Which Gua Sha Gemstone Is Right For You?

Facial rolling and gua sha is EVERYWHERE these days (in case you haven’t heard, read more about it HERE). These radiance-boosting, cheekbone-defining, detoxifying treatments are being buzzed about all over the pages of your favorite beauty magazines and jade rollers are seen in the hands of top models. And it’s no surprise facial rolling and gua sha is getting some legit attention - it promotes lymph drainage, de-puffs the face, relaxes over-tight muscles, and gives your skin an amazing glow.

So, now that you’re on board with facial rolling and gua sha, you face a decision - which roller and gua sha gemstone do I get? In my boutique, I carry rollers and gua sha tools in natural gemstones of Green Jade, White Jade, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Aventurine, and Sodalite. So which one is for you? Are they really that different? Let’s take a look at the history and properties of each stone:

Hey Jade

Oh, hello lovely Jade! Green Jade (or feng jade) is the traditional choice for facial rolling and gua sha. It has a long history of use in Chinese medicine and is considered the ultimate gemstone of ancient Chinese beauty treatments. Green Jade was regarded as the most precious stone in ancient China; it symbolized purity, moral integrity, and eternal life. It was also that believed Jade was indestructible (unfortunately, it is not) thereby imparting immortality to its owner.

Feng Jade is naturally cool to the touch and has a ‘soapstone’ feel to it. In terms of gemstone energetics, Green Jade promotes calmness, balance, and positivity. Jade protects its user from negative energy creeping into their orbit, and also helps to clear away already existing negative energy and thoughts.

A Whiter shade of jade

White Jade, also known as Nephrite Jade, is a beautiful, translucent white color. Along with Green Jade, White Jade’s use in China dates back to 6000 BCE with White being the most highly praised and most prized type of Jade in China. White Jade was thought to be a symbol of heaven and, as part of the Six Ritual Jades, represented the sky.

White Jade, like Green Jade, remains cool to the touch but is is smoother and more ‘slippery’ than the Green variety. In terms of gemstone energetics, White Jade is calming, grounding, and brings peace, harmony, and luck. It assists the body to heal itself is and especially helpful for fluid retention and ridding the skin of a puffy appearance.

Kiss From A Rose

Who doesn’t love Rose Quartz? It’s pretty, pink, and pretty much makes me smile just by being around it. Rose Quartz has a long history of use in beauty treatments, especially ancient Egypt. Word is Cleopatra placed pieces of Rose Quartz in her bath for its healing and anti-aging properties and the Egyptian goddess Isis was thought to gather dreamy Rose Quartz from the banks of the Nile River. Rose Quartz is thought to emit soothing vibrations, which makes it a very powerful tool to relieve tension that builds up in the face (face tension = haggard + tired appearance). It is also thought that Rose Quartz can help reverse negative effects of wrinkles and acne.

Rose Quartz readily warms to the temperature of your skin. In its polished state, it is very smooth and slippery. Rose Quartz is associated with the heart chakra and promotes feelings of self-acceptance, self-love, and restores harmony and trust in relationships.

Perfect Purple

February’s elegant purple birthstone, Amethyst, is gaining a lot of traction for its use in helping to heal and beautify the skin. The healing vibes of Amethyst is nothing new, however. Ancient Greeks used Amethyst to aid in preventing intoxication and overindulgence. During the Middle Ages, it was worn to protect from disease and contagion. Amethyst is loaded with negative ions, giving it a great deal of anti-inflammatory properties. It is a wonderful choice for those seeking a more balanced complexion. If you have redness, breakouts, or otherwise inflamed skin, amethyst is for you! Amethyst is also considered to be the stone of meditation, because it creates a state of enhanced spirituality and contentment.

Amethyst’s smoothness lies between that of Jade and Rose Quartz. It is associated with the ability to still the mind and inspire an enhanced meditative state. Amethyst is the talisman of focus and success as it is thought strengthen clarity of thought, intuition, and bringing projects to fruition.

Lucky Aventurine

Looking for a gorgeous, deep green gemstone with amazing energetics? Look no further than Aventurine. Most often found in India (and thus nicknamed ‘Indian Jade’), Aventurine has bright inclusions of fuchsite, which impart a beautiful, shimmery iridescence to the gemstone. It is known as the ‘stone of opportunity’ and considered the luckiest of all gemstones. Legend has that drinking water that has been infused with Aventurine is an effective remedy for problem skin. While it’s up to you if you soak your Aventurine gemsone and drink the water, using Gua Sha gemstones and rollers made from Green Aventurine is useful to skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rosacea due to Aventurine’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Aventurine is very smooth, polished, and readily warms to your skin temperature. Green Aventurine helps heal emotional imbalances, calms irritation and anger, and alleviates stress and distraction.

soda, enlightened

Beautiful, vibrant blue Sodalite is an extremely rare gemstone that comes from volcanic rock that crystalized from sodium-rich magma. It was originally discovered in the Ilimaussaq area of Greenland and has the unique property of being fluorescent under long-wave UV light (how’s that for a ‘glowing’ complexion?)! Sodalite stones are even more unique in that their molecules are arranged in an internal crystal lattice with perfect cubic symmetry. This interesting structure means that Sodalite has the property of promoting internal harmony and grounding. Sodalite is a dense, heavy stone and is perfect for those looking to calm irritated skin and release tension.

Sodalite has a smoothness similar to the soapstone-like feel of Feng Jade and, due to its high mineral content, is a delicate stone despite its hefty weight. Sodalite has a positive effect on logical thinking and is an ideal stone for those prone to anxiety or panic attacks.

So, which one is best for you?

Still trying to decide which gua sha gemstone is right for you? Here’s the rundown:

Green Jade: Best for contouring, lifting, and working out tight muscles. The traditional choice, select Jade to help protect from negative energy and promote positivity.

White Jade: Best for reducing the appearance of puffiness and water retention (goodbye, under-eye bags!) A prized gemstone in ancient China, select White Jade to assist the body in it’s self-healing abilities.

Rose Quartz: Best for acne-prone skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. Select Rose Quartz to help relieve tension and promote feelings of self-love.

Amethyst: Best for balancing inflamed complexions and to soothe breakouts. Select Amethyst to calm irritated skin and to inspire an intuitive mind.

Aventurine: Best for problem skin prone to acne, eczema, or rosacea. Select Aventurine for its anti-inflammatory properties, to calm an irritated mind, and to attract luck

Sodalite: Best for releasing over-tight muscles and promoting a balanced complexion. Select Sodalite for its harmonizing properties and to soothe an over-worked nervous system.

Still torn? Let me say this - all facial gua sha gemstones and facial rollers are good, and using one is better than not using anything at all. At their most fundamental, all gua sha gemstones and rollers do the same basic thing- they massage your face.

However, using a little gemstone know-how, you can harness the full potential of these beautiful tools and select those which are a perfect match for you!

About Scottsdale Integrative Acupuncture + Shelley O’Dell-Brock, L.Ac.

Scottsdale Integrative Acupuncture was created to help clients look and feel their best, naturally. Owner, Shelley O’Dell-Brock, LAc, offers a holistic approach to stress reduction, pain management, and natural beauty. She uses ancient solutions for modern healing, empowering her patients to take charge of their own health. Offering cosmetic acupuncture, Gua Sha, and essential acupuncture, Scottsdale I.A. is Scottsdale’s preferred choice for natural healthcare. Your holistic health journey begins, and continues at Scottsdale Integrative Acupuncture.