Kyoko’s Pick: Steps for a Lifted Jawline and De-Puffing Your Eyes!

Gua Sha / Kassa - Focus is more on beauty and rejuvenation

Gua Sha (also known as Kassa in Japanese) is a traditional massage technique that originated in Chinese medicine, became popular in Japan due to its effectiveness in promoting circulation and lymphatic drainage, reducing tension, and improving overall skin health. In Japan, the focus is often more on beauty and rejuvenation, as opposed to the original Chinese version, which is more focused on treating illness by scraping the skin until red marks or bruises appear. The Kassa method involves the use of a flat, smooth tool in a more refined, gentle way, particularly for facial massages.

Kyoko’s tips

• Cleanse your face first and apply a facial oil or serum to ensure the tool glides smoothly without tugging on the skin. I love using NEMOHAMO Booster Oil.
• Hold the Shikohin Ceramic Gua Sha tool at a 15-30 degree angle to the skin, keeping it relatively flat.
• Start from the jawline and move toward the ears, then down the neck(great for lymphatic drainage). Use gentle pressure.
• Cheeks: Use light pressure and glide from the sides of the nose toward the ears.
• Under the eyes: Use light pressure and glide rom the inner corner of the eyes toward the temples.
• Forehead: Stroke upwards from the eyebrows toward the hairlines. I like to stroke upward, above the hairline.
• Scalp: Apply light to medium pressure and massage from the hairline to the top of the head, and from the hairline to the sides.