Gua Sha vs Face Roller? Which is more beneficial for your skin?

What is Gua Sha?

As a Chinese Medicine healing therapy, Gua Sha involves massaging and scraping the skin to improve circulation. The ancient Chinese healing technique offers fantastic benefits to promote better health by relieving body ache and relaxing sore muscles. This ancient Chinese practice is all about 'chi', which means an energy flows through our body as per Chinese philosophy. In order to obtain good health and skin, we must let good chi flow freely, creating a balanced mind and body. The process involves using tools such as jade, rose quartz or ox horn with a serum or face oil when applying on face or massage oil to the body.

What are the Benefits of Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is originally used to release different aches and pains in the body. it is often used in Chinese medicine to scrape the skin, commonly on the upper back, to stimulate blood flow, release heat toxins, promote lymphatic drainage and stimulate an immune response bringing beneficial cells to the area.

Now the practice has been evolved in the beauty and skincare industry. The primary benefit of Gua Sha is to promote lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage benefits the skin by eliminating toxins, fluid buildup and puffiness. Gua sha works by promoting blood circulation. When you scrape the skin gently on the face, what you are doing is stimulating a certain meridian point, which corresponds to an organ in the body that's responsible for your skin's overall health. Stimulation of circulation helps decrease inflammation which can lead to a clearer complexion. Gua Sha relieves tension from muscle. By applying pressure with a Gua Sha tool regularly, we can help to release built-up muscular tension. Consistently scraping the Gua Sha on your face in the correct manner will lead to a defined jawline and sculpted cheekbone.

What are the Benefits of Jade Roller?

Jade rollers are believed to boost circulation, reduce swelling, and help product to penetrate deeper into the skin. The increase in circulation can also help to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, although the effects are temporary. A jade roller can be used at room temperature or chilled in the fridge. The pressure of the jade roller helps to improve circulation and increase lymphatic drainage.

Clean your face and apply serum, facial oil or a moisturizer. Your skin should be slippery so that the tool can be easily glide across your face without causing irritation.
The curved part should hug the curves of your skin. Starting at the base of the neck, drag the wider concave side of the tool towards your jaw. Repeat the motion a few times before you move to the other side of your neck. Remember not to put too much pressure on your skin. The motions should be gentle and smooth.
Next scraping center of your chin and crape it along the jawline, going towards bottom of your ears. Repeat this a few times and follow the same movement on the other side.
Take the flatter curve of your tool and scrape from the center of your face to massage your cheek. You will have to do this in a couple of horizontal lines to cover the area.
Then use the small rounded end of your tool to massage the area under your eye, pulling it towards your temples.
Place your tool against your forehead in a way that the largest curve is just above and gently out it up towards your hairline.
Once u have done massaging all the area of your face, finish your skincare routine.

You want to roll your face in an outward motion. Light pressure can work to drain lymphatic fluids, while light to medium pressure can help products penetrate deeper and boost blood flow.
For a firming effect, starting with the cheekbones, and moving outwards. Then go against the jaw line to create more contour and definition.
Afterwards, move the roller down the back of your ears toward the clavicle, allowing the excess fluids to drain down to the lymphatic system.

Gua Sha or Jade Roller?

Both tools provide lymphatic drainage, but gua sha is meant more as a deep facial massage, allowing you to take your time and investigate each part of your face and neck with care. With jade rollers, you can still make it a self-care activity, but think of gua sha as more of a yoga practice for your face, whereas jade rollers are more of a quick skincare pick-me-up you can use at any time. Their uses and benefits are similar enough that regardless of which one you go with, you will look and feel differently after using either tool. Remember to be consistent in your use to see the best results.