Jojoba Oil For Gua Sha Massage

This week we are focusing on using Jojoba Face Oil for Gua Sha Massage (If you are a Massage Professional, check out our in depth page about using jojoba oil as a massage medium). We want to get to know our customers better and have you along for the ride! In our #HowDoYouHobaCare series we find out how/why individuals, professionals, and businesses use our HobaCare Jojoba – and showcase their lives, services, or products! (see list below for more in this series).

*Jojoba is actually a wax ester and not an oil, to learn more about that see our in depth page with information about Jojoba. We refer to it as an oil because it’s what people understand, but we prefer to call it an “extract” instead.

We are delighted to introduce you to Janice Tome, an Oncology Trained Aesthetician through Oncology Spa Solutions. Located in Topsham, Maine, Janice Tome Skincare specializes in the care of sensitive skin, anti-aging treatments, acne and general skin health.

Gua Sha has become hugely popular in the last few years, but it is certainly not a new practice. Can you tell us a little bit about its origins?  

Gua Sha is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s also referred to as coining or scraping which is performed on the body.  Using a stone (or other object), the scraping technique brings about a rash on the skin to provide relief from symptoms of disease or discomfort. 

Facial Gua Sha is much more gentle. The objective is to promote skin toning, circulation and lymphatic drainage, not to bring about a rash.

What does a gua sha treatment entail and how does it go about helping one’s skin? 

After loosening up the back of the head and shoulders,  I begin with the neck and work my way up one side of the face with a series of gliding movements. I will focus on areas such as around the mouth, corners of the eyes, between the eyes and forehead to release fascia and soften any lines.

After completing Gua Sha to the other side of the face, I’ll do more work to the cheekbones/jawline if needed and finish with lymphatic drainage. It benefits the skin by stimulating the lymphatic system to carry away toxins and improving circulation.  It’s very helpful with dark under eye circles and puffiness.  There are many lymph nodes in the face and neck.  Sometimes that double chin is partly due to stagnant lymph.  We’re all in the habit of  looking down at our devices these days and that repetitive movement can cause lymph to pool and not drain effectively. 

Is Gua Sha most effective if received by a professional or is it still beneficial to practice it on oneself at home? 

Both!  It’s easier for  a professional to do the release work in the back of the head, neck and shoulders plus get a better feel where tension and fascia are restricted.  Doing a home care routine will help support the professional treatment and boost results.

Is Gua Sha only for the face or can the rest of our body’s skin reap the rewards as well?

Yes, Gua Sha can be performed on the body by those who are qualified.  

Can anyone receive Gua Sha? Does it need to be altered for senior skin or the fragile skin of oncology clients?

Facial Gua Sha is suitable for most except for those with inflamed skin conditions or dealing with an active infection (sinus, cold or tooth infection). Oncology patients (or anyone dealing with a health issue) should check with their doctor to make sure it’s safe since the lymphatic system is stimulated and the practitioner should have knowledge on how to make any modifications if necessary.  Modifications also need to be made around botox/fillers. It’s safe for pregnant women as long as there are no issues with having the lymphatic system stimulated. There are a few points on the outer top of the shoulder and the upper lip dip that need to be avoided, but otherwise safe. 

What do you look for in a medium for this practice? Why do you use Jojoba Oil for Gua Sha Massage? 

A lot of my clients have sensitive skin. Other massage mediums I have tried with a variety of added ingredients tend to be irritating. I always go back to jojoba oil for gua sha face massages for this reason. I like something plain and simple. HobaCare Jojoba oil provides the perfect slip and it calms the skin. Clients often say they like the smell!

What do you look for when choosing the material for your Gua Sha stones? 

Definitely quality.  It has to be something smooth with no rough edges or pitting.  The stone also has to feel good in my hands. I have one stone that I am particularly fond of and it’s my work horse!  It’s cut perfectly to the contours of the face and has a comb edge (which is a jagged edge) that’s not rough on the skin for fascia release. 

What is your favorite aspect of providing a Gua Sha treatment?  

Seeing the face responding and sculpting to the movements. When I’m finished massaging one side of the face, it’s amazing how relaxed, lifted, and contoured it appears in comparison to the side I haven’t worked on. After treatment, the face appears so much softer and the eyes are more vibrant.  Clients are just in awe when they look in the mirror.  It’s not just an external effect, something internally shifted as well.  

We’d like to offer a HUGE thanks to Janice Tome, for enlightening us on using jojoba as a face oil Gua Sha Massage. Janice is an Oncology Trained Aesthetician through Oncology Spa Solutions. Located in Topsham, Maine, Janice Tome Skincare specializes in the care of sensitive skin, anti-aging treatments, acne and general skin health. Janice is certified in Gua Sha by The Green Beauty Academy.

READ MORE POSTS IN OUR HOW DO YOU HOBACARE SERIES:

• • INTERVIEW WITH LAURA MCCANN OF ADORATHERAPY

• • HILLARY – HOW DO YOU HOBACARE?

• • CARI, HOW DO YOU HOBACARE?

• • AMY GALPER – USING JOJOBA OIL IN AROMATHERAPY

• • INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE OF LUMINA MASSAGE- JOJOBA OIL AS A MASSAGE MEDIUM

• • INTERVIEW WITH LORENNE MCCORMICK – USING JOJOBA OIL FOR SALT STONE MASSAGE

Do you use HobaCare Jojoba oil in your business or personal life?

Let us know! Your interview could be the next to show up on our blog! We’d love our readers and our social media followers to know – How Do YOU HobaCare?

*Jojoba is actually a wax ester and not an oil, to learn more about that see our in depth page with information about Jojoba. We refer to it as an oil because it’s what people understand but we prefer to call it an “extract” instead.