She tells me long-term results from facial gua sha rely heavily on consistency and self-practice.
Here’s the play-by-play of doing gua sha every morning for two weeks.
(And if you want to learn sha, check out the explainer here.)
Stage 1: At first, I broke out a little bit.
Not exactly what you’d expect from a skin-soothing treatment.
“It’s like stirring up the muck from the bottom of a lake,” said Plug.
“But don’t stop the regimen,” Plug said.
Stage 2: I became intimately acquainted with how my face holds stress.
Knowing this, I became more aware of my facial muscles in general.
Regularfacial massagescan help us do that.
Stage 3: I started to pay more attention to my neck.
They all act as roadblocks to lymphatic drainage."
Plug said that the lymph might be pooling in that area.
If you find that happens for you, “neck work is even more important,” she said.
“Start and finish with gentle strokes down the neck to keep the lymph moving.”
Note
Stage 4: My face became more “sculpted” looking.
I have deep fine lines in my forehead and always have.
For me, the lines looked smoothed right after my self-practice, but so far they still return.
“Because of the shape of your forehead, your lines go a little deeper,” Plug said.
The eraser technique will help break through scar tissue that’s formed, but it’s a longer process.
“Someone who has a different shape or surface lines might see results more quickly,” she said.
Overall, I have noticed that my skin looks more sculpted, lifted, and buoyant.
Stage 5: I felt more energized.
Doing gua sha first thing in the morning was the only way I could ensure it would happen.
Slowing down first thing in the morning didn’t come naturally.
Work inessential oils, burn somesage,or anything else that brings the energy you’re looking to cultivate.
Unblocking the neck is a huge and often overlooked part of the gua sha practice!
For example, when you feel yourself tense up, take a moment to pause.
