My Personal Fave Gua Sha Oil for Acne Prone Skin ✨
Over the last couple of years, gua sha has been gaining a lot of popularity. All over social media, it's been called everything from "natural facelift" and better than Botox to an age-old beauty secret
Maybe it's having my second baby this year, or maybe it's me nearing 30, but I have started dipping my toes more into natural skincare. I am not purely focused on anti-aging (as aging is not something I am scared of or trying to avoid), but I am trying to take care of my skin as best as I can.
But the reality is, I am a working mom of two young kids who values simplicity before just about all else when talking about skincare. Noo 10-step skincare routine over here. Just mostly natural ingredients that support my skin and my health holistically. And it sure doesn't hurt if they minimize fine lines and dry skin while they're at it 🤷🏻♀️
So thinking of gua sha and it being "another step" to add in, I wasn't entirely interested. That is until I saw amazing before and after photos showing the de-puffing and smoothing possible after a gua sha session.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a technique popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine for muscle pain, detoxification, to help support lymphatic drainage and overall health.
In this practice, a smooth-edged tool, often made of jade or rose quartz is used to apply pressure and friction to the skin.
The scraping action is believed to help release stagnant energy from congested areas and promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage. This increased blood flow comes with so many amazing benefits, making gua sha one of the most popular options for wellness and natural anti-aging.
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Benefits of Gua Sha
While I love modern technology and new discoveries, I think there is also something to be said about the tried and true. I think that is why so often we see traditional Chinese medicine techniques make a comeback-- because they work and have been popular for thousands of years.
When gua sha is used on the face, it can help to de-puff, sculpt the facial muscles, and relieve tension held in certain muscles (like in the jaw muscle in TMJ). It can also increase blood flow which brings nutrients to the tissue.
Personally, I love doing gua sha in the morning when my face is the most puffy. It is a relaxing practice to add to your skincare routine, and I love that it leaves my skin with a bright, dewy glow afterwards.
How to Gua Sha?
I am by no means a professional at this and would recommend you do your own research, but here is the general gist of how to gua sha.
Prep Your Skin: Wash your face and apply a facial oil to your entire face to help the tool glide smoothly.
Start with Light Pressure: Hold the tool at a slight angle to your skin and gently scrape across your face.
Follow a Pattern: Work in sections, moving the tool along your forehead, cheeks, jawline, and neck in smooth strokes, following your facial contours. Do you have specific skin concerns? Spend extra time on areas with tension, puffiness, or fine lines.
Avoid Lingering: Keep the tool moving to prevent bruising or irritation, and avoid delicate areas like the eyes.
Finish with Upward Strokes: After covering your face, use light upward strokes to soothe the skin.
Clean Your Tool: It's a good idea to wash your gua sha tool with soap and water after each use to keep it hygienic.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and keep your skin hydrated.
I am a visual learner so knew that I wanted to find a video of the process-- this is a great resource (and you'll find out, my favorite brand for gua sha tools and the best facial oils)! I know that some people do a gua sha facial massage daily. Personally, I only do it 3-4 times per week (and maybe 2-3 minutes per session) and have seen results!
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Best Gua Sha Oil for Acne Prone Skin?
Here's the deal though-- I have always had acne-prone skin. So when I first got into the world of oil-based skincare, I was cautious. I wanted to find the best oil that wasn't going to flare up breakouts, leave a greasy residue, or be too heavy. I also have very sensitive skin so something that wasn't going to cause skin irritation. Basically, I was looking for a magical unicorn beauty product...
That is where Primally Pure steps in. Not only do they have natural and organic products, but they have a whole line dedicated to those with acne-prone skin. This one is particularly my favorite to use for gua sha massage because it has a lightweight texture while still keeping the skin slick which is exactly what you want in a facial massage oil!
Clarifying Skin Serum
Their clarifying skin serum is one of the best face oils for people struggling with acne. Not only is it filled with nourishing ingredients that support the skin, but it also includes ingredients with healing properties that help to clarify your skin and combat current and future breakouts. Here is the ingredient list directly from the site:
Organic Jojoba Oil and Organic Marula Oil - not only are these non-comedogenic oils, but they are full of essential fatty acids to help nourish your skin
Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil - packed with powerful antioxidants and nourishing fatty acids
Organic Grapeseed Oil
Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract
Organic Essential Oils of Orange*, Neroli*, Manuka^ and Pink Grapefruit*,
Organic Turmeric - helps to repair damage, anti-inflammatory properties,
Organic Rosemary Extract
Non-GMO Vitamin E
No additives, artificial fragrances, or harsh chemicals. Just quality ingredients that help to support your skin (and leave a nice dewy glow when you're all done!) 👏
Even though I do have acne-prone skin, I have had good experiences with their other skin serums too! If you want to find your favorite one, you can try their serum trio. This allows you to try 3 of their oils and find the best option for you.
And as always, you can use my code Kaelyn10 to save 10% on your next Primally Pure order ✨
Gua Sha Mistakes to Avoid
When starting to use gua sha, there is more than just finding the right oil. You also want to make sure you're not causing harm to your face! While we touched on these briefly, here are some mistakes to avoid while starting your gua sha journey:
don't do gua sha on a dry face - the reason you need oil is to allow the stone to glide across your skin. Not enough oil, or dry skin, causes too much friction and can damage the skin or cause marks and bruising
avoid coconut oil-based oils- coconut oil is known to be comedogenic (meaning it can clog pores and cause acne)
giving up after one time - like most effective skincare, it requires consistency! If you don't see results right away, that doesn't mean it is not offering support to your skin. Give it a few weeks to perfect the technique and see if it can be helpful in your personal routine!
don’t go over active breakouts- instead, go around them to not cause additional irritation or inflammation!
Other Ways to Support Your Skin Holistically
I never want to hop on the blog and write about something trendy without giving credit to the foundational components of holistic wellness. Like nutrition and movement and stress management and hydration and movement.
If you are having concerns with your skin (especially something like acne), it is often an indicator of something going on internally. That is why I love taking a holistic approach to wellness and looking at the body as a whole.
I struggled with deep, cystic, and painful acne when my hormones were at their worst. I was struggling with inflammation, poor digestion, and didn't have a menstrual cycle for nearly a year (don't let people tell you this isn't a big deal). All these signs my body was giving me was that my body was stressed out. Not only was I in a really stressful season working in the ER and going to nursing school full time, but I was not making my nourishment a priority. I was often fasting for long periods, running on caffeine alone, and not focusing on the nutrient density of my foods. It was truly a recipe for disaster.
But after focusing on my health from a holistic lens, I saw change and improvement. My acne went away. My moods and emotions were more regulated. I had less inflammation in my body and recovered from workouts well. My period returned and I went on to have two healthy pregnancies. I thank the Lord every day for guiding and directing me towards a path of healing and taking better care of my body.
If you are curious about adopting a more holistic approach to wellness, sign up for a free call. We can chat about your wellness goals and see how I can best support you on your journey!