These 8 Expert-Approved Gua Sha Tools Address Puffiness and Sculpt the Face (2024)

Our Top Picks

Shape: Round/pointed | Material: Bian stone

Crafted by aesthetician Britta Plug, who’s well-known for her online gua sha demos, this pick is ergonomic and designed to fit the curves of the face. It has four sides, including one with a combed edge for a deeper massage than your standard smooth edge. Plus, unlike the standard rose quartz and jade options, this tool is made of Bian stone, composed of more than 40 healing minerals (and has a very sophisticated black hue). After using this gua sha consistently, our tester, Jaclyn, started noticing how toned and sculpted her face looked, and she's been recommending it to family and friends ever since.

Jaclyn, tester: "I felt a difference immediately. The first time using it, it was clear that it got deeper than any other gua sha I've used. After three times of use, people saw a difference and started complimenting me. This anti-aging stone acted like a rewind and gave me the jawline I used to have in high school."

Shape: Scalloped | Material: Stainless steel

The FaceGym Multi-Sculpt High-Performance Gua Sha stands out for its unique shape. Its distinct sides target multiple skin concerns, helping to soften fine lines, contour facial curves, reduce muscle tension, and more. Our tester, Courtney, loved that this product, made with hypoallergenic, medical-grade stainless steel, felt really cooling on the skin throughout each gua sha session. Another pro: You don’t have to worry about it breaking because it’s so strong and solid.

Courtney, tester: "I love the edges on this tool—that's what honestly sets it apart from the other gua shas and facial tools I've tried. Each divot serves a specified function. For example, the small curvature released pressure between my eyes while the cool metal depuffs and relaxes. I also used it to drain my sinuses and release sinus pressure when I was super congested."

Shape: Heart-shaped | Material: Jade

Interested in trying gua sha but just don’t want to shell out the big bucks on a tool? This is a top-tier affordable alternative. It’s made of real jade (the kind used in popular jade rollers) and boasts a similarly effective and easy-to-use shape as its much more expensive counterparts. After testing this gua sha out, our tester, Marie, liked how it depuffed her skin after use. She noted that keeping it in the fridge provided a cooling and soothing effect during each use.

Marie, tester: "This is a beautiful stone made of Xiuyan jade. It's sturdy yet lightweight and remains in the same condition after repeated use."

Shape: Heart-shaped | Material: Stainless steel

There’s a lot to love when it comes to gua sha tools made out of stainless steel. First of all, they are nonporous and won’t trap and transfer bacteria onto your skin. Second, they are basically unbreakable and are super sturdy, unlike other gua shas made of real stone. Our tester, Joy, noticed significant short-term results after testing this pick from Kitsch, including decreased puffiness, lifting, and tightening. She loved how easy this gua sha tool was to clean, and that the stainless steel makes it look fancy. However, the bottom edge of the tool feels a bit sharp on the skin, so be sure to use lots of face oil or serum for added slip.

Joy, tester: "I love that it's stainless steel. It looks and feels expensive. It's got a slick design. And best of all, it is the most hygienic! It was perfect for my acne-prone skin."

Shape: Heart-shaped | Material: Rose quartz

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. It also works to decrease puffiness in the face, promote elasticity, and offer a really nice massage for your face muscles, too. The tool was easy to incorporate into our tester, Jennifer's, morning routine. It felt nice when she glided it along her face with facial oil, and she noticed that it helped her eye area depuff faster. While she didn't notice any major long-term results, it may have helped to alleviate congestion symptoms from a seasonal cold. Jennifer would wake up with pressure in her sinuses, but after using the Pink Moon Rose Quartz Gua Sha, she felt less pressure due to the lymphatic massage.

Jennifer, tester: "This is a nice addition to my morning routine. It helped depuff my skin quickly."

Shape: Heart-shaped | Material: Jade

This pick from Skin Gym is shaped like a traditional gua sha, making it pretty easy to figure out which sides of the tool to use where. Use it before bedtime to help you chill out, both physically, mentally, and spiritually, too. This tool depuffed our tester, Danielle's, cheeks but she didn’t notice a huge difference in terms of it sculpting the jawline. Unlike some of the other gua sha tools on this list (made with stainless steel), this pick might chip or break if you drop it on the ground, so be careful.

Danielle, tester: "It was as effective as a face tool can be; it seemed to depuff my cheeks the most. It targeted inflammation after daily use and worked well with the products in my routine."

Shape: Heart-shaped | Material: Stainless steel

If you suffer from breakouts, give this stainless steel option a try. Unlike gua sha tools made from quartz or jade—which must be washed with warm soapy water after each use—this nonporous metal prevents bacteria buildup that can potentially pass onto your skin. Our tester, Meredith, loved storing it in the fridge for the added cooling benefits and noticed it reduced puffiness around the eye area and congestion buildup around the sinuses. While it didn’t sculpt her face a ton, she did feel like it helped her skin appear more youthful with an added circulation boost. Just keep in mind that if you are acne-prone, make sure you are using noncomedogenic oils while swiping your gua sha across your face, and always wash your gua sha post-use.

Meredith, tester: "I would recommend this product to anyone with stress or tension in their face, or those who want to target inflammation in their skincare routine."

Shape: Dual points with comb | Material: Jade

This is a really unique gua sha shape that works to target both your face and scalp. Our tester, Emily, loved how the super high-quality stone fit into her hand without slipping. After consistent use, her face felt less puffy and lighter. She also loved that the tool provided the ability to massage the scalp, too. Scalp massage has been proven to promote hair growth, so this might be a great option if you’re concerned about hair loss and need an extra boost.

Emily, tester: "The most noticeable difference appeared along my jawline. I have fuller cheeks, but I noticed that I had extra fluid sitting on my face. After using this, I went from having a double chin to a more sculpted jawline."

FAQ

• How do you use a gua sha tool?

  Ideally, Wasfie advises making gua sha a five-minute ritual as part of your morning skincare routine, along with washing your face and putting on sunscreen. Apply a little serum or face oil so that the tool glides more smoothly, then stroke or gently scrape it against the skin in small strokes across your face, moving down toward the neck to promote drainage and then upward on your forehead for a lifting effect.

• What shape gua sha tool should I use?

  There are pointed, heart-shaped, and scalloped gua sha tools. Gua sha tools typically have different-shaped and textured sides to be used on different spots. Heart-shaped tools are ideal for targeting the area around the eyes and mouth, which can be more difficult to reach. Pointed and scalloped gua sha tools can effectively detect specific pressure points.

• How long does it take to see results from a gua sha tool?

  Because gua sha tools are helping to boost circulation, you can see results immediately after one session. In line with Eastern medicine, a holistic approach to facial sculpting means incorporating gua sha practices into your daily routine.

• How do you clean a gua sha tool?

  Like any beauty tool, such as makeup brushes, you will want to clean it regularly—soap and water will get the job done, or a quick spritz of alcohol. Just be forewarned that these do get slippery when wet so we suggest laying it out on a towel when washing, so as to avoid slippage and breakage.

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