Gua Sha for the eye contour area: How to use it?

Gua sha is a massage tool made of natural stone, such as rose quartz or jade, derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Its name literally means "scraping" (gua) "illness" (sha), as it was historically used all over the body to stimulate energy circulation and promote the elimination of toxins. Its modern version, adapted for the face, is specially designed to fit the curves of the face and eye contour. With gentle, precise movements, it activates microcirculation, boosts lymphatic drainage, and helps relax muscles, resulting in smoother skin and a visibly rested look.

Whether it's dark circles, puffy bags or visible fine lines, the eye contour is the first part of the face to betray fatigue. Used regularly, gua sha helps to reduce these signs and revitalize the eyes.

Reduce dark circles

Dark circles can be caused by a variety of factors. Blueish dark circles are the result of poor blood circulation, while brownish dark circles are usually due to hyperpigmentation. By stimulating microcirculation, gua sha helps to improve blood flow to the delicate eye contour area and reduce blood stagnation under the eyes. The result: a brighter look and a gradual reduction in the most pronounced dark circles.

Decongest puffiness under the eyes

Puffiness under the eyes is often linked to water retention or fat accumulation under the eyes. Thanks to its draining action, gua sha stimulates the lymphatic system and promotes the elimination of stagnant fluids. By performing gentle movements from the inner corner of the eye towards the temples, it helps reduce puffiness and smooth the eye contour for a rested and refreshed effect.

Improve skin elasticity

Thanks to its mechanical action, gua sha stimulates blood circulation and tissue oxygenation, sending a signal to fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing elastin and collagen. Collagen is a protein that is essential for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. By naturally stimulating the skin, gua sha helps to make the epidermis more supple, plump, and toned with repeated use.

Soothe tension

Throughout the day, our eyes and forehead are in constant motion as we blink, frown, express our emotions, and so on. Repeated micro-contractions can cause muscle tension and accentuate the appearance of fine lines around the eyes, such as crow's feet. By releasing this tension, gua sha helps to relax facial muscles and smooth out features. A few minutes of gua sha is often enough to revive the eyes, giving a rested and firmer effect, as if you had just had a mini treatment at a beauty salon.

Regular use of gua sha offers many benefits: 

• Improves blood microcirculation: helps oxygenate skin tissue and reduce blood stagnation, which is responsible for certain dark circles

• Reduces dark circles and puffiness under the eyes : reduces the appearance of dark circles and helps to reduce puffiness under the eyes by stimulating microcirculation and lymphatic drainage, which improves fluid removal

• Stimulates collagen production: promotes firmness, elasticity, and suppleness around the eyes, and helps to gradually reduce fine lines

• Relaxes facial muscles: helps release accumulated tension, which helps soften features and reduce certain expression lines, and provides an immediate feeling of overall relaxation

• Promotes better absorption of skincare products: helps serums or creams applied in addition to the treatment penetrate more evenly thanks to mechanical massage of the area.

Our 100% pure and natural rose quartz gua sha is made from stones extracted in South Africa. It is carefully carved and has an ergonomic shape that perfectly fits the contours of the face. One of its rounded tips is specially designed to fit the delicate eye area, allowing for a precise and gentle massage. Practical and elegant, it comes with a cotton pouch to protect it and make it easy to carry.

Theine & Hyaluronic Acid Eye Contour Cream

This new iconic anti-aging treatment provides 360° action around the entire eye area. Theine stimulates microcirculation and helps reduce puffiness and dark circles in this very thin and easily congested area around the eyes. Patented hyaluronic acid provides intense hydration, plumps the skin, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles.

Contraindications: in case of contact with the eyes, rinse immediately with clean water.

Discover the Theine & Hyaluronic Acid Eye Contour Cream

Concentrated Eye Contour Serum 5% Caffeine & Helichrysum

Caffeine stimulates microcirculation and has a decongestant effect. It helps reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles for a fresher, more rested look. Helichrysum extract, combined with wild ginger, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, boosts microcirculation while moisturizing and smoothing the delicate eye area.

Discover the 5% Caffeine & Helichrysum Concentrated Eye Contour Serum

Please note: Caffeine & Helichrysum Serum and Theine & Hyaluronic Acid Cream cannot be used together in the same eye contour skincare routine.

Cosmetic active ingredient for the eye contour area

This 100% natural active ingredient based on Zerumbone specifically targets blue and brown dark circles and helps to refresh the eyes by improving microcirculation and reducing the appearance of dark circles. Its high concentration provides a real boost to the eye contour area, while remaining easy to incorporate into homemade serums, gels, or creams.

Contraindications : do not swallow, keep out of reach of children and follow the recommended doses.

Discover the Eye Contour Cosmetic Active Ingredient

Organic Butcher's Broom Extract

Butcher's broom extract tones capillaries, stimulates microcirculation, and helps drain and decongest puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. By promoting better blood and lymphatic circulation, it smooths the eye contour and reduces the appearance of fatigue. This ingredient is easy to incorporate into your homemade preparations, but it is best not to use it undiluted.

Contraindications: do not swallow, keep out of reach of children, and follow the recommended dosages.

Discover Organic Butcher's Broom Extract

Cornflower Hydrosol

Cornflower hydrosol is known for its soothing and decongestant properties that calm puffy or irritated eyes and eyelids. Very gentle and astringent, it tones the delicate skin around the eyes and provides an immediate feeling of freshness. Ideal for your homemade preparations, it reduces puffiness and signs of fatigue and helps to visually smooth the eye contour for a more luminous look.

Discover Organic Cornflower Hydrosol

To take care of your eye contour with gua sha, here are a few key steps:

• Apply a moisturizer before use : gua sha should never be used on bare skin. Applying a moisturizer beforehand, whether a serum or a light oil, is essential to allow the gua sha to glide without friction and optimize its effects. 

• Use slow, precise movements: gua sha should be used gently and adapted to the fragile area around the eyes. Place the rounded edge of the gua sha almost flat against the inner corner of the eye, not too close to the mucous membrane. Then slide it very gently under the eye to the temple in a single smooth motion, without going back and forth. Repeat this action 5 to 10 times per eye, always keeping the same direction, from the inside to the outside to drain the lymph. For optimal results, practice this ritual daily.

• Hydrate the skin: remember to seal in moisture around the eye area after using gua sha with a moisturizing cream specifically designed for the eye area.

Roll-on bottle

Ideal for your water-based and oil-based preparations, this roll-on consists of a glass bottle, a rotating steel ball, and a metal screw cap. The steel ball applies the preparation evenly over a small area. It therefore allows for targeted and gentle application to the area around dark circles and puffiness. You can use it to gently massage the under-eye area, always working from the inside out, using a decongestant such as a caffeine serum or eye contour treatment. The slightly cooling effect of the metal roller ball helps to stimulate local microcirculation and drain away stagnant fluids responsible for puffiness and dark circles.

Discover the 15 ml roll-on bottle in purple-tinted glass with a steel ball

Rose quartz facial roller

This roller facilitates drainage around the eyes thanks to its small rose quartz stone designed to gently massage the eye area from the inside out. It improves microcirculation while decongesting dark circles and puffiness. At the same time, it allows skincare products to penetrate better, maximizing their targeted action.

Discover the Rose Quartz Face Roller

Rose quartz massage mushroom

Its rounded shape fits the eye contour area perfectly. By gently sliding it from the inside to the outside under the eyes, it helps to decongest and reduce dark circles and puffiness. Used with an eye contour serum and possibly cooled in the refrigerator, it combines mechanical massage and a cooling effect to stimulate microcirculation and promote the elimination of stagnant fluids.

Discover the Rose Quartz Massage Mushroom

When using gua sha, be sure to apply light pressure so as not to irritate the skin. Also, avoid applying products too close to the eye mucosa to prevent irritation.

For a refreshing and even more decongesting effect, place your gua sha in the refrigerator for a few minutes before use. The cold has a firming effect. It stimulates blood circulation and helps reduce puffiness and dark circles even more effectively.

Eloïse is a certified ‘naturopathic practitioner’ by the Institut Supérieur de Naturopathie (ISUPNAT) and has been practising naturopathy for over five years. Thanks to her extensive experience working in various herbalist shops, Éloïse provides, where necessary, comprehensive and precise advice on phytotherapy, aromatherapy, gemmotherapy and micronutrition when drawing up a personalised lifestyle programme tailored to each individual.