Are Gua Sha Facial Stones Safe To Use While Pregnant?

When I found out I was pregnant I quickly learned I had to put half my skincare products to the back of my medicine cabinet

With so many products out there banned to pregnant women it’s natural to feel hesitation with even the seemingly safest of products. When I found out I was pregnant I quickly learned I had to put half my skincare products to the back of my medicine cabinet, or worse, I had to give some of my favorites away due to expiration — cough retinol cough. Of course, just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I stopped obsessing over my skincare routine. Some (extremely lucky) pregnant women get the elusive pregnancy glow, while others have to work for it. That’s when I developed my love affair for Gua Sha.

Being an avid TikTok connoisseur , I’d heard of Gua Sha before but never felt compelled to try it. After all, I had an array of moisturizers, serums, and facial masks at my disposal. Plus swollen face was not a common symptom for me. Enter pregnancy where it seems my face puffed up over night, with a few extra fine lines added in, that’s when I purchased my first Gua Sha facial stone.

As I was unwrapping my Gua Sha stone the sudden thought occurred to me - was this even safe during pregnancy? The great news is that not only is this practice safe but it’s actually quite beneficial to some of the more common symptoms of pregnancy like puffy-face and headaches. And thank god too because it literally saved my skin.

So what is Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese practice that has become quite trendy over the past couple years. Facial Gua Sha is the practice of using a stone, typically jade or quartz, and taking long strokes with it over your face to improve the health of your skin and tissues. Some of the key benefits of practicing facial Gua Sha include:

• Boosts lymphatic drainage, reducing puffiness and inflammation

• Reduces puffiness and fluid buildup

• Stimulates collagen

• Lifts and sculpts features

• Aids in circulation to give skin a glow

There are even claims it can help with migraines and neck pain. As FaceGym National Training Manager Madalaina Conti sates, “Gua Sha creates flow and movement under the surface to rid tension blockages and allow the tissue to be nourished, resulting in more radiant skin.” If you are looking for a solution to fight puffiness, fine lines, and even acne I’ve included a few of Gua Sha facial stone options below as well as a video tutorial.

• Best overall: Wildling’s Empress Stone $65

  • Unlike other gua sha stones typically made from quartz, the Empress is composed of Bian stone, an amalgamate of 40+ minerals known for their healing properties. Each edge of the tool is intentionally architected to enhance the practice of facial gua sha

• Budget friendly: Herbivore Rose Quartz Gua Sha $18

  • Herbivore’s facial Gua Sha stone is crafter from 100% Rose Quartz gemstones and just under $20

• Best Professional Gua Sha: The Lanshin Pro $125

  • Custom designed Gua Sha tool created by Sandra Lanshin Chiu - acupuncturist, herbalist and expert in Facial Gua Sha and Chinese medicine based skincare. The design is a result of her desire to create a "swiss army knife" of Gua Sha with multiple functions in one easy-to-use tool that is also sensuous in texture and beautifully reflects feminine curves.

• Best Jade Gua Sha: Mount Lai $28

  • This gua sha tool was built to have a firming, lifting effect on the skin. Jade is balancing and has naturally cooling properties. It is known as the stone of eternal youth.

Last note I’ll leave you with on your pregnancy Gua Sha journey, is drink water both before and after. We need to be especially mindful during pregnancy as we’re already in need of extra hydration. Plus, staying hydrated is known to fight puffiness as well for a double-whammy effect. Maybe it’s pregnancy glow, maybe it’s Gua Sha?