Best Facial Oils for Gua Sha

10 gua sha facial oils to enhance your skincare routine

Last year I added gua sha to my facial routine. And with all the popular TikTok videos, it seems like many of you have as well!

Gua Sha is ancient Chinese beauty technique is a type of facial massage that touts many benefits for the skin. Some of the benefits of gua sha include improving circulation, encourage lympatic flow, and sculpting and lifting features.

My skin was looking so dull during the cold months. And that’s when I added gua sha facial massage to my skincare routine to give it a boost! Now I do it about 2-3 times a week as part of my evening skincare routine.

Some of the changes I’ve noticed are firmer skin with a glowier complexion. I also love how it relaxes me to help me get ready for bed.

In this post, I wanted to share some of my favourite (and best) gua sha oils that can help make the most of your facial massage. In addition to the benefits of the massage technique, these facial oils get readily absorbed into the skin and can be optimized for to target your specific skin concerns based on your skin type.

What is gua sha?

TLDR: Before I jump into my the best face oils for gua sha, here’s a little overview and history of gua sha facial massage.

Gua Sha is a traditional Eastern Asian practice that utilizes a smooth edged tool along with a facial oil to stroke the skin. This practice stimulates circulation and enhance complexion, as well as relaxes the mind.

What kind of Gua Sha Tool Should I buy?

Gua Sha stones or tools typically made from jade, rose quartz and other semi-precious stones. These stones are carved into shapes designed to complement the contours of the face as you pass over the skin with them.

Depending on what the tool is made from – jade, rose quartz etc – which have supposed have different healing properties. Though personally I haven’t noticed a difference at all when it comes to the material of the gua sha tool.

Gua Sha Facial Massage

When doing your gua sha massage, the idea is to stroke the skin with a firm, but gentle upward and downward motion to increase circulation, help with lymphatic drainage and massage the skin.

The importance of using facial oil when doing Gua Sha

Like any other massage, it’s important to pair your gua sha routine with a facial oil to help lubricate and protect your skin. This will allow your gua sha tool can glide across the skin smoothly without damaging your skin barrier.

In addition, the gliding motion of the gua sha also helps the skin absorb all the goodness of the skincare oil you’re using, hydrating skin and nourishing it. So it’s important to find the best facial oil that’s suitable for your skin type!

Benefits of gua sha:

Here’s a summary of the benefits from gua sha massage for your face:

• Encourages circulation for glowing skin
• Gua Sha stimulates lymphatic drainage to eliminate puffiness
• Relieves tension and flushes toxins
• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
• Promotes skin elasticity by stimulating collagen production
• Relaxation and increased sense of calm

What kind of facial oils to use with gua sha?

The best facial oils for gua sha will be lightweight, non comedogenic, and will provide nourishment to your skin.

Some common facial oils for gua sha are:

• rosehip oil
• argan oil
• grapeseed oil
• jojoba oil
• sweet almond oil
• marula oil

While these are great, now there are so many facial oils with a blend of ingredients to help you target your specific skin concerns, beyond just providing slip for your gua sha.

In this beauty roundup, I’m sharing my favourite gua sha oils based on your skin type and the concerns you want to target most.

Here’s the quick list for you below of best facial oils for gua sha based on your skin type! keep scrolling for the deep dive on each!

• Best facial oil for gua sha newbies: 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, The Ordinary
• Overall best facial oil for gua sha: Collagen Superfusion Firming & Plumping Facial Oil, Charlotte Tilbury
• Best facial oil for dry skin: Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil, Youth to the People
• Best facial oil for sensitive skin: 100% Pure Argan Oil, Josie Maran
• Best gua sha facial oil for acne-prone skin: Meltdown Oil for Acne Prone Skin, Blume
• Best gua sha oil for oily skin: 100% Sugarcane Squalane Oil, Biossance
• Best gua sha oil for brighter skin: Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, Biossance
• Best gua sha oil for aging skin: Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil, Herbivore
• Best facial oil to reduce redness & puffiness: Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate, Kiehl’s
• Best facial oil to splurge on: The Renewal Oil, Le Mer
• Best for morning gua sha: C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, Sunday Riley
• Best for evening gua sha: Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil, Summer Fridays
• Best for dark spots and pigmentation: Wild Rose Brightening Absolute Oil, Korres

Best Facial Oil for Gua Sha Newbies

The Ordinary (budget friendly option)
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil

Simple, affordable and a no fuss, the Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil is a great option to start with if you’re new to gua sha.

This facial oil sustainably sourced, organic, cold-pressed rose hip seed oil is the perfect consistency for the purpose of gua sha.

Rosehip oil has many skincare benefits including hydrating and protecting the skin, fighting free radical damage, and reducing wrinkles.

It also contains vitamins and antioxidants rejuvenate the skin to restore elasticity, help to correct dark spots, and reduce the appearance of scars.

This facial oil feels lightweight to wear. And I love how it leaves my skin with a soft glow and helps to calm irritated skin.

It’s generally suitable for all skin types and its a great oil for gua sha massage if you’re just starting out.

Overall Best Facial Oil for Gua Sha 

Charlotte Tilbuy
Collagen Superfusion Firming & Plumping Facial Oil

My current personal favourite, Charlotte Tilbuy Collagen Superfusion Firming & Plumping Facial Oil is a multi tasking skincare oil that hydrates, firms and plumps all in one.

It’s a little bit on the pricier side, but it’s totally worth it! It’s packed with plant derived collagen and vitamins A & E and and is sure to give your skin a gorgeous glow.

P.S. Use it under your make up to make your skin look plump and your foundation flawless!

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Dry Skin

Youth To The People
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil

The Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil is a great facial oil for dry skin.

Your dry skin will love this oil, it’s fast absorbing to deliver hydration quickly. (Which makes it also great for layering for both makeup and skincare!)

It’s also packed with antioxidant properties hydrate dry skin and improve the appearance of skin tone and texture.

Farmacy
Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil

The Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil is a option for dry skin. It’s a fast-absorbing, noncomedogenic face oil that’s great for gua sha that delivers intense hydration while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

With honey, sea buckthorn oil, and a 5 flower oil blend, it’s packed with antioxidants, and vitamins for super soothing for nourishment and hydrating dry skin.

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils for Combination Skin

Herbivore
Orchid Antioxidant Beauty Face Oil

The Herbivore Orchid Antioxidant Beauty Face Oil is one of my favourite facial oils for gua sha. It’s rich in vitamins and fatty acids to help defends against free radicals to hydrate and protect your skin.

I love this luxe oil and it’s a great gua sha facial oil option for combination skin. It hydrating, but lightweight. With a diverse ingredient line up that includes a blend of orchid extract, jasmine sambac, and Japanese camellia flower oil.

Together they work to defend against free radicals, support natural elasticity, and protect against premature aging with beneficial vitamins and fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6.

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Brighter Skin

Biossance
Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

When it comes to face oils for gua sha, the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is all time my favourites and part of my skin care routine long before I even started facial massage. (I’ve mention a number of times on the blog – both here and here!)

The Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is hydrating vitamin C oil that moisturizes with sustainable squalane. It both brightens and firms skin while giving skin a radiant glow. And yes, it’s pricey and yes again, totally worth it!

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Anti Aging

Herbivore
Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil

With luxe blend of luxe botanical oils and CoQ10, the Herbivore Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil is great for skin that need extra moisture and nourishment.

The blend absorbs easily and provides my skin with the moisture, vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants it needs.

It’s also been great for addressing concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles, dryness, and loss of firmness and elasticity.

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Sensitive Skin

Josie Maran
100 Percent Pure Argan Oil

If you have sensitive skin, Josie Maran’s 100 percent Pure Argan Oil is a great face oil for gua sha.

This multitasking oil contains just one ingredient in its most pure and potent form. And because it’s pure you don’t want to worry about sensitivity from other ingredients.

Hot tip: This argan oil can be used on your hair, hands and nails too!

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Puffiness and Redness

Kiehl’s
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate

The Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate is face oil for gua sha for those with sensitive skin that’s red or irritated.

From time to time my skin gets red and irritated. The Kiehl’s
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate is great for relieving discomfort while calming and soothing my skin, as well as improving my skin’s barrier and reducing visible redness.

Not only has it been great for addressing skin irritations, but it also helps with blemishes and uneven skin tone.

The cannabis sativa seed oil and green oregano oil work together to provide powerful benefits for problem skin. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the overall health and appearance of my skin since using this serum!

Best Gua Sha Facial Oils and Serums for Oily Skin

 Blume
Meltdown Oil for Acne Prone Skin

During the summer my skin, I was struggling with oily skin and acne and this the  Blume Meltdown Oil for Acne Prone Skin became my go-to!

I felt like it helped to balance my skin, and help to clear my blemishes while keeping my skin hydrated and nourished too.

Biossance
Sugarcane Squalane Oil

A quick-absorbing, weightless, and hydrating, the Biossance Sugarcane Squalane Oil has a combination of sugarcane and squalane for a multipurpose oil that’s perfect for gua-sha on oily skin.

It helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, enlarged pores, and other imperfections, while the plant-derived squalane acts as a natural moisturizer to hydrate skin.

It has slip like texture to it and absorbs quickly and feels weightless on the skin. I find the Sugarcane Squalane oil is the perfect consistency for gua-sha on oily skin. The combination of sugarcane and squalane works wonders for reducing the appearance of blemishes, and the plant-derived squalane adds a boost of hydration to my skin.

It’s a multipurpose oil that I can use morning and night, and it has quickly become a staple in my skincare routine!

Best facial oil to splurge on 

Le Mer
The Renewal Oil

Okay skincare junkies, this one is for you. The Le Mer Renewal Oil is a luxe multi-tasking skincare oil and checked off all the boxes.

It provides hydration, improves skin firmness, and help soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It also doesn’t cause breakouts, locks in moisture, and skin feels amazing from it.

It’s definitely a splurge purchase, but the reviews says it’s worth it!

Have any favourite gua sha facial oils that you love?
Let me know in the comments below!

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 last reviewed: 12th October 2023; first published 2022