Once you’ve learned how to use Gua Sha in your skincare routine you’ll probably face another question: What face oils are good for gua sha?
With Gua Sha, you want to massage your face without dragging your skin. So you definitely need one of those slip agents. And, of course, there are tons of face oils for Gua Sha out there.
But are they all good? Which one to pick?
Related: 7 curly girl approved hair oils for shiny locks
Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The main criteria for a good Gua Sha oil
Of course, you’ll prefer a facial oil that fits your skin type. But no matter if you have oily, dry or mixed skin, there is one thing your Gua Sha oil shouldn’t do.
You HAVE to pick an oil that doesn’t absorb immediately!
While for other occasions, you might want that, it simply wouldn’t make sense here. The whole purpose of using a facial oil with your Gua Sha massage is to get a nice and slippery surface.
So if you already have a facial oil you love because it absorbs immediately and doesn’t disturb your makeup – don’t use that one for Gua Sha!
Instead, pick one from below according to your skin type!
Best oil for Gua Sha for sensitive skin
First of all, I have to say that if you have very sensitive skin, you might want to reconsider doing Gua Sha at all. Especially dealing with irritative skin conditions, PLEASE consult your dermatologist if it’s okay for you to do it.
I’d hate for you to worsen your condition through this! When in doubt, consider investing in a nice jade roller instead.
Related: Which is better jade roller or gua sha?
Secondly, you want to make sure the oil you’re using has as few ingredients as possible. You could, for example, use a pure plant-based-oil. Popular candidates are rosehip oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil.
Be really careful around facial oils with fragrances (always patch test first!). They don’t necessarily have to be bad for your skin, but they can be irritating.
One facial oil lots of people with very sensitive skin swear by, even though it has some fragrance in it, is Palmer’s skin therapy oil.*
I looooove all the Palmer’s products I’ve tried so far, and the reviews are amazing, so give it a try!
Facial oil for Gua Sha for acne-prone skin
Many people with acne-prone skin shy away from facial oils as they’re afraid to increase their oiliness even more. While with some oils that can be a valid concern, this doesn’t mean you can’t do Gua Sha.
(However, if you’re dealing with inflamed breakouts RIGHT NOW, please wait to massage your face in any way! You could very well make things much worse!)
There are two oils that usually work very well for acne-prone skin. And, coincidentally, they also work very well for a Gua Sha massage, as they make your face nice and slippery.
Related: The best facial serum for Gua Sha by skin type
Jojoba oil
The first oil I recommend for Gua Sha on acne-prone skin is jojoba oil.
Jojoba oil is actually a wax. And it very closely resembles the makeup of sebum, the natural oil your skin produces. So not only does it have very little potential to irritate, it also can help regulate sebum production.
Squalane oil
The second oil I would recommend for acne-prone skin is squalane. This is even less likely to irritate you, as squalane naturally occurs in the skin.
I admit, when squalane became popular, I was a little hesitant about trying it. But I’ve been using the squalane cleanser by the Ordinary for over a year now and I LOVE it!
My skin is definitely acne-prone and this product helped balance things out for sure.
Gua Sha oil for dry skin
If you have dry skin, you need lots of moisture anyway, and chances are you’re already using facial oils in your skin care routine. So you could simply use those for Gua Sha as well.
If, however, you are new to oils, you could try jojoba oil* or squalane oil* as well. They do help with moisture and could balance the dryness of your skin.
Another facial oil that’s super popular both for Gua Sha and for treating dry skin, is the e.l.f. nourishing facial oil.
It’s moisturising formula gives you that dewy look everyone’s been trying to achieve.
Coconut oil for Gua Sha
Lastly, I want to say a few words about coconut oil for Gua Sha.
I know some people swear by coconut oil for everything. However, it’s not generally the best oil for your face as it can cause breakouts.
If you’ve used it before and had great results with it – awesome! You can definitely use it for Gua Sha, too. On the other hand, if you have a tendency to break out and haven’t tested coconut oil before, I wouldn’t recommend to start with it.
Simply pick another of the oils from this list, they’re less likely to irritate you!
Related: Coconut oil for hair: the real benefits
Enjoy your Gua Sha massage!
I hope now you know what to put on your face when using a Gua Sha. If this was helpful to you, please share it with someone else. Thank you and enjoy!
*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
