The gua sha stone has become extremely popular over the last few years. In fact, gua sha stones and lymphatic drainage have been trending topics all over social media lately, leading more and more people to jump on board with the trend. While learning new skincare techniques isn’t inherently bad, following faulty advice can do you more harm than good. That said, consider a few tips for properly using a gua sha stone to reap all the benefits of this tool.
Start With Clean Skin
Starting with clean skin is a crucial step when using a gua sha stone, as you might work more bacteria into your skin and cause unwanted breakouts if you don’t cleanse first. Be sure to remove any makeup, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, and apply a liberal amount of facial oil before you start. Facial oil helps the stone glide over your skin without interruption or pulling—feel free to add more oil throughout your routine to prevent tugging.
Begin With Your Neck
Even though your face might be your main objective, you should begin with your neck. Before applying the gua sha stone, consider doing a few gentle neck stretches to relax and loosen the area. If you massage your neck before your face, it helps prime your lymphatic system to increase drainage. While many want to see results on their face, beginning with the neck is an important part of the process.
Open Your Lymph Nodes
Decreasing swelling, puffiness, and inflammation is one of the biggest benefits of using a gua sha stone, but lymphatic drainage isn’t effective with closed lymph nodes. With that in mind, opening your lymph nodes first gives the waste and fluid somewhere to go. Your lymphatic system is incredibly expansive, and you can find nodes at the base of your neck, behind your ears, and on the sides of your nose.
Before pushing the stone toward these areas, use your fingers or the stone to gently press the lymph nodes 5–10 times to open them. Drainage will be much more effective if you perform this simple step.
Pro Tip
Be sure to choose the right tool—copper, jade, and rose quartz are great options. Avoid plastic or fake gua sha stones for optimal results.
Drink Plenty of Water
It’s no secret that our bodies contain a significant amount of water, especially in the lymphatic system. Therefore, drinking plenty of water before and after your gua sha routine is crucial for effective drainage. If your body isn’t properly hydrated, it may be unable to remove excess waste through your lymphatic system.
Now that you know a few tips for properly using a gua sha stone, you can add this helpful tool to your arsenal of clean skincare for acne. You may be unsure about adopting new practices into your daily routine, but you never know what could work wonders for your skin.