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Byrdie / Michela Buttignol
At this point, you’ve probably heard of jade rollers. Just as easy and relaxing to use are gua sha tools, an Eastern medicine skincare hack you need to try, ASAP. “Gua sha is a modality of traditional Chinese medicine that uses a tool, such a stone, that runs over the skin to break up tension due to stagnation from water retention, muscle tightness, or other congestion,” explains Giselle Wasfie, D.A.C.M. and founder of Remix Acupuncture + Integrative Health in Chicago.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
With multiple sides, the versatile Pro Gua Sha Tool by Lanshin is designed for use on all areas of the face and different pressure points, making it our top pick. For a budget-friendly option, Daily Concepts' Gua Sha Facial Jade Tool offers all the benefits of jade at an affordable price.
Although gua sha tools can be used all over the body, they're especially beneficial for the face. They feel cooling and soothing—plus, they can help boost lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and inflammation, says Wasfie. While those are pretty much instantaneous benefits, there’s also a long-term play: Gua sha can help stimulate collagen production to fill in fine lines and boost skin elasticity. It's also just a darn nice moment of self-care, Wasfie says. (And we agree.)
We conducted hours of research on the best gua sha tools, evaluating each on their functionality, material, and design. Some of our best picks were designed by acupuncturists so their shape takes into account the exact areas of the face people need to hit for lymphatic drainage to be the most effective.
Best Overall
Lanshin Pro Gua Sha tool
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Designed by an acupuncturist
Works for all areas of the face
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Best Products, Good Housekeeping, and Today all picked the Lanshin Pro Gua Sha tool.
Pros love this tool. Wasfie notes who says it’s the one she uses the most. “Designed by an acupuncturist who does a lot of facial rejuvenation, it has all of the sides you need for different areas of the face in one high-quality tool,” she explains. More specifically, there’s both a heart-shaped side and pointed side, the latter of which has a comb-like edge that feels especially nice when used moving up from your forehead to your scalp.
Price at time of publish: $129
Shape: Heart shaped/pointed
Runner-Up, Best Overall
Wildling Empress Stone
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Easy to hold
Works for all areas of the face
Some reviewers note it breaks easily
This is another comprehensive gua sha tool, says Wasfie. Crafted by esthetician Britta Plug, who’s well-known for her online gua sha demos, it's specially designed so that each of the four sides fits perfectly against the curves of the face. It’s also ergonomic and very easy to hold. Plus, unlike the standard rose quartz and jade options, this is distinct in that it’s made of Bian stone, which is composed of more than 40 healing minerals (and has a very sophisticated black hue).
Price at time of publish: $69
Shape: Round/pointed
Keep your gua sha tool in the refrigerator, like Wasfie does, to further up the refreshing and cooling benefits.
Best Budget
Daily Concepts Gua Sha Facial Jade Tool
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Affordable
Made of real jade
Some reviewers note it breaks easily
Interested in trying gua sha or just don’t want to shell out the big bucks on a tool? This is a top-tier affordable alternative. Despite the price tag, it’s still made of real jade and boasts a similarly effective and easy-to-use shape as it’s much more expensive counterparts.
Price at time of publish: $16
Shape: Heart shaped
Best Rose Quartz
Herbivore Rose Quartz Gua Sha
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Works for all areas of the face
Affordable
Some reviewers note it came damaged
According to Wasfie, the tools from this brand are as quality as their products (which are a hit with team Byrdie), and calls the rose quartz energy soft and soothing. There’s an outwardly curved edge that’s perfect for the jawline, an inwardly-curved edge that’s great for flushing out fluid, and a scalloped side for areas where you want some extra pressure and massage.
Price at time of publish: $24
Shape: Scalloped
Runner-Up, Best Rose Quartz
O'o Hawaii Rose Quartz Gua Sha Beauty Tool
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Affordable
Grasps the contours of the face easily
Some reviewers note it breaks easily
Former Byrdie editor Lindsey Metrus vouches for this tool, a simple heart-shaped option made of rose quartz. The curved edges grasp the contours of your face (think the cheekbones or jawbones) perfectly.
Price at time of publish: $24
Shape: Heart shaped
Best for Larger Areas
Odacité Crystal Contour Gua Sha Rose Quartz
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Works for all areas of the face
Durable
Expensive
Wasfie says this larger-sized tool is great for covering broader areas of the face, such as the cheeks, though we also like the tapered point that makes it easier to reach smaller spots, too. Another good rose quartz pick, happy reviewers rave about how this has changed their skin, as well as how sturdy it is.
Price at time of publish: $45
Shape: Heart shaped/pointed
Best Jade
Skin Gym Jade Gua Sha Crystal Beauty Tool
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Courtesy of Ulta
Great for larger areas
Combats overnight puffiness
Some reviewers note it breaks easily
Wasfie says this is also a good option for larger areas of the face. As far as the stone goes, jade is known to block negative energy and promote calmness and peace. So while using your gua sha tool in the morning is a great way to wake up your skin and combat overnight puffiness, the energy of this particular option also makes it great to use as an extra way to help you chill out come bedtime.
Price at time of publish: $32
Shape: Scalloped
Best with Facial Oil
Pink Moon Over the Moon Duo
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Cruelty-free oil
Made from real rose quartz
Expensive
As a nod to her Chinese heritage, Pink Moon's founder Lin Chen created this beautiful rose quartz gua sha tool to help with lymphatic drainage. Here, it's paired with an antioxidant-rich face oil that makes sliding it over your skin super easy. Bonus: This duo is also a fave of Byrdie Commerce Editorial Director Jessica Mahgerefteh.
Price at time of publish: $80
Shape: Heart shaped
Best for puffiness
Sacheu Beauty Stainless Steel Gua Sha
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Verishop
We love this bestselling tool made from stainless steel because it stays cool (you can keep it in the freezer or use at room temperature) to deliver a cold sensation to your face that not only feels amazing, but also helps reduce puffiness.
Price at time of publish: $35
Shape: Scalloped
Best Lifting
Tata Harper Crystal Gua Sha Spoon
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Tata Harper
We love the spoon shape of this tool to help reveal a lifted complexion that appears more contoured and toned. Its dual-ended design features a smaller end to reach delicate areas such as the eyes and the area above the lip, and a larger end to sculpt and lift the cheeks, forehead, jawline, and neck.
Price at time of publish: $20
Shape: Spoon
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is the Pro Gua Sha Tool by Lanshin, designed by an acupuncturist to target particular areas of the face that will benefit from lymphatic drainage massage. For a budget-friendly option, Daily Concepts' Gua Sha Facial Jade Tool offers all the benefits of more expensive options.
Meet the Expert
Giselle Wasfie is a Doctor of Acupuncture + Chinese Medicine, as well as a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist. A former magazine editor and music journalist, she opened REMIX Acupuncture + Integrative Health in Chicago in 2012, one of the city’s best-known destinations for holistic wellness. Along with acupuncture, Wasfie is also trained in cupping therapy, gua sha, moxibustion, tui na, and the meditative arts of Qi Gong and Tai Chi, and received a certification in facial rejuvenation from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture. She’s also the founder of a line of 100% natural, essential-oil, and Chinese herbal-based beauty and aromatherapy products, REMIX by Giselle Wasfie.
What to Look for In a Gua Sha Tool
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. A lover of anything and everything Eastern medicine-related, she gua shas regularly and feels it’s a skincare step everyone should try.
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