Gua Sha Routine: What is Gua Sha + How To Use for a Sculpt-Effect Facial Massage

1. Hydrate with lip mask: Before massaging lips with gua sha, I recommend applying my Life-Changing Lip Mask – it’s a clinically proven formula with a plump effect to boost hydration and the appearance of lip volume. Envelope lips in lip mask to provide cushioning hydration as well as giving lips plenty of slip to prevent your gua sha from pulling or tugging.

2. Plump with gua sha: Once you have applied your lip mask, take the Cupid’s bow of Charlotte’s Magic Sculpting Gua Sha and place it tilted vertically at the centre of your lips. Glide your gua sha outwards to the corner of your mouth, then glide up and away towards your cheekbones for a subtle lift effect. Repeating this lip massage 3 times on both sides of your mouth will help to accentuate lip fullness and plumpness.

3. Define with gua sha: To define the look of your lip line, use the outer tip of your gua sha to make soft circles on your lips. Rest your head on your free hand, then use the other to press the flat-faced tip of your tool onto your lips, making light, anticlockwise circles. Repeat this 3 times on your top and bottom lip to define the look of your lip shape and lift the look of the corners of your mouth. Over time, these movements can help lips look plumper and more sculpted.

Discover everything you need to know about lip masks

1. Massage with face oil: Start your gua sha routine by applying a sensorial facial oil. Face oils have a silky texture that will allow your gua sha tool to glide effortlessly across your face without skipping or dragging. My Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil is the perfect companion to your gua sha; it’s infused with relaxing essential oils and gives skin spa-like radiance, taking your at-home facial massage to the next level.

2. Gua sha for forehead: With the Cupid’s bow of Charlotte’s Magic Sculpting Gua Sha, place your tool horizontally between your brows, lining the groove up with the top of your nose. Take a few moments to breathe and relax, then smooth your gua sha over your forehead towards your hairline. Then, place the tip of your gua sha in the centre of your forehead and glide outwards in horizontal strokes for a smoothing and depuffing effect, making soft circles at the temples. Repeat these movements 3 times to lift the look of your upper face.

Discover how to use face oil

1. Prep skin with moisturiser: Before using your gua sha, apply moisturiser like Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream and let it absorb into your skin to create a glowing, hydrated surface for your gua sha to glide across. Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream drenches skin and reduces the appearance of redness, giving your complexion a glass-like, fresh water glow!

2. Sculpt the look of cheekbones with gua sha: Take the smooth edge at the bottom of your gua sha and line it up with the corner of your nose, then gently swipe outwards along your cheekbone and towards your ear with medium pressure. When you reach the top, make some soft circular motions to help boost circulation to your midface. Repeat 3 times on both sides to give cheekbones a lift and sculpt effect.

Discover how to contour for your face shape

1. Nourish with eye cream: Skin around the eye area is delicate, so it is important not to pull or tug with your gua sha. Before massaging your eye area, apply an eye cream like Magic Eye Rescue to give the area slip and glide that will make manoeuvring your gua sha tool easy. Magic Eye Rescue is my retinol-powered secret to firmer and brighter looking skin around the eyes!

2. Gua sha for under eyes: To smooth the look of your under eyes and lift the look of your eye area, follow this easy dual-action motion that I like to call lift and catch. With the smooth edge of your gua sha, align the tool with the corner of your nose and gently glide along your under eyes towards your temples. Lifting towards your temple will pull your skin tight; use your free hand to catch your temple to sustain the lift effect you have created for a couple of seconds. Perform this motion 5 times on both of your under eyes for a lifted and sculpted look.

Tilbury Tip: Always use light pressure when massaging the eye area with your gua sha so as not to irritate or harm the skin around your eyes.

3. Gua sha for brow: Working with the same section of the tool, place your gua sha at an angle at the start of your brow and press down with medium pressure. Glide along the arch of your brow through towards the temple for 5 repetitions – this will lift the look of your upper face.

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1. Moisturise and prime with face cream: Applying a rich moisturiser like Charlotte’s Magic Cream perfectly preps skin for a gua sha massage. My miracle moisturiser is renowned for its smoothing and plumping effects – it gives skin a magic glow and an immediate cushion and lift effect!

2. Sculpt the look of your jaw with gua sha: Use the Cupid’s bow of Charlotte’s Magic Sculpting Gua Sha to chisel the look of your chin and jawline. Place the groove on your chin then glide along the entire jawline towards the ear. Then, with the tip of your gua sha, glide from the corner of your mouth along the underside of your cheekbone to sculpt the look of your lower face. Repeat this process 3 times on both sides for a jawline that looks sculpted and snatched!

Tilbury Tip: You can also glide your gua sha down your neck to help skin appear smoother and to reduce the appearance of puffiness.

Discover how to contour your jawline