How do you use a gua sha tool?

Ideally, Wasfie advises making gua sha a five-minute ritual as part of your morning skincare routine , along with washing your face and putting on antioxidants and sunscreen. Apply a little serum or face oil so that the tool glides more smoothly, then stroke or gently scrape it against the skin in small strokes across your face, moving down toward the neck to promote drainage, and then upward on your forehead for a lifting effect.

What shape gua sha tool should I use?

There are pointed, heart shaped, scalloped gua sha tools. Gua sha tools typically have different shaped and textured sides to be used on different spots. Heart shaped is ideal for targeting the area around the eyes and mouth, which can be more difficult to reach. Pointed and scalloped gua sha tools can be very effective on specific pressure points.

How long does it take to see results from a gua sha tool?

Because gua sha tools are helping to boost circulation, you can see results immediately after one session. In line with Eastern medicine, a holistic approach to facial sculpting means incorporating gua sha practices into your daily routine.

How do you clean a gua sha tool?

Like any beauty tool, such as makeup brushes , you will want to clean it regularly—soap and water will get the job done, or a quick spritz of alcohol. Just be forewarned that these do get slippery when wet so we suggest laying it out on a towel when washing, so as to avoid slippage and breakage.

The 15 Best Gua Sha Tools of 2023

At this point, you’ve probably heard of jade rollers. Just as easy and relaxing to use are gua sha tools, an Eastern medicine skincare hack you need to try, ASAP. “Gua sha is a modality of traditional Chinese medicine that uses a tool, such a stone, that runs over the skin to break up tension due to stagnation from water retention, muscle tightness, or other congestion,” explains Giselle Wasfie, D.A.C.M. and founder of Remix Acupuncture + Integrative Health in Chicago.

Although gua sha tools can be used all over the body, they're especially beneficial for the face. They feel cooling and soothing—plus, they can help boost lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and inflammation, says Wasfie. While those are pretty much instantaneous benefits, there’s also a long-term play: Gua sha can help stimulate collagen production to fill in fine lines and boost skin elasticity. It's also just a darn nice moment of self-care, Wasfie says. (And we agree.)

We conducted hours of research on the best gua sha tools, evaluating each on their functionality, material, and design. Some of our best picks were designed by acupuncturists so their shape takes into account the exact areas of the face people need to hit for lymphatic drainage to be the most effective.

4.8

Lanshin

View On Lanshin.com View On The Detox Market

What We Like

Designed by an acupuncturist
Works for all areas of the face

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Pros love this tool. Wasfie notes who says it’s the one she uses the most. “Designed by an acupuncturist who does a lot of facial rejuvenation, it has all of the sides you need for different areas of the face in one high-quality tool,” she explains. More specifically, there’s both a heart-shaped side and pointed side, the latter of which has a comb-like edge that feels especially nice when used moving up from your forehead to your scalp.

Price at time of publish: $129

Shape: Heart shaped/pointed

Credo Beauty

View On Credo Beauty View On Wildling.com

What We Like

Easy to hold
Works for all areas of the face

What We Don't Like

Some reviewers note it breaks easily

This is another comprehensive gua sha tool, says Wasfie. Crafted by esthetician Britta Plug, who’s well-known for her online demos on how to use gua sha tools, it's specially designed so that each of the four sides fits perfectly against the curves of the face. It’s also ergonomic and very easy to hold. Plus, unlike the standard rose quartz and jade options, this is distinct in that it’s made of Bian stone, which is composed of more than 40 healing minerals (and has a very sophisticated black hue).

Price at time of publish: $69

Shape: Round/pointed

Keep your gua sha tool in the refrigerator, like Wasfie does, to further up the refreshing and cooling benefits.

Daily Concepts

View On Ulta View On Walmart View On Bigelowchemists.com

What We Like

Affordable
Made of real jade

What We Don't Like

Some reviewers note it breaks easily

Interested in trying gua sha or just don’t want to shell out the big bucks on a tool? This is a top-tier affordable alternative. Despite the price tag, it’s still made of real jade (the kind used in popular jade rollers) and boasts a similarly effective and easy-to-use shape as it’s much more expensive counterparts.

Price at time of publish: $16

Shape: Heart shaped

Revolve

View On Revolve

What We Like

Works for all areas of the face
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Some reviewers note it came damaged

According to Wasfie, the tools from this brand are as quality as their products (which are a hit with team Byrdie), and calls the rose quartz energy soft and soothing. There’s an outwardly curved edge that’s perfect for the jawline, an inwardly-curved edge that’s great for flushing out fluid, and a scalloped side for areas where you want some extra pressure and massage.

Price at time of publish: $24

Shape: Scalloped

O'o Hawaii

View On Oohawaii.com

What We Like

Affordable
Grasps the contours of the face easily

What We Don't Like

Some reviewers note it breaks easily

Former Byrdie editor Lindsey Metrus vouches for this tool, a simple heart-shaped option made of rose quartz. The curved edges grasp the contours of your face (think the cheekbones or jawbones) perfectly.

Price at time of publish: $24

Shape: Heart shaped

OdacitÃ© Crystal Contour Gua Sha Rose Quartz

The Detox Market

View On The Detox Market

What We Like

Works for all areas of the face
Durable

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Wasfie says this larger-sized tool is great for covering broader areas of the face, such as the cheeks, though we also like the tapered point that makes it easier to reach smaller spots, too. Another good rose quartz pick, happy reviewers rave about how this has changed their skin, as well as how sturdy it is.

Price at time of publish: $45

Shape: Heart shaped/pointed

Skin Gym

View On Nordstrom View On Ulta View On Macy's

What We Like

Great for larger areas
Combats overnight puffiness

What We Don't Like

Some reviewers note it breaks easily

Wasfie says this is also a good option for larger areas of the face. As far as the stone goes, jade is known to block negative energy and promote calmness and peace. So while using your gua sha tool in the morning is a great way to wake up your skin and combat overnight puffiness, the energy of this particular option also makes it great to use as an extra way to help you chill out come bedtime.

Price at time of publish: $32

Shape: Scalloped

Pink Moon

View On Pinkmoon.co

What We Like

Cruelty-free oil
Made from real rose quartz

What We Don't Like

Expensive

As a nod to her Chinese heritage, Pink Moon's founder Lin Chen created this beautiful rose quartz gua sha tool to help with lymphatic drainage. Here, it's paired with an antioxidant-rich face oil that makes sliding it over your skin super easy. Bonus: This duo is also a fave of Byrdie Commerce Editorial Director Jessica Mahgerefteh.

Price at time of publish: $80

Shape: Heart shaped

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Ulta View On Neiman Marcus

We love this bestselling tool made from stainless steel because it stays cool (you can keep it in the freezer or use at room temperature) to deliver a cold sensation to your face that not only feels amazing, but also helps reduce puffiness.

Price at time of publish: $35

Shape: Scalloped

Lanshin

View On Lanshin.com

While this obviously looks different than most other gua sha tools, the spoon-like shape makes it one of Wasfie’s favorites to use on the face, particularly around the eyes. “You can easily target puffiness around the inner eye, swelling under the eye, and laugh lines,” she explains. Along with the rounded edge, however, there’s also a flat edge, so it can still do double-duty for the more standard scraping or gliding motions you’d want to use on the rest of your face.

4.8

Tata Harper Skincare

View On Tataharperskincare.com

We love the spoon shape of this tool to help reveal a lifted complexion that appears more contoured and toned. Its dual-ended design features a smaller end to reach delicate areas such as the eyes and the area above the lip, and a larger end to sculpt and lift the cheeks, forehead, jawline, and neck.

Price at time of publish: $20

Shape: Spoon

SUPERNAL

View On Supernal.co

What We Like

Made from Xiuyan Jade for a smooth finish

What We Don't Like

Final sale

This quality yet lightweight tool comes with four different edges to help lift, sculpt, and de-puff. Each edge targets a different area of the face, so you can correctly and comprehensively address the neck, cheeks, forehead, eyes, and under-eye areas. Although this tool is final sale, you can make inquiries to the company prior to purchase. We love that it's artisan crafted by hand.

Price at time of publish: $68

Shape: Wave, wavelet, comb, arc

Courtesy of Amazon.

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Mountlai.com

What We Like

Curved shaped accesses crevices
Depuffs and refreshes

What We Don't Like

Hander could be longer

Puffy eyes? Reach for this rose quartz massager. When you combine it with eye cream or serum, the curved shape is designed to gently slide around all the crevices of your delicate eye area to minimize puffiness and leave you feeling refreshed. A slightly longer handle would make this tool easier to maneuver, but other than that, we have no complaints.

Price at time of publish: $30

Shape: Rounded stamp

Yina

View On Pinkmoon.co View On Thirteenlune.com View On Yina.co

What We Like

Special mineral-rich stone
Promotes circulation and smooths skin

What We Don't Like

May break if dropped

This gua sha tool was made with the whole body in mind. The size and shape are thoughtfully designed for massaging both the face and body, promoting circulation, helping to depuff swollen areas, and smoothing the skin. It's made of bian shi, a "micro-crystalline" stone containing upwards of 30 minerals thought to help regenerate healthy cells and boost energy. We love how thick the stone is, but bear in mind it might break if you drop it on tile floors.

Price at time of publish: $85

Shape: Rounded with point and ridges

Dehiya

View On Anthropologie View On Dehiyabeauty.com View On Madewell.com

What We Like

Accesses crevices of face
Promotes lymphatic drainage
Stimulating facial massage

What We Don't Like

May irritate sensitive skin

If you really want to feel like you're giving yourself a stimulating facial massage, go with Dehiya's Warrior Stone. It has rounded points on either end that get into all the crevices and contours of your face, plus ridged edges that help promote lymphatic drainage. Just a heads up, the ridges might irritate sensitive skin, so go slowly if your complexion is more reactive.

Price at time of publish: $68

Shape: Dual points with ridges

Final Verdict

Our best overall pick is the Pro Gua Sha Tool by Lanshin, designed by an acupuncturist to target particular areas of the face that will benefit from lymphatic drainage massage. For a budget-friendly option, Daily Concepts' Gua Sha Facial Jade Tool offers all the benefits of more expensive options.

Meet the Expert

Giselle Wasfie is a Doctor of Acupuncture + Chinese Medicine, as well as a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist. A former magazine editor and music journalist, she opened REMIX Acupuncture + Integrative Health in Chicago in 2012, one of the city’s best-known destinations for holistic wellness. Along with acupuncture, Wasfie is also trained in cupping therapy, gua sha, moxibustion, tui na, and the meditative arts of Qi Gong and Tai Chi, and received a certification in facial rejuvenation from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture. She’s also the founder of a line of 100% natural, essential-oil, and Chinese herbal-based beauty and aromatherapy products, REMIX by Giselle Wasfie.

What to Look for In a Gua Sha Tool

Shape

Gua sha tools come in a variety of shapes—but all are fairly thin and come with curved edges. Beginners might find the heart shape, like the Pink Moon tool easiest to manipulate. Those with more experience should consider a gua sha tool that has a variety of angles and ridges so you can use it on various parts of the face like under the eyes, cheek bones, jawline, and neck. We love the multi-shaped Supernal tool, which can give a variety of contours. If you're looking to target specific areas, it's important to consider shape. A spoon shaped gua sha, like the Tata Harper tool is also helpful for sculpting the hard-to-reach areas like under the eyes and upper lip.

Material

Although shape is more of a factor in choosing your gua sha tool, material is also a feature to look for. Rose quartz and jade are some of the most common minerals used to fashion gua sha tools. If you prefer a tool that feels cold to the touch, consider a gua sha made from stainless steel, like the Sacheu model.

FAQ

How do you use a gua sha tool?

Ideally, Wasfie advises making gua sha a five-minute ritual as part of your morning skincare routine, along with washing your face and putting on antioxidants and sunscreen. Apply a little serum or face oil so that the tool glides more smoothly, then stroke or gently scrape it against the skin in small strokes across your face, moving down toward the neck to promote drainage, and then upward on your forehead for a lifting effect.
What shape gua sha tool should I use?

There are pointed, heart shaped, scalloped gua sha tools. Gua sha tools typically have different shaped and textured sides to be used on different spots. Heart shaped is ideal for targeting the area around the eyes and mouth, which can be more difficult to reach. Pointed and scalloped gua sha tools can be very effective on specific pressure points.
How long does it take to see results from a gua sha tool?

Because gua sha tools are helping to boost circulation, you can see results immediately after one session. In line with Eastern medicine, a holistic approach to facial sculpting means incorporating gua sha practices into your daily routine.
How do you clean a gua sha tool?

Like any beauty tool, such as makeup brushes, you will want to clean it regularly—soap and water will get the job done, or a quick spritz of alcohol. Just be forewarned that these do get slippery when wet so we suggest laying it out on a towel when washing, so as to avoid slippage and breakage.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. A lover of anything and everything Eastern medicine-related, she gua shas regularly and feels it’s a skincare step everyone should try.

The 14 Best Face Massagers of 2023

Updated by Jill DiDonato

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Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.