The Benefits of a Gua Sha Routine Before Bed

If there’s a skincare trend out there, I’ve probably tried it—especially if it’s going to enhance my evening skincare routine. And, right now, I’m fairly obsessed with gua sha. 

While I’d heard about the benefits of gua sha from many a facialist, I’ll admit my interest became even more piqued when I saw Aika Flores, the celebrity men’s groomer behind people like Belmont Cameli from Off Campus and Hudson Williams from Heated Rivalry, feature gua sha in a skincare routine Instagram reel for The Cut. 

I spoke with Kai Bain, the founder of FARO Wellness, about the benefits of doing gua sha before bed and how to create a nighttime gua sha routine. Read on to find out more.

What Is gua sha?

Gua sha is a therapeutic practice that’s rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Typically, it helps to address tension, discomfort, and stagnation. It can also help with circulation, or promote lymph moving through the body.

“Today, we often think of gua sha as a smooth-edged tool used to gently glide or scrape the skin, to encourage circulation and the movement of qi (vital energy),” says Bain. 

While “scraping” may sound harsh, in actuality, gua sha is quite gentle. You do apply some pressure, but lightly, so it shouldn’t cause pain or discomfort.

Gua sha tools can come in multiple materials, including stainless steel, jade, rose quartz, or bian stone. They’re also available in many different shapes—you may see them shaped like hearts, combs, or with curved ends.

Benefits of a bedtime gua sha routine

In actuality, you can incorporate gua sha into your morning skincare routine or your evening one.

It’s really about what time of day works better for you and the overall benefits you’d like to see, though. So if you’re looking to feel calmer and more ready for bed, evening is the perfect time. 

“Gua sha is a wonderful ritual to help the body wind down,” says Bain.

Here are a couple reasons she loves incorporating it into a wind-down ritual.

Relieves jaw and facial tension

Jaw feeling tight? Gua sha can absolutely help with that.

“Gentle work around the jaw, temples, forehead, and neck can help release some of the muscular tension we accumulate throughout the day,” Bain shares.

She especially notes that jaw clenching or holding stress in your face can cause tension, so performing gua sha is helpful for relieving pressure. 

Prepares the mind and body for Sleep

Want to feel a little more relaxed before bed? Maybe it’s time to try gua sha.

“The slow, repetitive movements cue the nervous system to begin calming down, creating a beautiful ritual that signals it’s time to rest,” Bain explains. “It’s also important to note that circulation, tension, fluid movement, and relaxation are all interconnected, so you may finish your routine feeling less congested, less clenched, and more settled.”

What you need to get started with gua sha

Ready to try gua sha? The good news is, it’s pretty simple.

“You really don’t need much to get started—a gua sha tool, a small amount of face oil, and a few minutes,” Bain says. 

Bain recommends using enough oil that the tool will move comfortably along your skin while “still creating a little traction,” adding that “you don’t want a completely slick, slippery surface.”

For your face oil, look for ones with ingredients like nourishing squalane (non-greasy and won’t clog pores), jojoba oil (closely matches skin oils), or rosehip seed oil (high in brightening vitamins A and C).

As far as your gua sha tool goes, it’s really up to personal preference. Whichever one you choose, though, Bain recommends using one with a relatively flat, smooth edge.

Simple 5-step nighttime gua sha routine

Here are Bain’s top five tips for how to do a nighttime gua sha routine. One thing to note: She recommends performing the entire five-step routine on one side of the face before moving to the other.

Step 1: Start at the collarbones.

Before you pick up your gua sha tool, start by massaging the little shelf right under your collarbones with your fingertips for about 10 seconds. Use medium pressure and make small, gentle circles.

“This helps get the area ready to process the fluid you’ll be moving down from your face,” Bain says. 

Step 2: Perform downward strokes on the neck.

Using really light pressure, place your gua sha flat against the right side of your neck and lightly drag it downward from your jawline toward your collarbone. Repeat this three to five times.

“You should feel the top layer of your skin moving, not the muscles underneath,” Bain says.

Step 3: Drain the jaw, cheeks, and under-eyes.

Gently sweep from your chin along the jaw toward the ear, then down the side of the neck toward the collarbone.

Then, move from beside your nose across your cheek to your ear, and again sweep downward along the neck.

For your under-eye, use super-light pressure and sweep from the inner corner outward toward the temple, then bring it down along the side of your face and neck.

Step 4: Think “down and out” for your forehead, not “up and out.”

Start at the center and make a few short, downward strokes toward your eyebrows. When you reach the outer forehead, drag your gua sha tool horizontally from the center of your forehead toward your temples.

Then follow from your temples along the side of your face and neck toward your collarbone. Repeat this three to five times.

“You’ll instinctively want to use an upward motion for lifting, but with lymphatic drainage, you actually want to move downward,” Bain says. “As long as you use light pressure, this won’t impact how the skin sits, promise.”

Step 5: Repeat the same steps on the left side.

Now that you’ve finished your routine on the right side of your face, repeat it on the left.

Quick tips to clean and store your gua sha tool

Just like performing your gua sha routine is easy, so is cleaning and storing your gua sha tool in between uses.

“Keep it simple,” Bain says. She recommends washing it with soap and water after each use, and then drying it thoroughly before putting it away.

“That’s it,” she says. “No fancy cleaners needed.”

A few recommended gua sha tools and face oils

Need a gua sha tool and face oil to get your routine started? Here are a few to choose from.

Gua sha tools

Budget-friendly stainless steel

Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha Tool, $10

Great for sculpting and contouring

Face Gym Multi-Sculpt High Performing Contouring Tool, $69

Crafted in bian stone

Wilding Facial Gua Sha Empress Stone, $69

Inexpensive but effective

EcoTools Jade Gua Sha, $6.49

Face oils

My personal favorite

Herbivore Botanicals Phoenix Facial Oil, $88

Contains replenishing antioxidants

BYOMA Hydrating Recovery Oil, $18.99

Helps moisturize and plump skin

Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil, $55

Budget-friendly

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, $10.90

Works to nourish and brighten

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, $74

FAQs

Do you do gua sha before or after moisturizer?

While you should apply face oil before performing your gua sha routine to help the tool glide more effectively across the skin, you should complete your skincare routine afterward. This means applying serum, moisturizer, and eye cream after you finish your gua sha routine.

Should you wash your face after doing gua sha?

You should always wash your face before you do your gua sha routine. This helps to remove any dirt, oils, makeup, or excess sebum beforehand, so you won’t push them further into your skin with your gua sha tool.

Can gua sha help if you clench your jaw at night?

Absolutely. Bain explains that this is because the gentle work and slow, repetitive movements with a gua sha tool can help release muscular tension from jaw clenching.