According to an ancient Egyptian legend, Isis, the bride of the god Osiris and mother of Horus, the falcon-headed deity, had the habits to look for rose quartz stones in the Nile and to pass them on the face and around the eyes. In this way, in fact, according to the legend, she took care of her divine beauty by fighting time and wrinkles and showing always a bright skin. Stone massage has gained much fame over the centuries and in different parts of the world, becoming a fundamental technique of traditional Chinese medicine with the name of gua sha.
Gua sha, the stone massage
Gua sha, when done on the face, is characterized by light and delicate touches so as not to irritate the skin. But its benefits are truly incredible, not only according to legends and traditions, but also based on scientific research. In fact, gua sha proves to improve and stimulate the microcirculation of the tissues, by oxygenating them and fighting inflammations. Moreover, this massage relaxes tensions and eases pains and stiffness that could cause headaches (Nielsen et al, Explore, 2007 - Jodo et al, APA PsycNET, 1988). Then, facial gua sha gives a feeling of freshness, the skin appears younger and more toned (Khanna et al, Int J Dermatol, 2002). And you can do this massage, almost divine, by yourself at home! How? Now let's see better.
Facial gua sha, how to do it
Get a stone like rose quartz or jade, you can also use the pendant of your necklace. Clean your face well, spray a floral water and apply a few drops of an oil, such as argan or jojoba. Then, take the stone and with light touches start from the center of the face and move it towards the sides, covering each part of the face from the forehead to the jaw. Do not forget the eye area and the neck, in the latter case you can massage from top to bottom. The pressure should not be strong to avoid irritation and redness.
