I know that sounds dramatic but did you expect anything less when your nontoxic clean beauty blogger friend is screaming NO to botox?!
Botox is an injectable drug made from botulinum toxin and although toxic, the medical field deems it “safe in small doses.” …….RIGHT (insert eye roll). This neurotoxin targets the nervous system and blocks communication between your nerves and your muscles (read more here). More than being unsafe – it is notably an expensive and SHORT TERM solution.
So obviously being the slightly vain person that I am, I am always looking for safer beauty options to minimize those wrinkles and preserve some baby fresh skin. Gua Sha is one of the most popular ways to conquer both of those goals. Let me explain why.
Many people refer to Gua Sha as the natural face lift. It quite simply, clears blockages, promotes drainage of excess fluid + cellular waste and supports the optimal flow of blood, oxygen and vital nutrients. But let’s learn a little more about the origins.
Per Primally Pure (literally my favorite beauty brand),
“Gua sha is an ancient healing technique rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the oldest holistic healing modalities on the planet, that has been passed down from generation to generation, making its initial origins a bit of a mystery…Rather than simply targeting symptoms, TCM takes into consideration the underlying conditions to restore balance in skin and body.
Gua literally means scraping and sha means redness. Through the intentional, gentle scraping motions of the stone across the skin, circulation is stimulated and redness appears on the surface as it releases stagnate fluid, impurities and toxins.
While this practice traditionally started with spoons, coins and even horns, today we use a variety of precious stones such as jade, rose quartz or bian (our fav by far!), to sculpt the face, increase collagen production, melt muscle tension, reduce puffiness, improve lymphatic drainage and rejuvenate beauty below the surface.”
I am going to link a few of my favorite gua sha tutorials for you here, here, here and here. These are great starting points if you are a gua sha newbie.
Also if you are looking to purchase your own Gua Sha stone and kit, here is a link to some great options.
But let’s get back to some details, what makes Gua Sha so great?
Per PP, “The lymphatic system is our body’s natural detoxification system, sweeping away waste, toxins, pathogens and impurities – but without manual support to get things moving, this system can become clogged and contribute to premature wrinkling, dullness, puffiness, sensitivities, acne and inflammation. The light pressure and intentional technique of facial gua sha optimizes proper drainage to help clear out stagnant fluid, blockages and buildup, creating healthy skin tissue and naturally clear, glowing skin from within.”
The process of Gua Sha also boosts circulation, muscle release, and can treat skin specific conditions such as pigmentation or breakouts.
Starting April 20th through May 3, 2022, Primally Pure is hosting a Gua Sha challenge. All you have to do is take a before and after photo AFTER doing 14 days of #guashastoned and you will be entered to win a $500 gift card. Read more about the challenge here!
Have more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out – I geek out on this stuff and can also connect you with a Gua Sha expert!
xx E
