From eye-catching serums to breakout-fighting masks, we’ve seen plenty of skin care products and techniques go viral on social media. However, one of the buzziest trends on TikTok, with over 230,000 videos, isn’t actually a “trend” at all. It’s a skin care technique that has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine.
If you’ve seen videos of people delicately and methodically massaging their face with flat pieces of jade and rose quartz, you’ve witnessed what’s known as facial gua sha.
To find out why the technique is taking over social media, we asked the experts everything you need to know about the ancient practice.
If you’re looking to take the trend for a test spin, there are several options to meet all budgets. Keep scrolling to find our complete list of the best expert-recommended and editor-tested gua sha tools to shop from Amazon, Ulta and more — starting at only $10. Plus, we rounded up the list with a few more affordable options to meet your budget needs.
What is gua sha?
According to Sandra Lanshin Chiu, licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and founder of Lanshin, gua sha has been an important technique in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years — though it originally started as a way to relieve body pain. Traditional body gua sha uses a flat tool (typically made of stone) to treat pain and certain illnesses with a fast and slightly aggressive scraping motion that often leaves red marks on the skin.
However, the facial gua sha that we see today is a modified version that uses much more gentle, relaxing movements that are more appropriate for the delicate skin on the face. A full gua sha routine typically takes 15 minutes, starting at the neck and working your way up to the forehead.
What are the benefits of gua sha?
The upward and outward motions of facial gua sha are meant to increase circulation while lifting and firming the skin, potentially leading to a smoother complexion and more sculpted features. People have seen both physical and mental benefits from practicing gua sha, though licensed aesthetician Britta Plug told us some results are more immediate than others.
“The depuffing happens really quickly because we’re working with the lymphatic system to remove any stagnant lymph from the tissue,” Plug said. “The lifting, toning and firming are pretty immediate as well.”
So while you may see a fairly swift improvement in areas like the cheekbones and under-eye areas, it will take a little more time to notice a drastic difference in fine lines and wrinkles.
“With repetition over time, we can see a really big reduction in those chronic expressions being etched into the face,” Plug told us.
Chiu also noted that the massaging technique can help reduce tension and knots in the face, neck and shoulders, making it a great option for anyone dealing with headaches, sinus congestion, allergies or jaw issues.
Beyond the physical benefits, it has also become known for its meditative qualities.
“It’s a deeply relaxing self-care ritual that soothes the nervous system,” Chiu said. “Now more than ever, it’s important to anchor ourselves in practices that support health and emotional well-being.”
The best expert-recommended and editor-tested gua sha to shop
This gua sha and jade roller set is one of the bestselling eye treatment roller on Amazon and it has amassed over 10,000 verified five-star reviews from shoppers that can’t stop raving about how much of a “game-changer“ it is. It is available in four different colors. Want to give your skin an extra boost? Stick the tools in the fridge before you apply them.
“I use a similar one to this!” shares commerce writer Emma Stessman. “I keep it in my shower and use it sometimes when I wash my face, because it makes it easier to remember. When I’m using it consistently, I do notice a difference in how puffy my face looks.”
Paula Brezavscek, PA-C, a board-certified physician’s associate and the founder of Azala Skin Clinic in Miami, recommends this beginner-friendly option from Tweezerman. "A very accessible and well-made option with smooth edges that won’t tug at the skin," she says. "I like this for patients new to gua sha who want a durable, hygienic tool that delivers visible depuffing with consistent use."
Tama Tran, the founder of Lily Med Spa in Dallas, also loves this stainless steel gua sha which she says is a "non-porous, easy-to-clean option that stays cool on the skin."
Dr. Bertha Baum, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of XIRÜ Skincare, also adds that "stainless steel gua sha tools are excellent for patients prone to inflammation or rosacea because they can be naturally cooling and are non-porous, making them hygienic and easy to clean."
Tran also recommends this "classic stone gua sha with a balanced shape and price that’s beginner-friendly." She says that it is perfect if this is your first serious tool.
"Jade and rose quartz gua sha tools are popular because they stay cool and glide easily over the skin," notes Baum. "While the stone itself doesn’t change skin biology, consistent gua sha technique can enhance lymphatic drainage and temporarily improve skin tone and puffiness."
Another favorite of Brezavscek's, this anti-aging gua sha tool helps relieve stress and tension. "Rose quartz is gentle and cooling, making it a good choice for sensitive or reactive skin types," she suggests. "This tool works well for improving circulation and easing facial muscle tension when used with a facial oil or serum."
"This is one of my top recommendations because stainless steel is non-porous, easy to sanitize and stays naturally cool, which helps reduce puffiness and inflammation," explains Brezavscek. "The heart shape glides smoothly along facial contours, making it especially effective for lymphatic drainage and sculpting."
Tran calls this luxurious tool an "excellent choice if you want a versatile, high-quality gua sha." It has an ergonomic shape and stone construction, which she says boosts circulation and helps sculpt and lift the face.
This Lanshin gua sha tool is "a pro-level jade tool crafted with input from a traditional Chinese medicine expert," shares Tran. [It is] "superb for facial sculpting, tension relief and lymphatic drainage (ideal if you want a more authentic gua sha experience)."
More gua sha to shop
Made of stainless steel, this affordable gua sha tool is rust-resistant and is easy to sanitize, according to the brand. No need to spend a fortune on a facial when you can easily massage your face at home for nearly a fraction of the cost with this popular skin care device.
This gua sha tool is made from natural jade. You can use the long sides to drag along your cheeks, forehead, chin and nose, and opt to use the teethed end on areas such as your jawline. Reviewers have called it out for its depuffing abilities.
Fourth Ray’s gua sha tool boasts a design similar to most gua sha tools but is made with an eye-pleasing opalite glass. Though shoppers are still discovering the unique tool, it’s received a near-perfect overall rating from reviewers.
Frequently asked questions
To put it incredibly simply, you begin by applying a facial mist and/or oil and then move the stone in outward, upward motions while applying light to medium pressure. It’s important to keep the stone flat against your skin rather than using the pointed edges.
A full gua sha routine begins with the neck, then moves on to the jaw, the under-eye area, the brow bone and ending with the forehead. Both Chiu and Plug recommend performing gua sha three times a week for around 15 minutes.
While both experts agreed that gua sha is safe for more skin types, those with inflamed skin due to rosacea or acne should either work around those spots or wait until the inflammation subsides. New York-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner noted it should not be performed on sunburned skin, and those who use retinol or frequent chemical exfoliators should be extra cautious.
Though gua sha isn’t new, the technique has seemed to spike in interest lately thanks to widely-circulated tutorials on social media. Plug thinks part of the appeal is that it provides an almost visual form of ASMR, as many people have told her the videos have a relaxing quality to them.
People also may have more time than ever to devote to their skin care routine, so incorporating a more involved technique like gua sha might seem more manageable. While most of us are typically looking to save time on our skin care routines, Plug says many people find the ritual to be worth the extra 15 minutes.
“Feedback that I get so often from folks is like, ‘Thank you so much for sharing this practice. It gives me the excuse to just take this time for myself and I feel so much better when I am filling my own cup,’” Plug said. “So not only are you putting time into something that is going to promote vitality and the visual appearance of your skin, but it actually feels really, really good.
That feeling — which Plug says is sometimes lovingly called “gua sha-stoned” — is why the ritual may remain part of peoples’ routines once their daily lives start to return to a sense of normalcy.
“With facial gua sha, I think it’s really how it makes you feel that keeps people coming back,” Plug said. “They sort of get hooked in for the visual benefits, but taking care of your skin can promote relaxation and the higher body, which is just so needed right now.”
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How we chose
Shop TODAY spoke with a variety of skin care experts who provided multiple product recommendations for gua sha tools. To round out the list, we also asked our team of editors to share their tried-and-true gua sha tools as well.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on the practice of gua sha. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Sandra Lanshin Chiu is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and founder of Lanshin.
- Britta Plug is a licensed aesthetician and co-founder of Wildling.
- Paula Brezavscek, PA-C, is a board-certified physician’s associate and the founder of Azala Skin Clinic in Miami, Florida.
- Dr. Bertha Baum is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of XIRÜ Skincare.
- Tama Tran, MSN, NP-C is the founder of Lily Med Spa in Dallas, Texas.
