BEST SERUMS and OILS FOR GUASHA

You’ll find me using a guasha in every corner of my house whenever I have some spare time.  A quickie for those of you who have never heard of a guasha - it is a facial massage tool that is designed to relieve tension in your facial muscles, improve blood circulation, and promote lymphatic drainage. It helps to temporarily depuff and make my face look slimmer but beyond that, it has long term benefits such as warding off headaches and brightening up my skin (better circulation, improved complexion). It’s an ancient Chinese practice that is only recently getting more hype and I truly believe it works.

OK so now that we covered the basics, every time I post a Tiktok video using a guasha, I get hundreds of questions on the best serums/oils to use under it. So I finally decided to write this blog post so I can now direct everyone to this and save me time heh :)

You can use a very hydrating, watery serum or oil - personal preference. When I want to do some guasha in the morning before makeup, I use a serum and at night, I tend to use an oil. So I am rounding up some of my favorites here:

KIEHLS midnight recovery concentrate

($50 / 30ml)

This is a serum that is actually in a lightweight oil form that helps firm up the skin and helps with uneven texture. There is a reason this oil is a fan favorite - it’s got a blend of squalene to hydrate and primrose oils to soften and calm the skin. Its a great oil to use with facial massages since your skin can turn red from the constant action.

Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence

($39 / 70ml)

Dont let the name “essence” fool you - this is a gel serum that is intensely hydrating and allows the guasha to glide on like magic. Its also a great serum to use under your makeup that gives you a glow factor before applying makeup.

Youth To The People Glow Oil ($44 / 30ml)

This is a beauty elixir in a bottle. It’s formulated with maqui, acai and goji - three powerful superfoods to provide plenty of antioxidants to the skin. The vitamin c in it brings out the glow in your skin and after using this with your guasha, you will see an immediate radiance in your skin. I actually like using this in the morning and blend one drop with my foundation as well.

Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum ($88 / 30ml)

If you are looking for a serum to use with your guasha during your morning skincare routine, adding a hydrating vitamin C serum is your best option. It’s hard to find a vitamin c serum that is truly hydrating and absorbs into your skin and this one from Tatcha is it. It’s got a clear, gel-like texture that instantly absorbs into the skin and allows your guasha to glide on even smoother. After using this, you will see a translucent, glass-skin like appearance.

Indie Lee SqualAne Facial Oil ($34 / 30ml)

If you want an oil that helps plump up your skin, this is the oil for you. It’s lightweight yet plumping and after your guasha exercise, you’ll see a much more soft complexion. And as a plus, all Indie Lee products are vegan and cruelty free.

Dr. Jart Firming Serum ($48 / 40ml)

Want an instant boost of hydration and plumping? This silky serum from Dr Jart is packed with its eight-peptide complex and borage flower extract that recharges fatigued skin. This is the closest serum that comes to being the Lancome dupe. A few drops goes a very long way. I love using this serum with my Nuface device as well.

Lancome Advanced Genifique ($198 / 115ml)

This is one of the OGs and while some say this is hyped, I honestly love it and this big bottle lasts a long time. This is an absolute magic to do facial massages with given how hydrating and silky the texture is. The silky texture lasts a long time without drying out and instantly helps to firm up the skin. Best Mother’s Day gift I have to say.