Why Are Celebrities Hooked on Gua Sha? The Secret to Glowing, Sculpted Skin

Picture this: You’re scrolling social media and there’s another A-lister, face slick with serum, dragging a flat stone along her jaw. Gua Sha. It’s everywhere—red carpets, backstage at fashion week, even guys like Harry Styles and Zac Efron swear by it. The hype’s real: Gwyneth swears it punches up her cheekbones, Hailey Bieber claims it saved her jawline, and if you search #guasha, TikTok coughs up millions of glowy, perfectly-contoured faces. But how did this simple stone—even one my son Alvin once tried to sneak into his marble collection—become the go-to tool for the world’s glowiest faces?

The Ancient Ritual That Went Viral

Gua sha isn’t new. In fact, it’s old—really old. Like, “older than sliced bread” old. Dating back nearly 700 years, gua sha comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it was used not just for beauty, but to treat everything from muscle pain to fevers. Practitioners would scrape the skin with a smooth tool (often jade or horn) to stimulate circulation and “move qi”—that’s energy flow.

Fast-forward to today and you’ll see sleek, palm-sized stones—usually rose quartz, jade, or even stainless steel—designed for your face rather than your back. Modern fans love it for lymphatic drainage, which is just a fancy way of saying it helps move fluid out of your face, kicking puffiness to the curb. Some studies show a gua sha session can boost microcirculation by up to 400%. That means more nutrients and oxygen pumped to your skin cells, so you look fresher (less like you pulled an all-nighter on spreadsheets).

But here’s the kicker: the technique is super simple, which is exactly why celebrities have latched on. No expensive gadgets. No strange serums. Just a stone, a little oil, and a few minutes of gentle scraping. Even my nephew Alvin gets it—one quick YouTube run-through and he was helping his cousin sculpt a razor-sharp jawline out of baby cheeks.

It’s not magic, just science paired with ritual. The combination of physical touch, improved blood flow, and a little meditative routine has proven appeal. And as we all know, anything with proven glow potential and the Instagram stamp of approval goes viral—fast.

Why Celebs Swear By (and Can’t Stop Showing Off) Gua Sha

Every day seems to bring another star touting the benefits of gua sha. Ever wondered what’s so addictive about it? For one, it delivers fast results—like, selfie-ready in 10 minutes. Models like Miranda Kerr have posted their whole pre-facial routines, using gua sha for jaw sculpting right before big shoots. Makeup artists for celebs like Zendaya and Adele pack stones in their kits because it helps them depuff tired under-eyes and smooth out tension lines, making foundation glide like butter.

Hailey Bieber goes on record saying “gua sha is my go-to for my facial sculpting.” And it’s not just women. Guys are into it, too—Harry Styles chimed in about how it helps with jaw tension (thanks to all that endless touring and, you know, being a human stress ball sometimes). The point? Anyone can see a difference, often after just one session.

Here’s an interesting stat: according to NPD Group’s US skincare trends, facial tools including gua sha increased in sales more than 69% between 2022 and 2024. Purely from a numbers standpoint, that’s huge. Why? Because it’s a level playing field. Gua sha isn’t out of reach—no matter how fat your bank account or how elegant your bathroom.

Now, some skeptics question the claims of face slimming and jaw chisel—science still debates the degree of permanent change. But it’s hard to argue when devotees swear their faces look more awake, cheekbones pop, and stress melts away. And honestly, even if it’s just a few minutes spent doing something gentle for yourself, who wouldn’t want that?

Mastering the Celebrity Gua Sha Routine at Home

If you’re tempted to give gua sha a spin, good news: it doesn’t require a Hollywood makeup artist—just some honest patience and, ideally, a bit of technique. Here’s what most pros (even the ones behind your favorite red-carpet looks) recommend:

• Pick the right tool: Jade and rose quartz are traditional, offering a cool touch, but stainless steel is popular now since it glides smoother and is less breakable (perfect for, say, curious kids who see it as treasure).
• Prep the skin: You need slip, so use your favorite facial oil or serum. No friction—just glide. Dry skin and gua sha don’t mix.
• Start at the neck: Gently stroke upward or outward (never back and forth), ten times per section. Always keep the tool almost flat—think 15-degree angle.
• Work upward and outward: Move to the jaw (from chin to ear), then cheeks and under the eyes. Follow bone structure rather than dragging across delicate skin.
• Finish at the forehead: Sweep from your brow up toward the hairline, always in single, outward strokes.

Consistency matters. Many celebs say 3–5 times a week is their sweet spot, but there’s no downside to daily—except maybe your mirror time doubling. If you see redness, don’t panic: that’s increased circulation, as long as it fades quickly. Throbbing? Ease up, your face isn’t a pizza dough.

Here’s a quick comparison table of tool materials, so you know what all the fuss is about when picking your stone:

If you want to take things next-level, store your tool in the fridge—it feels amazing on puffy morning skin, especially after a bad night (coincidentally, my son swears it “wakes up his eyebrows”).

One thing you won’t see on a makeup counter: be wary of deep scraping or bruising. TV’s dramatic purple marks? That’s “body” gua sha, which is much rougher. Facial gua sha should never leave you looking like you lost a wrestling match with a cat.

The Risks, the Hype, and Real-Life Results

Let’s be honest. No TikTok beauty trend is perfect. As much as gua sha deserves its place in celebrity routines, you do need to keep things real. First, gua sha isn’t a facelift. Skip the crazy before-and-after promises; you’re lifting fluid, not bones. So, if a brand says you’ll drop ten years in a week—yeah, hard pass. What you will get (almost instantly) is a face that feels less puffy, calmer, and maybe even less stressed.

Dermatologists mostly agree it’s safe—if you use gentle pressure and a clean stone. Dirty tools invite breakouts. Already dealing with eczema, open wounds, or severe acne? Sit this one out and check with your doc. And if your kids commandeer your tool for a “rock collection,” trust me, wash it well before using again.

Another thing: gua sha works best when paired with the right skincare. Think moisturizing and gentle; granulated scrubs and acids right before gua sha is a recipe for redness. Layer a hydrating serum first, and keep tool movements soft, letting gravity and the stone do the heavy work.

So why all the obsession? It’s simple. Gua sha is that rare little ritual that’s accessible, oddly soothing, and comes with a side of instant glow. The real secret isn’t just in how it makes you look, but how it makes you feel—like you’re treating yourself to a spa moment without needing Hollywood connections or deep pockets.

My honest take: If it’s good enough for the stars, and it gets you more comfortable in your own skin (without breaking the bank), give it a try. And hey, if my 9-year-old can learn to massage his way to less “puff,” maybe there’s something to all that celebrity obsession after all.