Gua Sha Stones vs. Facial Rollers
Now and then, ancient skincare techniques experience a welcome resurgence in Western society. One such process is the time-honored technique of gua sha. Admirers of this ancient ritual celebrate its ability to clarify skin, smooth wrinkles, and eliminate puffiness. Discover the quiet beauty of this process, and learn how to distinguish true gua sha tools from modern facial rollers.
The Lowdown on Gua Sha
Gua sha is essentially a type of facial massage, long cherished by Chinese women. The process involves massaging and stimulating the face with a special tool, often crafted of stone. The tool is broad, flat, and smooth, usually with a gentle curve from the wider end toward the rounded, tapered point.
During gua sha treatment, the smooth facial tool is rolled and manipulated over the user's features, along the cheekbones, past the temples, across the forehead, and around the cheeks and jawline.
Beauty Benefits of Gua Sha
As it traces these areas, the gua sha stone entices blood to the skin's surface. It relaxes tight muscles, softening them. Its gentle movements stimulate lymphatic areas to release pent-up fluids, relieving swelling and reducing puffiness.
Lovers of the gua sha system report a renewed complexion that looks fresher and brighter. They swear by the treatment's ability to soften the appearance of wrinkles, tighten the jawline, and mollify rosacea outbreaks. Others report relief for their migraines and TMJ (jaw pain and tension), and some users claim that their cystic acne is much less noticeable.
Soothing Stones for Gua Sha
Various types of stones are used in the crafting of gua sha tools. You'll find rich jade pieces, glowing amethyst, beautiful rose quartz, and black obsidian. Each of these stones have unique properties and energies.
Rose quartz emphasizes loveliness and affection, while black obsidian releases negative energy and imparts confidence and power. Amethyst draws out your anxiety and replaces it with hope.
For some devotees of the gua sha process, the most effective stone is the bian stone. Its resonance is greater than that of jade, which means that its effects permeate deeper into the skin during use. This stone has held the respect of Chinese healers and emperors for centuries.
The Design of Facial Rollers
Facial rollers typically implement a stone as well, usually a polished jade or rose quartz piece with a hole through the center, attached to a handle. Rollers accomplish many of the same tasks as gua sha stones—pressing out built-up lymphatic fluid, encouraging blood flow, massaging away tiny wrinkles, and aiding in the extrusion of toxins from the skin.
A Difference of Depth and Delight
Rollers are quick and easy to use—and on the surface, that may seem like a benefit. However, the true benefits of gua sha go deeper than a swift stimulation of skin.
Gua sha is an experience, meant to be enjoyed. If you truly wish to love your skin and soothe away facial tension, you need to take your time and relish the sensation of the facial massage. And that slow, deep indulgence of your skin is best practiced with gua sha stones, rather than facial rollers.
Blending the Benefits
As you pursue a new level of health for your skin, you may find that it's in your best interest to have both types of tools at your fingertips.
For those mornings when you have just a few moments of spare time, or the evenings when you need to collapse into bed, a rose quartz facial roller might be the perfect choice. The stone releases energies of love and beauty, perfect for beginning your day or closing your evening. You can show your skin love for a few moments, enjoying the quick and effective work of the facial roller.
On slow weekend mornings or relaxed evenings, you may have a little more time to indulge your skin. Cradle your gua sha stone, feel its energy, and relax into the moment as you work slowly over the muscles and skin of your face. The shape of the stone tool enables you to apply different amounts of pressure just where you need it for targeted muscle release, in contrast to the roller which offers equal pressure everywhere.
Welcoming gua sha tools and facial rollers into your life is the first step toward fresher, clearer skin. Select your stones and tools today to begin the rejuvenating process.
