Work it
Ashleigh Scott, founder and owner of The Facialist, shares how alternative tools like Gua Sha and facial massage are taking over from advanced skin treatments.
Over the last couple of years, we have seen trends like Gua Sha and face yoga popping up more and more. And for great reason! These two ‘tools’ are incredibly effective at transforming the skin and in many cases, are taking over from more invasive treatments.
Facial yoga is the term that defines actively working out the muscles in the face and can be done through massage and facial exercises. Facial massage is something that I have always been a big believer in for its ability to completely transform the skin.
Even if you’re having regular facials, doing something to your skin every day makes the biggest difference. The most significant benefit of massaging your face daily, either with your hands or a Gua Sha tool, is boosting blood circulation. When we do this, fresh oxygen and nutrients are brought to the surface of the skin and toxins and waste are taken away. This leaves skin looking more supple, glowy and healthy and reduces puffiness and tension. Gua Sha is a great way to achieve this at home. Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese practice, which has become popular in recent years for its ability to sculpt cheekbones, define the jawline, de-puff the face, and generally get skin glowing.
Gua Sha can be done daily, or a minimum of two to three times per week. For best results apply your serum, oil or moisturiser to the skin and Gua Sha over the top. This will provide slip for the massage, but the movements will also help your product penetrate deeper.
In much the same way we work out the muscles in our body at the gym, we need to do the same with our facial muscles to tone, sculpt and define. There are over 40 muscles in the face and these need to be worked out in order to remain defined. The act of facial yoga makes purposeful movements to define these specific muscles, helping to lift, tone and sculpt.
Whichever way you choose to do it, stimulating the muscles in your face daily will see a big difference in the appearance of your skin.
