3 Major Gua Sha Mistakes, Straight From An Eastern Medicine Expert  

"Gua sha is a type of modality and medicine that's accessible to anyone, and that's what I really love about it. It's something that is so traditionally ingrained in Asian culture for such a long time that we don't think anything of it. You don't have to have a medical degree. You don't have to have 'experience' with it. You can just try it," she says. "Obviously, once you start doing it, there are certain techniques and ways to make it work in your favor and what you're addressing, but the bottom line [many of the stones, rituals, and products] work." 

Getting the right stroke and pressure for your skin—and the specific area of the body or face you're working on, for that matter—will take some practice. 

"I think it's great that social media is spreading the gospel of gua sha, but I will say that there are a lot of videos out there that are really only for younger people. When the skin ages, the dermis becomes thinner and more sensitive," she notes. "There are many videos out there of people under 30 and still have very healthy skin, and they're really aggressively pressing and pulling their face. That won't work for more mature skin, as it may cause irritation and damage."

You may already know this, but if you don't: Always apply a face oil prior to using your stone. The oil will help lubricate the stone and skin, so it glides across the epidermis effortlessly—that way, it can work its magic underneath. 

And ultimately, the oil that you decide to use will be dependent on your own needs, skin concerns, budget, and so on. But one thing Kung notes not to do? Use body oil. 

"It's important that you are choosing a very good-quality, high-vibrational facial oil. So the golden rule was to use oils that are made for the face. For example, don't use coconut oil, as it is not made for the face," she says. "The oils that I recommend are things like jojoba oil, which is the closest thing to skin's natural sebum. Sebum is what we naturally produce to keep skin moist, keep bacteria out, and protect the skin barrier. So when in doubt? Use jojoba oil." 

When you watch someone who has been doing gua sha for a while, you'll notice there's a certain air to the way they move their stones: It's with an impressive ease.