How To Give Yourself A Facial Massage Using A Gua Sha Stone or Facial Roller

For centuries, traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, such as Gua Sha stones and facial rollers, have been used to promote holistic wellness and enhance skin’s natural beauty.

Not only do these tools look elegant on your bathroom counter, but they can pack a serious punch in upgrading your beauty ritual. Gua Sha and facial rolling is an easy and effective way to incorporate facial massage into your daily and weekly skin care routine.

Gua Sha versus Facial Roller

Facial rollers and Gua Sha stones have similar benefits, but each offer specific advantages based on the qualities of each tool.

For example, facial rollers are a quick and efficient way to:

• Reducing the look of puffiness
• Soothe skin tired, irritated skin
• Promoting better absorption of skin care products

Gua Sha stones require a bit more time and care, but are said to offer more dramatic results such as:

• releasing the discomfort of facial tension
• Creating the appearance of a more toned, sculpted complexion
• Promoting a lifted appearance to the skin
• Improving the look of prominent wrinkes, rosacea and acne

For best results, we recommend using both.

The facial roller is ideal in the mornings to reduce puffiness and help your products absorb quickly. While using the gua sha in the evenings to offer yourself a more sensory experience, while releasing the tension of the day and addressing any major skincare concerns.

Additionally, we offer our Gua Shas and facial rollers in two precious stones – Jade and Rose Quartz. Traditionally, it is said Jade aids in supporting healthy lymphatic drainage, encourages a sculpted, lifted look for the skin, and contains soothing and healing properties.

Rose Quartz is believed to stimulate the feeling of healthy blood circulation, aiding in the body’s ability to clear away toxins and impurities, and can help unblock energies connected to the heart chakra.

What Products should I use with my Gua Sha and Facial Rollers?

Any high-quality nourishing facial oils that don’t absorb too quickly make for the perfect partner to a natural stone Facial Rollers and Gua Sha. Source Vitál Apothecary facial oils are not only concentrated but protect the skin by creating a nice slip for the tools to glide over without the fear of pulling or tearing the skin. Here are a few of our favorite “partners:”

For Dark Spots – Try Prickly Pear Botanical Oil
Looking to brighten your skin and help reduce dark spots? Our prickly pear oil is an ideal companion. We love using this oil all over, but especially around the eye area where we are prone to darkness and puffiness.

Pair Prickly Pear with the small roller on the facial roller or the smaller, rounded edge of the gua sha stone. Always be mindful not to get oil too close to the eye and always support the skin when performing any sort of facial massage.

For Oily, Combination and Congested Skin – Try Watermelon Seed Oil
Do you have acne-prone skin or oily skin? Consider our Watermelon seed oil. This oil helps to clarify the appearance of pores, by dissolving dirt, grit and grime from getting trapped. It also helps to dissolve sebum, making it an essential ally for those who experience excess oil production in the skin.

Don’t worry about using oil on oily skin. As long as it is the right kind of oil, like Watermelon Seed, it will actually help the skin to look and feel more balanced and less greasy.

For Dry, Mature Skin (or those who love the good stuff!) – Try SV23
Looking for something more luxurious for your skin? The ultimate in luxury facial oils SV23 Phyto Serum can’t be beat. This facial oil provides ultimate hydration, protection from the signs of aging, while enhancing skin’s radiance. SV23 also helps combat the look and feel of irritation for even the most sensitive skin types.

Combined with the power of the Gua Sha and facial rollers, you are in for the ultimate self-care treat.

How to use your Facial Roller and Gua Sha

At Source Vital, we encourage using your facial roller and gua sha stones at least three times a week for 5-10 minutes for best results. Like exercising your body, you will see more cumulative results with each frequency.

Step by Step Facial Massage

1. Wash your face with a good quality facial cleanser and thoroughly dry your face with a towel or wash cloth.
2. Apply a nourishing facial oil, serum or cream to the face and neck.
3. Before the skin has a chance to absorb the face oil or cream, begin your facial rolling or Gua Sha. (While you don’t have to go in a certain order, we suggest starting from the neck area and working upward.)

Neck – Using upward motions from the base of the neck to the jaw line. You can start in the middle and work out or start on one side and work across to the other.

Jawline – Work from the center of the base of the jaw and roll or gently scrape upwards toward the ear on each side.

Chin and lower jaw – Work from the center of the chin outward and upward to the side of the face, below the ear.

Mouth – Using the smaller roller or indention, work the lower and upper lip, starting from the center and moving out toward the ears.

Cheeks – Start from the corner of the nose outward and upward to the temple area. Depending on the size of your face, you may need to a few different pathways to cover the entire cheek area.

Eye area – Using the smaller roller, work from the inner corner of the eye, close to the bridge of the nose, outward to the corner of the eye. Repeat for the upper eye below the eyebrow. Don't forget the "crow's feet" area. Start at the outer corner of the eye and work towards the temple.

Forehead – Work the "third eye" area between the eyebrows rolling up from the top of the nose up to the top of the forehead. Then work the left and right side of the forward using the same upward motion. You can also work horizontally from the center of the forehead out to the hairline on each side.

Final Flush – Especially for Gua Sha, finish your facial massage with a final push of fluids towards the lymph nodes. Work from the center of the forehead and using a smooth motion sweep along the hairline in a downward motion. Then do this again from the bottom of the earlobes down the neck towards the lymph nodes in the collarbone.

Professional Tips:

• Always work in an upward motion, starting from the center of the face, towards the hairline. Avoid using back and forth motions with both tools.
• Use gentle-yet-firm pressure, according to your comfort level. Use a softer touch around the delicate eye area, avoiding rolling directly over the eye.
• Avoid rolling over inflamed skin conditions, such as acne or open wounds.
• Thoroughly clean your Gua Sha and facial rollers with gentle soap and water after each use. Pat dry and wipe with alcohol to remove any dirt, oil and germs left over.
• Try keeping in the fridge for a cooling and invigorating treat.

By combining this guide with your current Source Vital skincare regimen, you will start to see an improvement in the quality and appearance of your skin.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracey Ellis is a beauty enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. You can find her in the lab, manufacturing Source Vitál Products. Tracey is a New Yorker living in Texas and spends her time cooking and spoiling her miniature husky, Tabasco.

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