Sculpt Stainless Steel Gua Sha

Chill it first. Cold tap water for thirty seconds, or leave it in the fridge overnight. Dry it before it touches skin.

Start with oil. A few drops across the face and neck, pressed in with the hands. Steel will drag on dry skin.

Warm the neck. Curved edge, flat against the side of the neck. Sweep down from below the ear to the collarbone. Three or four passes each side. Everything drains this way, so this comes first.

Jaw. Hold the tool at a low angle, almost flat. Start at the chin and sweep out along the jawline to the ear. Five or six passes each side. If you clench, this is the section that matters.

Cheeks. Sit the curve beneath the cheekbone and sweep outward toward the ear. Keep the angle shallow.

Brow. Short upward sweeps from the inner brow out toward the temple.

Neck and shoulders. Turn to the ridged edge. Work down the back of the neck and across the tops of the shoulders. Firmer here than on the face, but still moving rather than pressing.

Finish at the neck. Curved edge again, three or four downward passes each side.

Then clean it. Warm water and mild soap, dried thoroughly with a soft cloth. Steel will spot if left wet.

Five to ten minutes. Daily for lasting results.

Always outward across the face, always downward at the neck. That direction is the whole point.

Light pressure on the face, firmer on the shoulders. Redness that fades within a few minutes is normal. Marks that stay mean you went too hard.

Mornings for depuffing, evenings for the shoulders.

Avoid broken skin, active breakouts, sunburn, or anything inflamed. If you have had recent facial surgery or injectables, speak to your practitioner first.

Keep it dry between uses and store it in its bag. Stainless steel is hard-wearing but it will scratch against keys and coins.