Gentle, restful treatments aren’t often equated to “effective” in the skincare world. In history many of us have been taught that aggressive treatments are the most effective ways to achieve dreamy skin but recently there’s been a movement toward gentler methods which approach skincare from a different point of view.

Enter Holistic Beauty. The idea is to treat the body, mind and spirit as individual units that function as a collective in order to achieve whole body well being and in the case of skincare, radiant, healthy skin. Holistic practices have recently been making waves in the beauty world but they are not a new convention.

Holistic modalities have existed for millennia – think Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for example. In the advent of high tech face gadgets, harsh chemical peels and injectable treatments there has been a return to ancient beauty tools and practices.

Facial Gua Sha is one of the modalities that’s recently been attracting a lot of attention. Originating thousands of years ago in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gua Sha has historically been performed on the body as a vigorous massage technique. In more recent history this treatment has evolved to include a much gentler practice on the face.

During the treatment a handheld board, often made of jade is gently pulled along certain energy points on the face. The treatment’s purpose is to move stagnant blood and improve the flow of Qi, the body’s vital energy. Doing so is thought to remove energetic blockages, revitalizing the body and thereby initiating the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

The benefits of Facial Gua Sha include:

• Increased skin radiance. As blood and lymph flow is encouraged the skin is nourished and detoxified resulting in a radiant complexion.

• Contouring and lifting of the face. As muscles are relaxed the face is easily shaped and contoured.

• Visible lifting and smoothing of the skin. As facial fascia is rehydrated and smoothed the skin is naturally lifted and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is diminished.

• A heightened sense of well being is achieved as the parasympathetic system is activated.

Facial Gua sha can be practiced at home however proper techniques must be established to ensure good results and avoid mishaps such as bruising or excessive redness. Visit us at Wildflower Beauty Bar to receive guidance from a certified gua sha facialist to show you how to effectively incorporate facial gua sha into your beauty ritual.