muscle tension and pain, support muscle recovery, break up muscle knots, and even help with range of motion.
How To Use Gua Sha
For best results, be sure to drink plenty of water before and after a gua sha session to support lymphatic drainage.
Use gentle sweeping motions while gliding the gua sha tool in a flush position with your face. For each motion, use the curve of the stone that best fits your face.
You can use a gua sha tool as a regular part of your routine or whenever your looking a little puffy!
- Start with a clean face.
- Apply a facial oil or serum.
- Glide gua sha stone in sweeping upward motions from your collarbone to your earlobe and continuing these upward strokes up your neck until you reach the center of your chin.
- Glide gua sha stone from the center of your chin along your jawline to your earlobe.
- Then glide from the corner of your mouth along your jawline to your earlobe.
- From your cheekbone, glide the stone to your hairline.
- With a quick, short stroke, glide underneath the eye out to the temple.
- Sweep the tool over the eyebrow out towards the hairline and then up from the eyebrow over your forehead.
- Start at the center of your eyebrows and glide the tool up over your forehead and to your hairline.
- Start at the middle of your forehead and glide the tool across your forehead and out to the hairline.
- Repeat on the other side.
Gua sha is a safe treatment for most people. Be aware that there may be temporary bruising, discoloration of the skin, and muscle soreness depending on the pressure applied during the gua sha session.
Gua sha is not recommended for anyone who is on medication for blood clots or has blood coagulation issues, has a rash, or sunburn.
Related Content: 15 Best Natural Facial Oils
Does Gua Sha Actually Work?
According to a study, “gua sha increases microcirculation local to a treated area, and that increase in circulation may play a role in local and distal decrease in myalgia”. 1
Myalgia simply means pain in a muscle or group of muscles.
Gua sha can facilitate blood flow and increase circulation which can de-puff skin, brighten skin, ease tension, and many other benefits, even if they are only temporary.2
Why Is It So Important To Use A Face Oil With Gua Sha?
A facial oil reduces friction and provides a smooth surface for your gua sha tool to glide over otherwise, you can create irritated skin. Using an oil with a gua sha tool can help lock in moisture especially when used with a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturizer.
7 Best Face Oils For Gua Sha
1. Squalane Oil
Skin Types: All Skin Types, but great for oily skin types since it’s not comedogenic. Also, sensitive skin types since it’s minimal ingredients.
About: Squalane oil is loaded with antioxidants but also a great moisturizer since it mimics skin’s natural oils. It also helps to protect your skin from free radical damage. It’s a great oil to use and one of my favorites if you’re skin is sensitive or had a reaction since it’s so soothing and nourishing.
Any negatives to this oil: None. A rockstar oil for the skin!
Where to find it: Indie Lee’s Squalene Oil only has one ingredient in it- squalane!
2. Plum Oil
Skin Types: All skin types.
About: Protects skin from free radical damage, which in turn helps to lessen fine lines and wrinkles. It also plumps the skin and adds tons of nourishment.
Any negatives to this oil: None.
Where to find it: Le Prunier Plum Oil is the bees knees when it comes to plum oils. It works so well at plumping the skin and moisturizing it.
Related Content: Le Prunier Review
3. Blue Tansy Oil
Skin Types: Oily, acne skin, sensitive skin.
About: It’s full of antioxidants that make it a very calming oil that helps to soothe the skin, and It also helps to support skin healing as well.
Any negatives to this oil: None.
Where to find it: Herbivore Lapis Oil. It not only has blue tansy, but also jojoba, and squalane too. Some of my favorite oils packed into one bottle!
4. Chia Seed Oil
Skin Types: Dry/Combination skin.
About: It’s full of antioxidants and minerals. Plus, loaded with omega fatty- acids. It will help moisturize your skin and fight fine lines and wrinkles. It feels rich and luxurious on the skin.
Any negatives to this oil: None
Where to find it: Maya Chia’s Super Naked Face Oil. This facial oil works so well at really nourishing the skin and also delivering some serious nutrients. It not only has chia oil, but also plum oil, delivering next level nutrients to the skin.
Related Content: Maya Chia Review
5. Rosehip Oil
Skin Types: This is best dry skin, sensitive skin.
About: Rosehip contains Vitamin A which can help with fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains Vitamin C, linoleic acid, oleum acid, lycopene and retinol. Not only does it soothe the skin but also deliver moisture and nutrients.
Any negatives to this oil: Since it does contain more Vitamin C than an orange, some people may be sensitive to it. Always best to patch test first.
Where to find it: Cliganic has an organic rosehip oil that just has one ingredient in it- rosehip seed oil! It’s a soothing, rich oil that gives skin tons of moisture and vitamins to truly nourish the skin. This is also a great budget friendly pick.
6. Jojoba Oil
Skin Types: Any skin type.
About: This oil is rich in vitamins A, E, and D. But that’s not all. It also boasts antioxidants, and fatty acids too. Jojoba is very similar to human skin sebum so it easily penetrates the skin giving lasting moisture.
Any negatives to this oil: None.
Where to find it: Cliganic Jojoba Oil is certified organic and cold pressed with no added chemicals or preservatives. It’s also budget friendly too! The great thing about jojoba oil is how easy it is to mix with other products for layering.
7. Cranberry Seed Oil
Skin Types: Acne and Sensitive skin.
About: Cranberry oil contains one of the most abundant sources of polyphenols. Vitamin E is in there and helps promote elasticity and firmness. Also, it has the perfect ratio of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids which helps it absorb all the nutrients in the skin.
Any negatives to this oil: None.
Where to find it: I love Live Botanical’s Brightening Oil. It not only delivers a ton of glow to the skin but the second ingredient is cranberry seed oil.
Use coupon code: GURLGONEGREEN for 20% off your order
Conclusion: What Is The Best Face Oil For Gua Sha?
The best facial oil for gua sha is squalane oil. Not only is it a bit more budget friendly overall, but the one I recommend only has one ingredient! So it works for so many skin types. It sinks right into the skin with no greasy residue, is great for calming irritated skin and it’s non-comedogenic so it works well for acne skin. Plus, it is full of free radicals that help fight fine lines and wrinkles.
What’s your favorite oil to use when you gua sha?
If you liked this post, check out these past posts:
- Solawave Wand Review: Does It Really Work?!
- Benefits of A Rose Quartz Facial Roller
- Best Vitamin C Serums for Skin Brightening
References
1. Nielsen A, Knoblauch NT, Dobos GJ, Michalsen A, Kaptchuk TJ. The effect of Gua Sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: a pilot study in healthy subjects. Explore (NY). 2007;3(5):456-466. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2007.06.001
2. Cleveland Clinic. Why Gua Sha Might Be Good For You. 2021.
Hi Suzi! What’s your opinion of the Wildling oils as part of their “ritual?” I have their gua sha stone but I use Le Prunier or Maya Chia instead. I’ve been curious about the Wildling oils. Thanks!
Hi Jen,
I think they’re good too. I personally don’t think you need to use them. I think it’s like a lot of brands that add another product to compliment their existing product but it’s not a have to.