How to Choose the Right Face Oil for Gua Sha

What Is Gua Sha

Gua sha is an ancient healing technique that's been used for centuries in China and other parts of Asia. The treatment helps improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.

Gua sha is typically performed with a smooth stone, your hands, or a unique tool designed specifically for the face. This promotes lymphatic drainage, circulation, and cell rejuvenation. Gua sha can be especially beneficial for those with congested or oily skin. It helps to clear out the pores and remove toxins because of the gentle pressure and enhanced lymph drainage.

Guasha is also helpful as an anti-aging treatment because it helps to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin by improving circulation and healing. The results are a youthful, radiant complexion. The act of massaging the face itself can also have a lifting and tightening effect just by moving the tissues in a lifting direction.

What's the Best Face Oil For Gua Sha

When choosing a face oil for gua sha, it's essential to select an oil specific to your skin type. For example, if you have oily skin, choose a light oil that absorbs quickly. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, you'll want to choose an oil that is more emollient and nourishing.

Because the oils will be worked intensely into your tissues over time, choosing an oil that is unlikely to trigger any inflammation or irritation is vital. For this reason, it's best to leave the essential oils in the aromatherapy diffuser and stick with unscented oils.

Some of the best oils for gua sha are:

• jojoba oil
• grapeseed oil
• argan oil
• rosehip seed oil
• sunflower oil
• squalane

The above oils are very soothing, nourishing, and appropriate for all skin types. These oils are all lightweight and absorb quickly into the skin, making them perfect for use with gua sha. They're also all non-irritating and are unlikely to trigger skin sensitivities.

If your skin is dry, consider plum kernel oil as a great option. You could also opt for oils that are higher in oleic acid, like avocado, because they are more emollient. Pomegranate oil for aging skin is another great carrier oil choice. 

Not all oils high in oleic acid are best for the skin though. Unless you already know it works for you, avoid marula oil since it has an unbalanced fatty acid profile which makes it more likely to clog pores. 

If you're looking for a face oil with anti-aging benefits, you may want to choose an oil that contains more antioxidants, such as rosehip seed oil.

Besides choosing the best face oil that's compatible with your skin type, you may want to add a few drops of a more specialized oil into the mix to target a skin concern. A good example is tamanu oil. Tamanu oil is a versatile oil with traditional medicinal uses for acne and inflammation.

These skincare tips are not specific to gua sha treatment only. These are some of the best oils for facial massage and whole-body massage too.

What Tools Are Used for Gua Sha

There are many available tools you can buy and they are sold everywhere currently. Gua sha is a trendy beauty ritual right now, so there's no shortage of tools to buy.

The beauty industry has long been fascinated with all things exotic and ancient. Ancient chinese and ayurvedic secrets are about these days. Jade mining is not without conflict and human rights concerns. Perhaps consider a more modern, stainless steel version or find out if the brand you're purchasing from has been able to verify the supply chain for the products they're selling.

Can You Do Gua Sha Without Oil?

It's best not to do gua sha on dry skin. You could use a non-oil based serum, but it will evaporate faster and might become sticky. For the smoothest glide, stick with oil. If you're working to deliver active ingredients, check if they're available in an oil serum. Otherwise, a standard serum is fine too.