Gua Sha Facials

What makes Gua Sha facials at Balanced Thistle different from other facials? Let me tell you…

First and foremost, this massage focused facial is unlike any other. The rhythmical facial massage using gua sha tools stimulates your lymphatic system to eliminate excess fluids and toxins from your skin. You are working with holistic estheticians who are trained and certified in gua sha and lymphatic drainage, as well as helping you uncover a holistic skin care approach. Skincare is all about consistency. We can’t stress enough the importance of a skincare routine. Give your face some TLC daily and your skin will thank you for years to come. Skincare routines do not need to be complicated. In fact, the easier, the better.

Gua sha is a Chinese phrase that means “scraping.” Do not let that scare you! While gua sha on the body is done a bit aggressively, it is done very gently on the face. Using a smooth stone tool, as your esthetician we will gently apply to stroke motions and pressure on different areas of your face, neck and decollete. You will find it soothing and relaxing, and your facial tissues will respond to the added circulation. Some of the benefits of gua sha include (but is not limited to):

• Diminished puffiness

• Increased collagen production

• Reduced tension in your facial muscles

Many of us have “traffic jams” of fluid blockage under the skin’s surface. This can cause wrinkles as well as inflammation and puffiness. Lymphatic fluid carrying waste has to drain through the jaw, and many women have jaw tension, which acts like a blocked sieve. Vessels drain more slowly, which blocks the lymphatic drainage pathways. So when we have this tension at the jaw, it creates puffiness in the face. 

Both holistic estheticians at Balanced Thistle were trained and educated in this technique from Dr. Ping Zhang, the founder of Nefeli Corp. and creator of the patented jade Miracle Touch Gua Sha board beauty tool. In these sessions with, Balanced Thistle estheticians will use hot towels and all natural products, such as Yina, to cleanse the face, and then perform techniques with a Nefeli white jade stone along the client’s decollete, neck and face to move stagnated lymph fluid, stimulates energy points, and allow the proper flow of your body’s natural nutrients to these areas. The results will leave your with a more youthful + fresh appearance which include the firming of skin around the neck, jaw, eyes, reduced puffiness, reduced redness, more even skin stone, reduced appearance of rosacea, soften the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and sun damage and so much more! Plus, it’s an extremely relaxing experience. Clients have been known to fall asleep a time or two. 

Gua Sha beats filler, botox and other medical procedures because it elevates your skin’s health while it creates left, improves texture, and gives your complexion a healthy glow. We prep the skin with a serum from Yina, tailored specifically to your skin type.  A favorite among many clients is the Nourish Botanical Serum from Yina. This serum is infused with Yina’s proprietary East Asian Medicine plant complex to help deeply nourish, condition, and hydrate the skin for a luminous, smooth complexion. 

A common question we get is, “How often will I need a Gua Sha facial?”

And our answer… each client is different but this will ultimately depend on your goals for the treatment. The short term symptoms will usually resolve faster when compared to long term symptoms. Due to its cumulative effects, when it comes to chronic issues, it is recommended to come weekly for 4-6 treatments. This will help you to achieve the best results. After that, we suggest coming in for a Gua Sha facial with every season change.