The Gua Sha Guide
Everything worth knowing before you start — five minutes, twice a day, that's the whole idea.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese practice, originally done on the body with a flat-edged tool, that has been adapted over time into a gentler facial technique. The word itself comes from Chinese medicine tradition. What it looks like today, for most people, is simple: a smooth stone tool, held nearly flat against the skin, moved in one direction with light pressure.
We're not going to tell you it changes your face. What we can tell you is that it's a genuinely nice five minutes — cool stone against warm skin, a moment that's just yours, morning or night.
What is Xiuyan jade?
Our tools are cut from Xiuyan jade, sourced from Xiuyan County in Liaoning Province, in the northeast of China — the region the stone is named after. It's a natural stone, hand-finished, never dyed. Because it's natural, no two pieces are identical — the veining and depth of tone in yours will be its own.
It's cool to the touch straight out of the drawer, and colder still if you keep it in the fridge, which a lot of our customers do.
Why does it feel cool and calming?
Cold stone feels good against warm skin — the same reason a chilled spoon or an ice roller is soothing under tired eyes. It's a pleasant sensation in the moment, and it isn't meant to be more than that.
The slow, repetitive pressure is also just genuinely relaxing. That part isn't specific to jade or to gua sha — touch itself works that way. It's arguably the most reliable thing this five minutes actually gives you.
Roller or gua sha — what's the difference?
They're not the same tool doing the same job twice, which is the usual assumption. An eight-week controlled trial published in 2025 compared the two directly and found they behave differently: the gua sha worked on muscle tension and deeper tissue, while the roller showed its effect on the skin's surface and elasticity. That's a small study, and the wider research on facial gua sha is still thin — but it does line up with how the two feel in the hand.
The roller is the easier of the two to start with. Two heads on a double-ended arm — a larger one for cheeks, jaw and forehead, and a smaller one sized for under the eyes. You roll it across the skin; there's not much technique to get wrong.
The gua sha stone takes a little more attention. It's a flat, curved piece of stone you hold almost flat against the skin — closer to a 15° angle than anything steeper — and sweep outward. The notched edge sits naturally along the jawline; the curved edge follows the cheek and neck.
Most people use both, gua sha first and the roller as the finish.
How to use it
- Start with clean skin and a few drops of oil or serum. The stone needs something to glide on — going in dry drags and isn't pleasant for anyone.
- Gua sha first, if you're using both. Hold it almost flat and sweep away from the centre of your face — jawline to ear, cheekbone to temple, forehead upward to the hairline. Light pressure, three to five passes each area.
- Follow with the roller. Larger end for cheeks and forehead, smaller end under the eyes.
- Finish at the neck, sweeping downward.
That's the whole routine. Once a day is plenty — many people like doing it in the morning as part of getting ready, but there's no wrong time. Before you begin, a couple of slow breaths can turn the routine into something closer to a moving meditation than a task to get through.
A word on pressure
Traditional gua sha is worked firmly on the body, and that's where the dramatic red marks you may have seen online come from — that's bruising, caused by the pressure. The face wants a much lighter hand. Slow strokes, barely any pressure, always over oil or serum so the stone glides rather than drags. If the skin is moving along with the stone, ease off.
Looking after your tool
Wash it with warm water and a little soap after each use, then dry it properly before putting it away — stone left wet for long stretches isn't doing itself any favours. Avoid dropping it on tile or hard tile-like surfaces; it will chip. Keep it in the fridge if you like it cold, though that part's entirely optional. Never the freezer — extreme cold can crack natural stone.
A few honest answers
Will mine look exactly like the photos?
Close, but not identical — these are cut from natural stone, so colour and veining vary a little piece to piece. That's not a flaw, it's just what natural stone does.
How much pressure should I use?
Light. The stone should glide, not dig. If you're pressing hard enough to leave marks, ease off.
Can I use it every day?
Yes, once a day is a good routine. Consistency matters more than how hard you press or how long you spend on it.
Do I need a special oil or serum?
No — whatever you already use is fine, as long as there's enough of it for the stone to move smoothly.
When should I skip it?
Avoid broken skin, sunburn, active breakouts, rashes, or any area that's inflamed or painful. Skip it entirely after recent facial injections or surgery until your practitioner says otherwise.
Every Stonebloom set comes with The Five Minute Ritual, a short written guide to the routine above, emailed to you with your order.