These Gua Sha Before and After Results May Convince You to Try the Viral De-Puffing and Contouring Technique

If you were on social media a few years ago, there’s a good chance you remember the craze of the viral gua sha technique. The de-puffing, facial contouring tool has become a staple in many people’s skincare routines and is sworn by for naturally creating a more lifted, sculpted complexion. But hey, we hear you: Before you commit to adding another step to your skincare regimen, you want to see if the proof is in the pudding, a.k.a. does gua sha actually work? Keep reading to see gua sha before and after photos, along with the benefits of a gua sha and how to do your own gua sha routine.

What is gua sha and what does it do for your skin?

Before we get into how to gua sha and the before and afters, let’s go over exactly what the gua sha technique is. Gua sha originated in Chinese medicine and has a wide variety of uses, but has gone viral over its ability to contour, lift and de-puff the face. There are multiple different types of gua sha tools out there, but gua shas are typically around the size of your palm with a mix of rounded and flat edges.

“Gua sha can be used as a light facial massage, to reduce facial tension, and, what it’s gone viral for, to lift and depuff the face. The biggest benefits of gua sha are that it boosts circulation, sculpts and lifts, relieves facial tension (especially in the jaw and forehead) and lymphatic drainage, which reduces puffiness in the face,” affirms Jennifer Breslin, an esthetician at SkinSpirit. “Think of it as a mini workout for your facial muscles. The boost in blood flow and reduction in swelling is particularly beneficial for mature skin.”

So, how exactly does the gua sha work to provide these benefits? Much of it comes down to proper blood circulation. “When the blood flows more freely without blockages like tension and stagnation, it creates a pressure system that sends plasma into the interstitial space to bathe our cells with vital nutrients and oxygen. This in turn, activates the lymphatic system in an attempt to balance fluid levels and remove excess waste, keeping the fluid around the cells clean and pristine,” explains Cecily Braden, esthetician and Founder of Cecily Braden Spa & Wellness. And this becomes even more important the older we get. “We age on a cellular level, not a physical one, so maintaining the health and longevity of every cell is a necessity and gua sha helps create internal movement and the healthy exchange of nutrients and waste within the tissue.”

Further, gua sha can help smooth fine lines and “lift” your features, says Farah Daniels, Savor Beauty esthetician and educator, especially with continued use overtime.

Gua sha before and after: Lifted, depuffed and brighter

Below are a few gua sha before and after results from our experts.

Here, you can see the reduction in swelling in the neck and jawline area after Braden performed her gua sha technique.

You can see the difference in color of the eyes here. A gua sha routine was performed on the left eye by Daniels, which visibly looks brighter with less puffiness and dark circles.

This client of Braden’s has a decrease in puffiness and more lifted features after using a gua sha.

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Here, @wildling_beauty shared this photo of @laurenbreiding’s before and after gua sha results. On the right side of her face (which is the side the gua sha was performed on), she looks lifted and de-puffed, especially around her eye area.

How to gua sha: routine and steps

“One of the biggest misunderstandings about gua sha is that you have to lightly sweep the stone across the skin using the flat side of the stone. In order to create change, you have to engage the tissue, so the angle of the stone and how it connects to the skin is the most important,” advises Braden. “Although the correct amount of pressure is important, it’s more about how you connect with the skin to create change in the underlying tissue where all the metabolic processes occur.”

Braden recommends following the “gather, anchor, glide” routine:

1. The first step is to make sure your skin is clean and free of makeup. Then, apply a “slip” to your skin such as a facial oil or moisturizer (like Savor Beauty Carrot Rose COQ-10 Serum) to ensure the gua sha glides effortlessly and smoothly without tugging.
2. “Place the stone [gua sha] at a 15 degree angle and give it a little ‘tug.’ Just enough to allow the edge to connect and engage the tissue.”
3. Next, use your other hand to lightly hold or “anchor” the skin in front of the gua sha. This will help avoid stretching of the skin.
4. “Sweep outward, continuing to ‘gather’ the tissue, ‘anchor’ to support and sweep [‘glide’] outward.”

Don’t forget about the neck and eyes either! “I like using our tri-luxe gua sha tool for the eye zone area,” says Daniels. “The smooth edge for smoothing, the curved edge for deeper fascia work and the rounded end for contouring the eye area.” And for the neck, “you must start at the neck to properly drain all the toxins,” advises Breslin.

Watch the below video from Savor Beauty on how to gua sha the eye area.

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Additional gua sha tips

There are a few other tips recommended by our experts that will elevate your gua sha routine. For starters, try sticking your gua sha tool in the freezer or fridge before using. It will feel nice and cool on the skin and enhance the de-puffing benefits. “I like to use a metal gua sha because it stays colder for longer, but jade or stone tools are great too,” suggests Breslin.

Further, “opening” your lymph nodes before using your gua sha will help enhance the benefits. “Start by massaging your lymph nodes in your clavicle to open them up, then work the gua sha stone from the center of the chin to your ear and then down your side of the neck and into the lymph node. Repeat this process from the center of the nose to the ear (outward motion) and down the neck,” says Melanie Abeyta, aesthetic nurse practitioner, licensed master injector and Owner of Harmony Aesthetics Center.

Lastly, always use light pressure to avoid harsh tugging and stretching of the skin. Plus, “Lymphs actually respond better to a light touch!” Breslin shares.