Gua sha is an ancient Chinese skincare technique that uses a flat, smooth tool to massage the skin in a scraping motion (1). The device is typically made of jade, rose quartz, or stainless steel.
Gua sha has been used for ages in Chinese medicine to promote healing and rejuvenation of the skin. The practice can be performed on the face, neck, and body to relieve tension, improve circulation, and promote overall skin health.
When using gua sha, it is recommended to use a lubricant, such as oil, to help the tool glide smoothly over the skin. The use of oil can also provide additional benefits to the skin. The right oil can help hydrate and nourish the skin while also helping to improve the skin’s overall appearance.
In this post few oils have been suggested that can be used with gua sha. Continue reading to know about facial oils for gua sha. If you are new to gua sha, then this article will provide you with a complete guide on what oil to use for gua sha.
What Are The Best Oils For Gua Sha Massage? Best Facial Oils To Use With Gua Sha
Below are some of the best facial oils to use with gua sha based on different skin types. You can choose any of the below oil depending on your skin type.
Oils For Dry Skin Type
1. Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is a great oil used with gua sha. It is a light, non-greasy oil easily absorbed by the skin. It is also a suitable carrier oil, meaning it can be mixed with essential oils to enhance the benefits of gua sha. It can help protect and nourish dehydrated and dry skin. Coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing skin irritation and swelling.
2. Sweet Almond Oil
Another popular oil used with gua sha is sweet almond oil. This light oil is easily absorbed by the skin. Sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins A, and E. Sweet almond oil can help hydrate and nourish the skin, making it an excellent choice for dry or mature skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe irritated skin and treat skin concerns like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
It also has a low comedogenic rating which means that it will not clog your pores and help your skin breathe and stay clean. Thus making it suitable for all skin types. Almond oil contains antioxidant properties that help in protecting the skin from free radicals and any impurities. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and can help heal sunburn.
3. Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip oil is a lightweight oil high in vitamins A and C, making it great for brightening and rejuvenating the skin (2). It can also help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, making it an excellent choice for those with mature or aging skin. Additionally, rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, which can help to protect the skin from environmental stressors.
Rosehip seed oil is a nourishing and rejuvenating one of the best face massage oil known for its exceptional skincare benefits. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, it helps improve skin texture, reduce signs of aging, and enhance the overall radiance of the skin. Incorporating rosehip seed oil into your facial massage routine can leave your skin feeling supple, hydrated, and revitalized.
Rosehip oil helps in improving skin elasticity and also boosts collagen, thus improving skin appearance and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Thus the use of this oil with gua sha will help your skin look healthier and younger looking skin. One of the best advantages of using this oil is that it seeps deep into the skin.
4. Marula Oil
Marula oil is extracted from the marula fruit tree, which is native to South Africa (3). This is one of the best facial oils for gua sha that will help keep your skin hydrated and nourished for a longer period. Marula oil is gaining relevance and being used in many beauty products these days.
It is very lightweight in texture. Another major benefit of using marula oil is that it helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, which gives a dewy glow.
5. Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is rich in omega fatty acids, which help in keeping skin nourished and moisturized (4). Hemp seed oil is best for dry, flaky, and rough skin. Also, it does not clog pores and promotes moisture retention.
6. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a thicker, heavier oil that is easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, which can help moisturize and protect the skin. It has a low comedogenic rating (5).
Oils For Oily Skin Type Or Acne-Prone Skin
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils in skincare. Tea tree oil is rich in medicinal benefits as it contains antifungal properties, anti-inflammatory properties, antiviral, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties, and many more. Tea tree oil is the best oil for oily and acne-prone skin (6).
This is one of the best facial oils for acne-prone skin as it helps in cleaning the skin deeply and prevents any skin infection. It also helps in controlling oil production on the skin and helps soothe irritated skin. Thus, this is one of the best facial oils that can be used with gua sha. Thus this is one of the best face oils for gua sha.
2. Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is also non-comedogenic, making it an excellent choice for those with oily or acne-prone skin. It does not clog pores and gives you a non-greasy look. Massaging your face using gua sha and coconut oil will give you glowing skin.
3. Grapeseed Oil And Sea Buckthorn Oil
Grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil and is a perfect option for oily skin types. It is rich in antioxidant properties and many vitamins, thus promoting moisture and nourishment. Grapeseed oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that help in healing skin irritation if any. It is also non-greasy and does not clog pores. This is a thicker oil that is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Grapeseed oil is a great option with gua sha. It is a lightweight oil easily absorbed by the skin and is rich in antioxidants. Grapeseed oil can help to improve the skin’s tone and texture, making it an excellent choice for those with uneven skin tone or texture.
Additionally, grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, making it a perfect choice for those with oily or acne-prone skin. It contains linoleic acid that helps moisturize your skin deeply and keeps skin hydrated for a long time.
Sea buckthorn is a thick oil that can develop a layer of moisture on your skin and helps return skin moisture for a longer period. It also has anti-aging properties that can be used with gua sha to fight signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil provides deep skin moisture and nourishment. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in calming skin and helps reduce redness, irritated skin, etc. This is one of the best oils that can be used with gua sha.
It is non-comedogenic in nature and thus is best suitable for oily skin types. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for its healing properties. It is easily absorbed by the skin and has a low comedogenic rating.
Oils For Sensitive Skin
1. Argan Oil
Argan oil is another popular oil used with gua sha. It is lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin. In addition, it is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, which can help to hydrate and nourish the skin. Argan oil can also help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, making it an excellent choice for those with mature or aging skin (7).
2. Apricot Kernel Oil
This is a light, non-greasy oil that is easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in vitamins A and E, which can help moisturize and protect the skin. It has a low comedogenic rating.
3. Evening Primrose Oil
This oil is a light, non-greasy oil that is easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, which can help moisturize and protect the skin. It has a low comedogenic rating.
Oils For Combination Skin
1. Sunflower Oil
This is a light, non-greasy oil that is easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, which can help moisturize and protect the skin. It has a low comedogenic rating.
2. Jojoba Oil
One of the most popular oils used with gua sha is jojoba oil (8). Jojoba oil is a light, non-greasy oil easily absorbed by the skin. Jojoba oil is similar to the oil that our skin produces naturally.
It is rich in vitamins and minerals and can help to balance the skin’s natural oils. Jojoba oil is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for soothing irritated skin. Additionally, jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it will not clog pores, making it an excellent choice for those with oily or acne-prone skin.
3. Avocado Oil
This oil is a thicker, heavier oil that is easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, and fatty acids, which can help moisturize and protect the skin. It has a low comedogenic rating.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Gua Sha?
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing technique that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to improve circulation and reduce muscle tension. Here are some of the benefits of using gua sha:
1. Improves Skin Texture And Tone
Gua sha can help improve skin texture and tone by promoting collagen production and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Reduces Puffiness And Dark Circles
Gua sha can help reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes by improving blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
3. Alleviates Muscle Tension And Headaches
According to a study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, gua sha can help alleviate muscle tension and headaches by releasing trigger points in the muscles and promoting blood flow (9).
4. Enhances Skin Care Product Absorption
Gua sha can enhance the penetration and absorption of topical skin care products by facilitating the penetration of the molecules.
5. Reduces Stress And Improves Sleep
Gua sha can help reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing tension in the muscles.
Other Benefits
Apart from the above benefits, other benefits include adding facial contours and brightness to the skin, improving lymphatic drainage, reducing cellulite, etc.
Also, must read about: Best Oils For Cellulite
What Is The Use Of Oil With Gua Sha?
The main benefit of using oil with gua sha is that it helps make sure that massage can be done easily without tugging the skin. It will help you prevent damaging your skin. It gives the required lubrication for gua sha to glide across the skin smoothly.
Using oil with gua sha helps in increasing the benefits for the skin. Facial oils help in retaining skin moisture and provide nourishment to your skin.
Facial oils have many medicinal and therapeutic benefits that can be further enhanced with the help of gua sha as it increases the absorption of oil and helps penetrate deep into the skin. Facial oils have many benefits for the skin like anti-aging, preventing infections, reducing dark spots and blemishes, reducing acne, etc.
Conclusion
Gua sha is a great technique to achieve healthy skin. You can use a gua sha tool for this technique. Remember to use facial oil with your gua sha stone to enjoy maximum benefit. Gua sha facial massage helps improve skin health and helps your skin feel its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil should I use my gua sha with?
You can use tea tree oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, rosehip oil, marula oil, grapeseed oil, sea buckthorn oil, apricot kernel oil, sunflower oil, and evening primrose oil with gua sha.
Do you need oils for gua sha?
Yes, oils increase lubrication and thus makes it easy to use gus sha without tugging and damaging your skin. It also adds the benefits of oils to the skin and makes the skin feel more healthy, soft, and glowing.
Do you wash the oil off after gua sha?
No, you do not need to wash the oil after gua sha
Can you use gua sha with moisturizer instead of oil?
Yes, you can use moisturizer with gua sha instead of oil as it will help in easily moving the gua sha.
Source:
- The Journal of Chinese Medicine. (2020). The Use of Gua Sha to Improve Facial Expression Lines and Wrinkles: A Case Study. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA629150186&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=01438042&p=HRCA&sw=w.&userGroupName=anon%7Eb45bc66f
- Rosehip oil is a lightweight oil high in vitamins A and C, making it great for brightening and rejuvenating the skin. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-DxiBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT8&dq=Rosehip+oil+is+a+lightweight+oil+high+in+vitamins+A+and+C,+making+it+great+for+brightening+and+rejuvenating+the+skin&ots=e9Ns_1wfgg&sig=5rgHTC0GZ-OMh0-d_nOPpy8Zsh0&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
- THE CONTRIBUTION OF MARULA (SCLEROCARYA BIRREA) FRUIT AND FRUIT PRODUCTS TO RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN THE BUSHBUCKRIDGE DISTRICT, SOUTH AFRICA: BALANCING DOMESTIC NEEDS AND COMMERCIALISATION. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14728028.2005.9752504
- HEMP SEED OIL FOR SKIN CARE (NON-DRUG CANNABIS SATIVAL.): A REVIEW https://wjpr.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article_issue/1596707793.pdf
- Objective and subjective performance evaluations of wet wipes including herbal components. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1528083717716165
- Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006
- THE BEAUTY BENEFITS OF ANTI-AGING FACIAL OILS. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA611171679&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00908878&p=HRCA&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Ea5f5b660
- Jojoba oil with gua sha. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2MKLDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=Jojoba+oil+with+gua+sha&ots=qWkCAgYOF8&sig=983BLXeTB1bnqVOgsQEJ6tZ4ksM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
- Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. (2009). Gua sha research and the language of integrative medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859208000818