Gua Sha 101

Hello, Jaw Clenchers...

This is Gua Sha 101. Gua Sha has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries to move stagnant qi, stimulate circulation, and restore balance. At Sana, we follow that same protocol—approaching Gua Sha as both a skin treatment and a ritual that supports the body’s natural flow. It’s not just about lifting your face. It’s about creating movement where your skin needs it most.

Whether you're dealing with puffiness, jaw tension, or skin that feels a little stuck, Gua Sha is one of our muse favs for this exact reason.

What is Gua Sha?

A smooth tool that’s used to glide across the skin, helping to increase circulation, support lymphatic drainage, and relax tight muscles (hello, jaw clenchers). Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, facial Gua Sha uses gentle, intentional strokes to sculpt, depuff, and bring glow to the surface.

Why It Works: This isn’t about quick fixes. Gua Sha works with your skin, not against it. When practiced consistently, it can help:

• Depuff the face and under eyes
• Release built-up tension in the jaw, brow, and neck
• Boost circulation for a post-facial glow
• Contours face over time
• Support lymphatic drainage and reduce stagnation

It’s especially helpful during hormonal breakouts, travel, or any time the face feels heavy or inflamed.

when to gua sha

Post-facial to extend your glow
Mid-cycle breakout to calm inflammation
After a flight (or a night out) to depuff
End of the workday to release tension
Anytime your skin feels out of whack or simply just stagnant

Think of gua sha as both skincare and self-care—it’s not just about sculpting or glow, it’s about helping your skin move. That gentle glide helps boost circulation, drain excess fluid, and bring fresh oxygen to the surface so your skin can function at its best. Whether it’s five minutes in the morning or a slow, grounding ritual at night, it’s one of those small things that makes a big difference over time.

Inside the ritual

There’s something that happens when you slow down enough to sweep a cool, smooth tool across your face. Your nervous system resets. Your jaw unclenches. Your skin softens. And suddenly, it’s not just skincare—it’s a whole ritual.

That five minutes at night? It’s yours. It’s the moment you meet yourself in the mirror, not to fix anything, but to care for what’s already working hard for you.

Sana Tips:

Store your tool in the fridge for a cooling, de-puffing effect.
Mist before, during, and after for extra hydration.
Use it post-facial to extend your glow.
Even one minute a day adds up.

The Tool We Created

After years of perfecting our technique in the studio, we wanted a tool that felt as good in your hand as it does on your skin.

After years of using gua sha in our facials and seeing the results firsthand, we decided it was time to make our own. Our Sana Stainless Steel Gua Sha instantly soothes inflammation and depuffs, while its custom ergonomic shape hugs every curve of your face for effortless, precise movement.

Stainless steel makes it ultra-hygienic, long-lasting, and endlessly reusable—so you can bring that post-facial magic home, day after day.

How To Gua Sha (The Sana Way)

Our protocol follows the same flow we use in facials:

Start at the neck. Always. Sweep downward to clear the lymph pathways.

Jawline. Glide from the chin up toward the ear, hugging the bone.

Cheeks. Work from the side of the nose to the temple using soft, upward strokes.

Brow + forehead. Sweep from the center of the face outward.

Eyes. Use the lightest pressure from the inner corner to temple.

Finish at the neck. Drain everything down the sides to support flow.

Always pair with a facial oil or balm. Our favs like the Mermaid Oil, Agent Nateur holi(oil) or the Naturopathica Manuka Honey Balm are our holy grails for a good slip. Use light, intentional pressure enough to create movement, not friction.

If you want to take things up a notch, even Vogue has sung gua sha’s praises—sharing tips, benefits, and why it’s worth making part of your regular routine.

See for yourself: The Expert Guide On How To Gua Sha, Vogue.

Muse Ritual Gua Sha Kit

If you're looking for ways to keep your skin lifted, sculpted, and visibly more glowy while at home, post-facial, or mid-travel — reach for your gua sha

It’s the tool that does a little bit of everything: smooths tension, boosts circulation, and helps your products absorb better.

Pro tip: Start with light pulses down your neck to get lymph moving, then follow with gua sha for deeper release and a more defined finish.