IN DELPHINE LANGLOIS’ BEAUTY KIT: THE GUA SHA, AN ESSENTIAL BEAUTY TOOL
Summer is undoubtedly the season when the Gua Sha reveals its full potential. Used chilled, it helps decongest tissues, stimulate circulation, and instantly bring a refreshing sensation to the face. A tool that Delphine, co-founder of LB Facialistes, considers essential in her facialist practice. Today, she shares her expertise and usage tips.
What is your relationship with it today?
For me, it’s the facialist’s Swiss Army knife. Every facial professional should know how to master it. With just a few gestures, it can quickly drain the face, create a lifting effect, smooth the tissues, and bring remarkable precision to muscular work. It is probably the most versatile beauty tool in facial treatments. I see it as an extension of my hands—an instrument that allows me to go even deeper in working the tissues and achieving results.
It is also, in my eyes, the simplest self-massage tool to use and one of the most effective for clients. They often prefer using a Gua Sha over their hands because it makes the gesture easier, more playful, and more intuitive.
At what point did it become essential in your profession?
From the very beginning of my facialist expertise. It allowed me to access areas that are more difficult to reach with the hands alone, especially around the mouth and eyes. I was also drawn to the ability to work with both hot and cold, sensory and physiological dimensions that cannot be replicated with the hands. Finally, its thin, sharp edge brings exceptional precision to the gesture. Beyond its mechanical effects, it also enhances sensory experience: clients love its soft touch and refreshing sensation.
What has this tool changed in your practice?
I don’t use it systematically. However, when working on targeted expression lines, it brings that extra “wow” effect that enhances results. It allows me to refine certain anti-wrinkle techniques and add greater precision on specific areas. I also use it extensively on the neck, an area that can be difficult to work on with the hands alone, where it delivers remarkable results in smoothing and releasing tension in the platysma muscle.
What are the most common mistakes when using it?
The first mistake is not daring to apply enough pressure out of fear of causing pain. On the other hand, some apply too much pressure on particularly sensitive areas. The Gua Sha is not as easy to master as it seems, as there is no direct hand-to-skin contact. That’s why I always recommend starting with a manual facial massage. This first step allows you to feel tissue tension, identify areas that can handle more pressure, and those that require a gentler, more progressive approach.
How do you use it properly (angle, pressure, speed)?
Choosing the right tool is essential. I always prefer the thinnest possible Gua Sha, as this fineness is key to precise muscular work. Then come the angle, contact quality, listening to the tissues, and continuously adapting pressure and speed according to each face. This technique requires slowness, intention, and a deep understanding of facial anatomy.
How do you adapt its use to seasonality, especially during the current heatwave?
Summer is the ideal season to use a chilled Gua Sha. I like to place it in the fridge during the treatment and use it at the end with smoothing and draining movements. The cold helps quickly soothe hyperemia while providing an extremely pleasant refreshing sensation. Around the eyes, it becomes a powerful decongesting ally: it soothes, cools, and helps reduce puffiness and signs of fatigue.
If you had to share just one little secret, what would it be?
I love using it warm at the beginning of a massage on the neck and décolleté. The heat deeply relaxes this often very tense muscular area and immediately creates a sense of release. I then follow with scraping techniques on the décolleté to smooth the tissues or release the platysma before working on the jawline and facial contour.
HEATWAVE GUA SHA ROUTINE
The Gua Sha technique that changes everything in your skincare routine.
What are the benefits of Gua Sha for the face?
Gua Sha helps to drain excess fluids, detoxify the skin, tone facial muscles and lift the tissues. It is particularly effective in addressing fine lines and wrinkles.
How do you use Gua Sha in summer?
In summer, Gua Sha can be used cold to soothe the skin, reduce puffiness and stimulate circulation. It is especially effective on the eye contour, neck and jawline after sun exposure or a short night’s sleep.
Is Gua Sha suitable for professional use?
Yes, Gua Sha is a fundamental tool in facialist practice. It allows for precise work on the tissues and complements manual techniques, particularly in anti-aging protocols and lymphatic drainage treatments. To fully master this tool, LB Facialistes training programs provide comprehensive professional expertise.
Can you learn to use Gua Sha effectively on your own?
Yes, but technique makes all the difference. The right angles, pressure and ability to read the tissues are essential to achieve visible and lasting results. LB Facialistes masterclasses teach the correct gestures for personal use or as an addition to a skincare routine.
What is the difference between personal and professional use of Gua Sha?
For personal use, Gua Sha improves skin radiance and facial relaxation. For professional use, it becomes a precise tool enabling deeper work on muscles and tissues. The LB Facialistes Method© teaches this expert approach to gesture and morphofacial diagnosis.