The stroke map, the pressure, the tilt and the safety rules, drawn from Healthline and the Yorkshire Post, plus three face oils that help the tool glide.
Here is how to use gua sha on your face without overdoing it. The routine takes a few minutes: wash the tool, apply a face oil, then sweep the tool gently upward and outward across the neck, jaw, cheeks, under-eyes, brows and forehead, about five strokes per side. Below, we walk through each step and suggest three face oils for slip: The Ordinary rosehip seed oil for dry skin, Cliganic jojoba oil as a multipurpose option, and Good Molecules squalane oil if you want something lightweight.
The one thing to get right is pressure. Healthline says facial gua sha should use light pressure, with the tool tilted about 15 to 30 degrees, and should never cause petechiae, the small red or purple dots that can show up when gua sha is done firmly on the body. It should not hurt.
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique in which the skin is scraped with a smooth-edged tool, according to Healthline (opens in a new tab). It is usually done on the back, arms and legs, with a much gentler version used on the face and neck. That gentler version is what this guide covers.
Be clear-eyed about what it can do. Healthline says scientific study on gua sha is limited and larger studies are needed. The research it cites, a 2011 neck-pain trial of 48 people, a 2017 low-back pain study of 12 and a 2024 Parkinson's trial, is about pain, not facial appearance. The Yorkshire Post makes the same point: studies are limited, and the sculpting claims influencers make are not backed by the evidence it presents. Brands that sell gua sha tools describe puffiness and lifting benefits, and we treat those as brand claims. What you can count on is a few minutes of gentle facial massage with a cool tool.
A tool. Any smooth-edged gua sha tool works. Jade and rose quartz feel cool and can be chilled; stainless steel is easier to clean and, per one brand, more resistant to breakage. Our best gua sha tools guide compares one of each.
Oil or serum. Healthline says to apply oil or serum before gua sha so the tool glides instead of dragging. A plain face oil is the simplest choice, and we suggest three at the end of this guide. A moisturizer with slip can also work; see our face moisturizer picks.
Soap and warm water. Healthline says to wash the tool with soap and warm water before you start and to clean it after each use.
1. Wash the tool. Soap and warm water, per Healthline. If you like a cold tool, chill it in the fridge first; several brands say their stone or steel tools can be chilled.
2. Apply oil. Press a few drops of face oil over clean skin on the face and neck so the tool glides, as Healthline advises.
3. Set the angle and pressure. Hold the tool tilted about 15 to 30 degrees to the skin and use light pressure, per Healthline. The Yorkshire Post repeats each stroke about five times per side.
4. Neck. Following the Yorkshire Post's stroke map, sweep upward from the collarbone to the earlobe.
5. Jaw. Start at the centre of the chin and glide along the jawline to the ear.
6. Cheekbones. Sweep from the cheekbone toward the ear.
7. Under-eyes. Very gently, move outward toward the ear. This skin is thin, so use the lightest touch.
8. Brows. Glide from the middle of the brow outward.
9. Forehead. Sweep from the brow up to the hairline.
10. Clean up. Wash the tool again and let it dry. Healthline says to clean it after each use.
Neither Healthline nor the Yorkshire Post gives a fixed schedule for facial gua sha. Working through the Yorkshire Post's stroke map at about five strokes per side takes a few minutes. A sensible approach is to let your skin decide: Healthline says gua sha should not be painful and should not leave petechiae on the face. If you see redness that lingers, marks or tenderness, you are pressing too hard or going too often, so lighten up and give your skin a break.
Gua sha fits most easily at the end of an evening routine, after cleansing and before or instead of moisturizer, since you are already applying oil. If you use a treatment serum such as a niacinamide serum, our niacinamide serum guide explains where it sits in the order; Good Molecules says its squalane oil can layer over serums.
Pressing too hard. Healthline lists temporary petechiae, minor bleeding, skin indentation and mild bruising as possible side effects of gua sha, and says facial gua sha should not cause petechiae at all. The Yorkshire Post also notes that bruising is possible. Light pressure is the whole technique.
Skipping the oil. Dragging a dry tool across dry skin pulls at it. Healthline says to apply oil or serum first.
Not cleaning the tool. Healthline says to clean the tool after each use; BAIMEI, which sells a rose quartz set, says to wash before and after each use.
Using it on broken or irritated skin. Healthline says to avoid open wounds and irritated skin.
Not checking with a doctor when you should. Healthline says to check with a healthcare professional first if you have a chronic condition, take blood thinners, have a clotting disorder, or take medicines that affect blood cell production. The Yorkshire Post, citing WebMD, says people with diabetes, circulation problems, on blood-thinning medication or pregnant should speak to a doctor before trying gua sha.
Healthline says to apply oil or serum before gua sha so the tool glides, so we looked for plain, single-purpose face oils on Amazon's Beauty department, set aside sponsored results, and chose three with different textures: a rosehip seed oil, a jojoba oil and a squalane oil. The American Academy of Dermatology lists jojoba oil among the ingredients that help dry skin. For the tools themselves, see our best gua sha tools guide.
Every product detail below comes from the Amazon listing on the day we checked it, and brand claims about skin tone or elasticity are labeled as claims. If you would rather use a cream, our face moisturizer picks include options with slip.
Shipped and sold by Amazon.com
The Ordinary's rosehip oil is a single ingredient: 100 percent organic, cold-pressed, unrefined rosehip seed oil. For gua sha, that means a true oil with enough slip to carry a tool across the face. The brand says it hydrates, improves the appearance of uneven skin tone and supports elasticity; treat those as the brand's claims.
The directions are to apply a few drops once daily, ideally at bedtime, which lines up with doing gua sha in the evening. The Ordinary says to patch test first and to avoid broken skin, which matches Healthline's advice to keep gua sha away from open wounds and irritated skin.
Best for: Dry skin and an evening gua sha routine.
Check price on Amazon for The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (opens in a new tab)Sold by Cliganic and shipped by Amazon
Jojoba oil is one of the ingredients the American Academy of Dermatology lists as helpful for dry skin, and Cliganic's is a single-ingredient, USDA organic certified jojoba oil with no synthetic additives, per the listing. It is sold for face, hair and body, so one bottle covers gua sha slip and other uses.
The 4-ounce bottle is the largest of our three picks, which matters when you are using enough oil for a tool to glide over the face and neck. Cliganic says it suits all skin types and is Non-GMO Project verified, certified vegan and cruelty-free. The listing notes that packaging may vary.
Best for: Anyone who wants one oil for gua sha, hair and body.
Check price on Amazon for Cliganic Organic Jojoba Oil, 100% Pure Cold Pressed, 4 oz (opens in a new tab)Sold by Good Molecules US and shipped by Amazon
If heavier oils sit on your skin, squalane is the lighter option. Good Molecules says its squalane oil softens and moisturizes without a heavy or greasy feel, absorbs quickly, and mimics the skin's own moisture. Those are brand descriptions, but a thin oil is a good fit for gua sha on oily or combination skin.
The directions are to press a few drops into skin morning or night, and Good Molecules says it layers over serums or under moisturizer, so it slots into an existing routine. The brand says it suits all skin types including sensitive skin, and that it is cruelty-free and vegan. The bottle is 13 ml.
Best for: Oily, combination or sensitive skin that wants minimal residue.
Check price on Amazon for Good Molecules Squalane Oil for Face, 13 ml (opens in a new tab)| Face oil | Our pick for | Size | Standout listing detail | Sold by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil | Dry skin | Not stated on the listing | 100 percent organic, cold-pressed, unrefined | Amazon.com |
| Cliganic Organic Jojoba Oil | Multipurpose | 4 oz | USDA organic, single ingredient | Cliganic |
| Good Molecules Squalane Oil | Lightweight | 13 ml | Layers over serums or under moisturizer | Good Molecules US |
Figures are taken from each Amazon listing on October 1, 2026 and can change.
Wash the tool, apply a face oil, then hold the tool at about a 15 to 30 degree tilt and sweep gently upward and outward with light pressure, per Healthline. The Yorkshire Post's stroke map runs from the neck up: collarbone to earlobe, chin along the jaw to the ear, cheekbone to ear, under-eyes gently outward, brows from the middle outward, and forehead from brow to hairline, about five strokes per side. Clean the tool afterward.
Either. Healthline says to apply oil or serum before gua sha so the tool glides. A plain face oil like rosehip, jojoba or squalane is the simplest choice.
Healthline and the Yorkshire Post do not set a schedule. Healthline says it should not be painful or leave petechiae on the face, so let your skin guide you and ease off if it looks red or marked.
Healthline says scientific study on gua sha is limited and the studies it cites are about neck, back and Parkinson's-related pain, not facial appearance. The Yorkshire Post says the sculpting claims influencers make are not backed by the evidence it presents. Brands describe puffiness and lifting benefits; those are brand claims.
Yes, if you press too hard. Healthline lists temporary petechiae, minor bleeding, skin indentation and mild bruising as possible side effects that fade in a few days, and says facial gua sha should not cause petechiae. Use light pressure.
Healthline says to check with a healthcare professional first if you have a chronic condition, take blood thinners, have a clotting disorder or take medicines that affect blood cell production, and to avoid open wounds and irritated skin. The Yorkshire Post, citing WebMD, adds people with diabetes, circulation problems or who are pregnant.
Listing details were captured from Amazon on October 16, 2026 and can change. Brand claims are attributed; we have not tested these products ourselves. This page is not medical advice.
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A classic jade stone, an easy-clean stainless steel tool and a rose quartz set with a roller, plus an honest look at the limited evidence behind facial gua sha.
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