11 Best Gua Sha Tools (Tested and Reviewed for 2024)

Tips straight from an expert in Chinese medicine dermatology.

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Gua shas: I'm willing to bet they've been all over your TikTok and IG feeds, with influencers and celebs claiming they'll miraculously "contour the face" and "smooth wrinkles." But as much as I wish a gua sha facial could give me a defined and lifted face in under 60 seconds, take it from dermatologist Karan Lal, MD: "Gua shas will not snatch the face"—at least, not permanently. They can, however, massage your face to help decrease fluid retention, leaving you looking (temporarily) less puffy and more glowy.

Though the medical efficacy of gua sha is limited, the technique has been a sworn-by staple in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, meaning it's definitely worth playing around with in your own skincare routine. To help you figure out the best tools to try, I personally tested and reviewed almost a dozen gua sha stones on myself, as well as chatted with Dr. Lal and gathered tips from Sandra Lanshin Chiu, an expert in Chinese medicine and holistic healing. But before we dive in, here's a little sneak peek of my favorite ones right now...

Want to know more? Cool, because I've highlighted some of the best gua sha tools around—from brands like Mount Lai, Dehiya Beauty, Tata Harper, and FaceGym—with help from experts, of course.

Just learning about facial gua sha and want a quality tool without spending a ton of money? Pop this Amazon bestseller in your cart. Made with 100 percent jade stone for under 10 bucks (which is v inexpensive for the quality), this tool is a steal. I've had mine for a few months now, and I can attest that the price does not represent its quality. Don't believe me? Check out one of the over 30,000 five-star reviews.

Glowing Customer Review: "I can tell you this stone one works the best and it also feels the best as you can control the pressure and do smaller strokes on sore areas. I love the circulation increase on my face, and I get a nice glow for the rest of the day when used in the morning."

New to the practice? Not sure which tool is best for your needs? Enter: The Lanshin Intro Gua Sha Tool, which is designed specifically for beginners. The unique shape is made so you can learn and master the basic foundations of facial gua sha. Take it from me, I had absolutely zero idea how to hold a gua sha, let alone scrape my face with it, but with video tutorials and testing this tool, I got the hang of it really damn quick.

Glowing Customer Review: "Super great gua sha tool—it really allows you to follow the natural contours of your face with a really even pressure," writes one tester. "Perfect shape for the face, you can tell it was designed from deep knowledge and expertise," writes another.

Combine the power of facial gua sha with pulsing vibration and LED red light therapy, and you get this powerful three-in-one super tool from Solaris Laboratories. With continued use, red light therapy can help to stimulate collagen production (and ~potensh~ help eliminate inflammation), and—though the research is limited—some studies suggest that vibration may also help generate collagen. Pair those with the de-puffing benefits of gua sha, and the result? Smoother, sculpted skin—oh, and one really great facial massage.

Glowing Customer Review: "Worth every penny, I use it almost every day. It's soothing, relaxing and just lifts my face the way no facial massage has done," one tester writes. "AMAZING. One of my favorite skincare purchases EVER. Brightens and tightens my face; I also see fewer wrinkles/lines. Amazing. Obsessed. The warm feature relaxes and destresses my facial muscles," adds another.

There's nothing worse than waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror, and the jump scare that follows when you see how puffy your eyes are from zero/rough sleep the night before. And FYI, cold compresses are proven to reduce inflammation, so throw this bb in the fridge or freezer, and next time, instead of rummaging through everything for that pack of frozen peas, get yourself this eye de-puffing tool that works wonders on those bags.

Glowing Customer Review: "I have the Mount Lai gua sha tool and love it, so I bought this as well. There’s a good weight to it, and it feels amazing on the undereye—both cooling and relaxing. The shape is easy to hold and it is a perfect size."

Think the gua sha ritual is exclusive to the face? Think again. This gua sha tool by Bawdy is expertly crafted with an extra-large design (inspired by the female form!) for the larger areas of your body, like your butt, arms, and legs. Don't know where to start? Well, pop this bb in your cart and check out a few YouTube tutorials. You'll be hooked, promise.

Glowing Customer Review: "Love this tool! I use it a couple of times every week to release tension in my neck. I also use it on my legs. It especially comes in handy if you come down with a runny nose (or are congested). Running it under your jawline and down your neck, you can immediately feel mucous pressure relief! By far one of my favorites of Bawdy—used along with their Bawdy Oil - you’re set!"

Made with multiple edges for an incredibly unique gua sha experience, this stone by Dehiya Beauty is a great option for beginners and pros alike. Though it may take a little bit of getting used to, take it from me, the different sides offer such a relaxing and therapeutic feeling. My favorite part of this gua sha? The ridges that provide a different kind of pressure and result in a really good facial massage.

Glowing Customer Review: "I haven’t used my warrior stone for very long, but I already noticed a difference in my skin: Less puffy in the mornings and overall smoothness. My face did break out when I first started using it, but I read that’s normal. I hope it continues with positive results!"

Love the feeling of a jade roller and want to dip into the gua sha world? This dual-ended tool by Tata Harper gives you a little bit of both. Roll the large side along the larger planes of your face, and the smaller end gently under your eyes, temples, and around your brows.

Glowing Customer Review: "Jade facial tool is better than I could have imagined. Tata products are always the best, but this simple tool is designed to relieve tension and promote circulation in the face. After only one use, the benefits were notable. I bought three more for gifts."

Take out all the guesswork with this gua sha and oil duo by Pink Moon. The gorge rose quartz gua sha is the perfect classic shape for beginners and pros alike, and the super moisturizing oil is made with a rich blend of antioxidant-packed sunflower and rose flower oil. Add this duo to your skincare lineup for the most relaxing, good-for-your-skin wake-up or wind-down routine ever.

Glowing Customer Review: "This is one of my absolute favorite oils. I love the scents and the way it makes my skin look and feel so nourished. With the beautiful rose quartz gua sha tool, it's the perfect self-care ritual."

Designed by expert in Chinese medicine dermatology, Sandra Lanshin Chiu herself—who, refresh, is an expert in facial gua sha and Chinese Medicine-based skincare—this baby is the crème de la crème of gua sha tools out there. The nephrite jade—also referred to as "he tian" in China—used to hand-craft this gua sha is loved for its supposed healing properties. Once you get the hang of the practice, this is def a piece worth investing in.

Glowing Customer Review: "This is incredible, the creator of this brand has so much information and tutorials on IG—absolutely love the passion and education, it’s extremely enjoyable. Second, the little fabric container it comes in is perfect. It prevents lint from getting on it, it's stain-proof, and it’s really great. Does my skin look and feel amazing? Yes. Do I get compliments on my skin? Yes. I hesitated slightly because of the price, but I’m happy with my purchase, totally worth it :)"

FYI, your scalp is an extension of the skin on your face which means that you should give it a little TLC here and there. Although it is widely believed that scalp massage will cause hair growth, unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dry evidence to prove it. That being said, scalp massagers (like this scalp gua sha), can increase blood flow, resulting in increased nutrients to the hair follicle. So why is that important? Because a healthy scalp is key to creating the optimal environment for hair to grow. Oh, and this one feels really good on your head as well. Win-win.

Glowing Customer Review: "There is nothing more luxurious feeling than treating yourself to a scalp gua sha experience! The piece is stunning and I love the little felt holder it comes with. Worth every penny and then some!"

The bian stone is a blend of over 40 minerals which are said to be recognized for their healing properties in gua sha practice. The edges of this stone are designed to perfectly mold to the contours of your face. Fun fact: Look at your bian stone for subtle white veins, they were formed as a result of a meteor.

Glowing Customer Review: "So I LOVE Gua Sha and own too many tools. I can honestly tell you that I would never be without this one because of its super versatile shape and the comb edge is fantastic. It's a one-tool-wonder."

Not only will the stainless steel design of this gua sha feel ultra-cooling on your face (which feels super good in the mornings), but it is also extremely durable and hygienic. Stainless steel is naturally much stronger than alternatives as well as resistant to corrosion; this means that it's super easy to keep it clean before and after use which is so important when you're using it on your face daily to prevent extra bacteria from causing acne.

Glowing Customer Review: "Whether you are purchasing for cosmetic reasons or more of a medical-based reason such as myself, I think you will find this tool to be extremely beneficial in reducing tension in the face and neck, it’s the best tool I’ve found so far to help provide relief."

You use a facial gua sha by "gently applying oil on your skin and using the tool in an intentional firm fashion in to out—nose to ear, chin to ear, chin to eye, eyebrow to hairline, clavicle to jawline," Dr. Lal says. Need a visual? Don't worry, I gotchu. Check out this YouTube tutorial by expert in Chinese medicine dermatology, Sandra Lanshin Chiu.

The benefits of using gua sha tools include circulation improvement and tension release, Chiu explained, resulting in your skin being de-puffed and more glowy. However, there is a caveat: Unfortunately, the scientific proof behind the benefits of gua sha is very limited—there's nothing that says verbatim that your blood flow and lymphatic drainage system can be improved long-term. That said, this practice has been around for centuries in Chinese medicine, and as it's being talked about more and more on social media today, testers love how their skin looks more defined, even if it's only for a short period of time.

"Stone quality, design, and craftsmanship matter when choosing a tool," Chiu has told Cosmo. "As with any product you use on your face, do your research, and don't be afraid to ask questions." Dr. Lal agrees: You want to find a tool that is ergonomic for you—it shouldn’t be awkward or painful, he explains.

"Start with a hydrating mist or alcohol-free toner followed by a facial oil or a moisturizer to prep your skin and get the necessary 'glide,'" Chiu told Cosmo. "Skin that isn't freshly hydrated may result in some 'sha,' or red marks—they're not permanent, but it’s not what you’re going for."

Not cleaning your gua sha is as bad (dare I say, worse?) as not cleaning your makeup brushes. "I recommend using soap and water to get rid of oils [after using the gua sha]. And then I would spray 70 percent isopropyl alcohol to disinfect the gua sha before use," says Dr. Lal. Your gua sha tools can harbor bacteria and dirt, which means that if they're not cleaned properly, that gunk can be transferred to your face and cause skin irritation and/or breakouts. So keep it clean, people!

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor who writes beauty at Cosmopolitan and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories, like moisturizers for oily and acne-prone skin and the best clear sunscreens. She's an authority in all skincare categories, but after speaking to—and learning from—dermatologists and experts in Chinese medicine, she feels especially knowledgeable on the topic. Her gua sha tool picks were chosen with reviews, expert advice, and testing in mind.

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