Skin

Gua sha: what it really does to your face

Gua sha is a flat tool, often made of stone, that you glide over your skin. On the body it is a traditional East Asian technique, applied firmly, that leaves red marks on purpose. On the face you use a light touch to de-puff and "sculpt." De-puffing is plausible and temporary. Sculpting is much less so. 💧

Updated November 7, 2026 · By Julien Rayes · Version française

What the studies say

The most cited study dates from 2007. A team at the university hospital in Essen, Germany, measured skin circulation in 11 volunteers before and after a session. Microcirculation was four times higher during the first 7.5 minutes and stayed elevated through the 25 minutes of measurement. But the session was done on the back, with firm pressure, and the study looked at muscle pain, not the face. ⚠️

For the face, the data is thin. In 2018, a Japanese study of 12 people found that five minutes with a massage roller on one cheek increased blood flow in that cheek for at least ten minutes. In 2025, a Korean trial compared a roller with gua sha in 34 women, ten minutes five times a week for eight weeks. In the gua sha group, some facial distances shrank by about 2 mm. No group went without massage, so we can't tell how much of that comes from the massage itself.

What it can do and what it can't

What you can reasonably expect:

• A slightly less puffy face, mostly in the morning, for a few hours: the pressure moves fluid around, without touching fat or bone.
• Skin that looks pinker right after, while the blood rushes in.
• A moment of relaxation, which is already a good reason to keep it. 😌
• But it doesn't melt cheek fat, slim the jawbone or erase wrinkles for good. A 2026 feature in the trade magazine Dermatology Times describes a simple shift of fluid, not a change in fat or bone.

The right technique

🧴 First apply an oil or serum so the tool glides without pulling. Hold it almost flat against the skin and make slow strokes from the center of the face outward, then along the jaw toward the ear and down the neck. Five minutes is enough.

Keep the pressure light. Facial skin is thinner than back skin, and its small vessels sit close to the surface, so pressing hard leaves marks quickly. Clean the tool after each use.

When to avoid it

• On irritated skin, sunburn, an open wound or inflamed pimples.
• If you have broken capillaries (couperose) or rosacea: friction can mark the small vessels.
• In the days after an injection in the face: ask the doctor who did it first.
• If you bruise easily or take a blood thinner: talk to your doctor first.

Gua sha, cold or nothing?

To de-puff, cold does a similar job without friction: a cold compress for a few minutes after waking up, or a roller kept in the fridge. To slim your face for good, what matters most is lowering your overall body fat, which our guide to losing face fat covers. For a sharper jawline, posture and facial hair do more than a stone. 🧊

What the scan looks at

The GlowUpTogether scan doesn't measure the effect of any particular gua sha. It scores your jawline definition, the slimness of your cheeks and the bags under your eyes, areas that vary with puffiness. To compare two scans, take your photos at the same time of day and in the same light. In your plan, drainage massage appears among the actions against under-eye bags, with a temporary effect.

Sources: Nielsen et al., "The effect of Gua Sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: a pilot study in healthy subjects", Explore, 2007; Miyaji et al., "Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity", Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2018; Ahn et al., "Comparative Effects of Facial Roller and Gua Sha Massage on Facial Contour, Muscle Tone, and Skin Elasticity: Randomized Controlled Trial", Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025; "Social Media Mythbusters: At-Home Facial Gua Sha", Dermatology Times, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does gua sha slim your face?

No. It can de-puff it a little for a few hours, but it doesn't melt fat. A slimmer face comes from lowering your overall body fat.

How long until you see results?

The de-puffing effect shows right after the session and fades during the day. In the 2025 trial, small contour changes were measured after eight weeks of practice, five times a week.

Gua sha or roller?

In the 2025 Korean trial, both slightly reduced some facial distances. The roller also improved skin elasticity, while gua sha mostly relaxed the muscles. The differences are small, so pick the one you'll actually use.

Which stone should you choose?

We found no study comparing materials. Choose a shape that fits your jaw and a material that's easy to clean.