GUASHA for beginners
My friend thought I was crazy when packages full of stones were delivered to our door. He thought I had entered some kind of new spiritual phase. But actually, all these stones were just meant for my skin. So not really a new spiritual phase, but a new skincare routine that I have become obsessively involved with. I present to you: the guasha stone.
Because if you haven't added the guasha stone (pronounced: kwà-sjaa) to your skincare routine yet, it really is high time to do so. This tool is magical and I am convinced that it will become the natural replacement for botox and fillers. When I first saw a guasha stone featured by skin guru Miranda Kerr, I immediately became very restless. What is this special stone? What does it do and why don't I have one yet? The miraculous algorithm of social media immediately sensed my budding guasha interest, causing me to see the infamous stone more and more often. Guasha stones made of rose quartz, jade, agate, opal, and even stainless steel. I had no idea which one to get, so I decided to just buy a few.
First things first: guasha is a traditional and ancient scraping technique from China, aimed at improving blood circulation and the removal of waste from the body. ‘Gua’ means scraping and ‘sha’ stands for particles that pollute the body. Guasha has a positive effect on the skin aging process. This little stone ensures that new collagen can be formed, tightening your tissue and thus your entire face. Think of it as a natural facelift that is also good for your health. Ideal, right?
I carefully watched hundreds of tutorials and started practicing. Well, once I dive into something, I can really go overboard. I spent about half an hour on it every day. Important: besides the stone, it's essential to get a nice oil or serum. Scraping won't work on dry skin, I found that out quickly enough. A bit of patience is also recommended when you start guasha. You need to apply the right technique because those results won't come by themselves. It's important to perform this ritual regularly because, just like with exercising, unfortunately, the results of guasha disappear once you stop. I started to see quite a difference after two weeks. My jawline looked tighter and my eyebrows lifted. Right after the session, you already get a healthy glow on your face. I put my stone in the freezer before going to sleep and now I spend no more than five minutes on it every morning. Besides making your bed, this action is also nice to check off before you start your day.
In New York and London, there are even Face Gyms where you can book a workout specifically for your face for about 100 dollars. During this workout, all your forgotten facial muscles are trained using the guasha technique. After an hour, you walk away with a tight and toned face over Broadway. In preparation for the MET Gala, among others, Bella Hadid and Elizabeth Olsen visited this gym. Now hoping that such a place opens in the Netherlands soon. In two months, I'm going to London for a weekend and of course, I've already made my appointment at the Face Gym in the Selfridges department store. I can't wait!
If you haven't started guasha yet, I've listed the best stones for you here, plus some nice products to make scraping easier. Oh yes, and a handy instructional video for beginners. Enjoy the gua sha.
Oil
1. Bakuchiol Natural Booster, €19.90 Rituals,
2. Natural Organic Hemp Balancing Face Oil, €26.47 Ooh!
3. 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, €11.95 The Ordinary
Stones
4. Crystal Contour Gua Sha Green Aventurine Beauty Tool, €44.90 Bangerhead,
5. Coucou Gua Sha, €22.00 The Coucou Club,
6. Jade Heart Gua Sha Crystal Sculpty Tool, €44.25 Beautybay
Guasha tutorial
Instagram FaceGym
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