How To Do Gouache Massage So That It Really Works: Video Instruction From Polina Savedrova

2023 Author: Jessica James | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 15:47

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How to do gouache massage so that it really works: video instruction from Polina Savedrova

In quarantine, guache has a new round of popularity. It is not surprising: you will completely cope with it yourself, and you will see the effect immediately. For more information on what gouache massage is, why we need it and how to do it at home, the BeautyHack editors asked (even before self-isolation!) To tell Polina Sokhranova. Polina is a journalist, ex-editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Russia and ex-editor of Vogue Russia. A year ago, together with their partner Anna Binevskaya, they opened the QUARZ project - an online store of crystals and massagers made from natural stone.

We are not doctors, but we take our business responsibly. We developed the massage together with Camilla Zhu, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Reflexology. She has long been engaged in the culture of the face, and with us she began to develop guasha.

What is guasha massage

Guasha translates as "to scrape all the bad": "gua" means movement in one direction or in one direction, "sha" - bad.

Initially, this is a body massage (mainly of the back and neck area), which is performed in traditional Chinese clinics. In fact, this is the impact of a scraper with a sharp edge on the subcutaneous layer of muscles. The effect of the procedure resembles the well-known banks: blood rushes to the massaged place, and then strong redness is formed. But it is important to understand: gouache massage has long been adapted to Western realities, so when working with a face, everything looks much softer, redness and even more so there will be no pain. On the contrary, this ritual is enjoyable. Just imagine: you are working with a natural stone, very beautiful and pleasant to the touch. Before the procedure, you can cool the massager in the refrigerator and then, upon contact with the skin, it will help to remove swelling from the face. Or you can heat it under warm water for a relaxing massage.

Why do you need a guasha massage

It has three functions.

The first is lymphatic drainage: the massager activates the lymphatic system and restores the water balance of cells. This helps to eliminate toxins and reduce swelling. By the way, almost all girls after 30 suffer from it (especially those who are addicted to gluten, sweet, salty).

The second function is plastic massage. That is, when using a guache massager, the muscles on the face relax and simultaneously strengthen. The result is a lifting effect that can be seen over time. The wrinkles will not disappear in one go, but with regular use, the skin will surely become smoother.

And finally, the third function is reflexology. On the face there are biologically active points associated with the internal organs. By acting on these points with a massager, we, in fact, arrange for ourselves a preventive procedure.

How to do guasha massage

So you bought a massager. What's next? First of all, you need to remember that we always work with a clean massager on a clean face. The device should be washed under running water, if desired, use soap. It is enough to wash your face in the usual way. I use a gel that turns into soap.

Before starting the massage, move the tendons on the face, massage the skin a little with the pads of your fingers, tug the hair roots. Literally half a minute.

Some people like to use tonics or hydrolates before the massage. But you can skip this step and go to oil right after washing. Choose a high purity that suits your skin type. Pour a little into the palm of your hand, rub, and then, with gentle dabbing movements, apply to the neck and face.

Now take the gouache stone: let's start the massage.

We start with the spine and the back of the neck

Move the embossed side of the guache from bottom to top. The bottom point should be in a place that you can reach with your hand, the top point should be on the hairline. You will reach the top point - stop and massage it a little with pulsating movements from 7 times or more. I love the number 12. There is no maximum number because the process is completely safe. The maximum that threatens you is slight redness, which goes away very quickly.

An important point: the gua sha massager should be located 20 (maximum 45) degrees to the surface of the skin on which you are working. If we use the device at a right angle, then we will push the skin, but we need to tighten it. Also, a condition for proper massage is the force of pressure. It is worth driving the massager on the skin gently without injuring it. Sometimes, for example, on the back of the neck, you can press harder. But there are also areas where, on the contrary, it is worth barely touching the skin (the area around the eyes).

Move to the side of the neck

It is necessary to put the gouache with its wide side on the place where the neck passes into the shoulder, and with medium pressure rise to the ear. At the top point, we again linger and pulsate from 7 times or more. We repeat about 5 more times. This gives an excellent lifting! By the way, if you do a side neck massage from top to bottom, the effect will be lymphatic drainage.

Turn the head to the side and guide the embossed side of the guache along the neck muscle to the ear

At the top point, we linger and pulsate from 7 times or more.

Keep your head straight and guide the embossed side of the massager along the center of the neck

At the chin, we pulsate from 7 times or more. And this is the last exercise for the neck.

We start facial massage from the chin

It is important to use the minimum pressure here. In order not to stretch the skin, we put the finger of our free hand in the center, holding it in this place, we lead the gua sha along the jaw line to the ear. We stop there and pulsate from 7 times or more.

Working on the cheeks

We put the finger of our free hand next to the nose, holding the skin there, use the long surface of the guache. We lead from nose to ear slightly up. If you want to have clear cheekbones, press harder with the massager. Here you can also massage the chewing muscle, which often spasms, and this spasm affects not only our appearance, but also our well-being. At the top point, do not forget to stop and pulse from 7 times or more.

Now the eye area

The most delicate area of the face, so we act very carefully and barely touch it with a massager. We hold the skin on the bridge of the nose with our finger, put the guasha with the embossed side under the eyebrow and lead it slightly up to the temple. We stop at the temple and pulsate from 7 times or more.

And finally, the forehead area

The skin does not stretch very much in this area, so you can press on the skin with a massager with medium pressure. With the flat side of the guache, we lead from the bridge of the nose to the hairline. At the top point, we pulsate from 7 times or more

Do not forget about the upper eyelid

We hold the skin of the eyelid with our finger and guide the flat side of the guache to the hairline. At the top point, we stop and pulsate from 7 times or more.

We do the same with the second part of the face.

Regularity and first results

The first result of the gua sha massage will be noticeable immediately. The complexion will become healthier, there will be a slight blush and radiance. Life hack: do a ritual before an event or meeting to look rested and beautiful!

For the first time, we recommend doing it as a course every day for two weeks. Then 2-3 times a week will be enough.

At first, the procedure will take about 10-15 minutes, then you can do it in 5 minutes.

Gouache massage does not act like plastic surgery, it is a gentle method of preserving youth. And it is most effective when we lead a healthy lifestyle: drink enough water, eat right, sleep well.

This ritual has a cumulative effect, if you do massage regularly, you will notice that your skin is getting better. Of course, very deep age wrinkles will not go away to the end, but mimic wrinkles will definitely be smoothed out.

Contraindications

Guasha massage has contraindications: severe illness, high temperature. It is also not recommended for three weeks after injections and fillers. They can shift.

By the way, guasha can help remove botulinum toxin if you suddenly do not like the result of the procedure.