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Should we all be doing gua sha? The benefits explained

From de-puffing and releasing facial tension to creating a healthy-looking glow, gua sha has plenty of beauty claims attached to it. Here’s what you can realistically expect—and how to do it properly.

Saskia Tillers
August 25, 2026 - 3:17PM
Glamour Australia
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that has become an increasingly popular facial massage technique, with many users claiming regular use can reduce puffiness, release facial tension and create a more sculpted, glowy appearance. But how does facial gua sha actually work, who should use it, and what kinds of results can you realistically expect from doing it at home? When we’re told that there’s a non-invasive, inexpensive tool that can help sculpt and stimulate blood flow in your face, it’s unsurprising that most of us will immediately jump on the bandwagon. And if our social feeds are anything to go by, there’s been a shift in the last few years that has demonstrated that gua sha is now simply a standard part of most beauty routines. But facial gua sha is actually quite different from the traditional body technique used in Chinese medicine. “Traditional gua sha can be aggressive, intentionally causing redness to clear stagnation in the body, where facial gua sha is a very gentle scraping technique to promote the movement of qi and blood flow in the face,” Emillie Thring, cosmetic acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine herbalist at OVA Acupuncture in Brisbane, tells Glamour. “Along with scraping along facial structures, we can also stimulate specific acupuncture points which have a local and systemic effect on the body. Facial gua sha is super effective at improving qi, blood and lymph flow and therefore reducing fluid build-up in the face. It is also effective at stimulating tight or underactive muscles to release tension and sculpt the face.” The best part? Thring advises that you can expect to see an increase in vitality as well as a reduction in fluid and puffiness immediately after use. “You can also often see a reduction in fine lines as well as improvement of skin tone and texture,” she continues. “The results are longer lasting the more frequently you do it.” As for how long and how often you should be incorporating gua sha into your at-home regime, Thring suggests daily use, as long as you’re gentle enough. “It can be a simple part of your morning or nighttime skincare routine, taking two minutes or as long as it takes you to do three to five gentle and mindful passes over your chest, décolletage, neck, jaw, cheeks, eye area and forehead.” It’s worth noting though that technique matters, particularly if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. For sensitive skin, Thring advises that “less is more in regards to how frequent, how many passes per session, and how much pressure.” While she recommends avoiding using it on cystic acne—and instead opting for cosmetic acupuncture and LED or facial massage to improve circulation—Thring does say gua sha is ok for acne-prone skin or mild breakouts as long as you’re cautious of spreading acne-causing bacteria, opting for the stainless steel variety and thoroughly cleaning it afterwards.

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that has become an increasingly popular facial massage technique, with many users claiming regular use can reduce puffiness, release facial tension and create a more sculpted, glowy appearance. But how does facial gua sha actually work, who should use it, and what kinds of results can you realistically expect from doing it at home?

When we’re told that there’s a non-invasive, inexpensive tool that can help sculpt and stimulate blood flow in your face, it’s unsurprising that most of us will immediately jump on the bandwagon. And if our social feeds are anything to go by, there’s been a shift in the last few years that has demonstrated that gua sha is now simply a standard part of most beauty routines. But facial gua sha is actually quite different from the traditional body technique used in Chinese medicine.

“Traditional gua sha can be aggressive, intentionally causing redness to clear stagnation in the body, where facial gua sha is a very gentle scraping technique to promote the movement of qi and blood flow in the face,” Emillie Thring, cosmetic acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine herbalist at OVA Acupuncture in Brisbane, tells Glamour. “Along with scraping along facial structures, we can also stimulate specific acupuncture points which have a local and systemic effect on the body. Facial gua sha is super effective at improving qi, blood and lymph flow and therefore reducing fluid build-up in the face. It is also effective at stimulating tight or underactive muscles to release tension and sculpt the face.”

The best part? Thring advises that you can expect to see an increase in vitality as well as a reduction in fluid and puffiness immediately after use. “You can also often see a reduction in fine lines as well as improvement of skin tone and texture,” she continues. “The results are longer lasting the more frequently you do it.”

As for how long and how often you should be incorporating gua sha into your at-home regime, Thring suggests daily use, as long as you’re gentle enough. “It can be a simple part of your morning or nighttime skincare routine, taking two minutes or as long as it takes you to do three to five gentle and mindful passes over your chest, décolletage, neck, jaw, cheeks, eye area and forehead.”

It’s worth noting though that technique matters, particularly if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. For sensitive skin, Thring advises that “less is more in regards to how frequent, how many passes per session, and how much pressure.” While she recommends avoiding using it on cystic acne—and instead opting for cosmetic acupuncture and LED or facial massage to improve circulation—Thring does say gua sha is ok for acne-prone skin or mild breakouts as long as you’re cautious of spreading acne-causing bacteria, opting for the stainless steel variety and thoroughly cleaning it afterwards.

Fast facts: Two minutes can be enough: A short daily routine can include three to five gentle passes over each area. Keep it gentle: Gua Sha use should not leave your skin visibly red when you're finished.Clean your tool: This is particularly important if you have acne-prone skin, to avoid spreading acne-causing bacteria. Do your research: Watch videos of professionals to see Gua Sha use in action, and remember that practice makes perfect. Refine your technique depending on what feels good. How do I use Gua Sha? Thring shares her step-by-step guide: Gently massage your armpit lymph nodes to begin Always use a facial oil to give slip—jojoba oil is a great option as it is non-comedogenic and very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces The angle of the gua sha should be nearly flat against the skin, think around 20-30 degrees 3-5 passes per area—if you do more than this, it will increase chances of redness, which may lead to broken capillaries, especially in sensitive skins Keep your skin taught with the hand that’s free Use movements that are upwards and outwards Gentler pressure than you think, particularly on delicate areas like around your eyes (you want minimal to no redness in the skin once you’ve finished) Use a clean tool—especially for acne-prone skin Start with passes from the midline of the chest out to the armpit, then work your way up: chest, decolletage, neck, jaw, cheeks, eye area and forehead. You can also go through your scalp and down the back of your neck and along your traps for extra tension relief Can gua sha increase collagen production? “Gua sha is not a recognised form of collagen induction therapy, but by increasing the movement of qi and blood in the face, we are energising the skin cells which may stimulate fibroblasts for collagen synthesis,” Thring says. “Indirectly, I believe it may increase collagen production, but we don’t have the modern literature to back this up. It won’t be as effective as a series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments, but it will definitely have a positive effect on improving the vitality and appearance of your skin.” What is the difference between rose quartz, jade and stainless steel? “When choosing a gua sha tool, there’s a lot to consider in regards to stone properties, hardness and temperature retention,” Thring explains. “Both rose quartz and jade are quite similar; some prefer rose quartz for more sensitive skin, but traditionally jade is the preferred option. I think it’s powerful to choose a stone gua sha on the energetic properties of the stone to create a self care ritual that’s individualised to you. Stainless steel is more durable compared to stone, and steel is a non-porous option, so therefore more hygienic.”

Fast facts:

  • Two minutes can be enough: A short daily routine can include three to five gentle passes over each area.
  • Keep it gentle: Gua Sha use should not leave your skin visibly red when you're finished.
    Clean your tool: This is particularly important if you have acne-prone skin, to avoid spreading acne-causing bacteria.
  • Do your research: Watch videos of professionals to see Gua Sha use in action, and remember that practice makes perfect. Refine your technique depending on what feels good.

How do I use Gua Sha?

Thring shares her step-by-step guide:

  • Gently massage your armpit lymph nodes to begin
  • Always use a facial oil to give slip—jojoba oil is a great option as it is non-comedogenic and very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces
  • The angle of the gua sha should be nearly flat against the skin, think around 20-30 degrees
  • 3-5 passes per area—if you do more than this, it will increase chances of redness, which may lead to broken capillaries, especially in sensitive skins
  • Keep your skin taught with the hand that’s free
  • Use movements that are upwards and outwards
  • Gentler pressure than you think, particularly on delicate areas like around your eyes (you want minimal to no redness in the skin once you’ve finished)
  • Use a clean tool—especially for acne-prone skin
  • Start with passes from the midline of the chest out to the armpit, then work your way up: chest, decolletage, neck, jaw, cheeks, eye area and forehead. You can also go through your scalp and down the back of your neck and along your traps for extra tension relief

Can gua sha increase collagen production?

“Gua sha is not a recognised form of collagen induction therapy, but by increasing the movement of qi and blood in the face, we are energising the skin cells which may stimulate fibroblasts for collagen synthesis,” Thring says. “Indirectly, I believe it may increase collagen production, but we don’t have the modern literature to back this up. It won’t be as effective as a series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments, but it will definitely have a positive effect on improving the vitality and appearance of your skin.”

What is the difference between rose quartz, jade and stainless steel?

“When choosing a gua sha tool, there’s a lot to consider in regards to stone properties, hardness and temperature retention,” Thring explains. “Both rose quartz and jade are quite similar; some prefer rose quartz for more sensitive skin, but traditionally jade is the preferred option. I think it’s powerful to choose a stone gua sha on the energetic properties of the stone to create a self care ritual that’s individualised to you. Stainless steel is more durable compared to stone, and steel is a non-porous option, so therefore more hygienic.”