Gua Sha: White Jade vs Amethyst - Or Why Not Both?
Introduction
Gua Sha treatments started as a traditional healing method in East Asia thousands of years ago. Today, it is one of the most trusted facial massage techniques.
Whether you are in your 20s or your 60s and up, this ritual reduces puffiness, eases facial tension, boosts circulation, and promotes lymphatic drainage. With slow upward and outward strokes along the jawline, cheeks, forehead, and under the eyes, the practice blends skincare with mindful relaxation.
Once you decide to bring this facial tool into your routine, the most common question becomes: Which Gua Sha stone to choose? Among materials like rose quartz, metal, and natural green jade, two stones stand clearly above the rest: White Jade and Amethyst. These offer the strongest combination of cooling ability, tension relief, soothing properties, and long-term skin benefits.
This guide offers a science-backed look at the benefits of Gua Sha, explains White Jade vs Amethyst, explores the benefits of all major Gua Sha materials, and shows how the combined strengths of these stones can be seen in White Jade and Amethyst Gua Sha.
Why Gua Sha Works: The Core Science
Although Gua Sha comes from traditional medicine, modern research supports many of its benefits.
A 2018 study in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that Gua Sha increased microcirculation by up to 400 percent for several minutes after treatment. Improved circulation helps the skin reduce inflammation, move excess fluid, and appear brighter.
A 2025 randomized controlled trial in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology compared facial rollers to Gua Sha and found that Gua Sha improved facial contour primarily through changes in muscle tone, while rollers improved elasticity. This positions Gua Sha as a powerful tool for facial sculpting, facial tension relief, and softening expression lines.
The Core Gua Sha Benefits
Lymphatic Drainage
By guiding fluid toward the lymph nodes, Gua Sha promotes lymphatic drainage. This reduces puffiness under the eyes, swelling around the cheeks, and general facial bloating.
Facial Contouring
Regular practice helps prevent downward muscle tension, supporting natural facial contouring.
Facial Tension Relief
Gua Sha works like a deep-tissue massage for the face, reducing jaw tension, brow tightness, and muscular stress.
Circulation Boost
Improved blood flow supports nutrient delivery, enhances radiance, and improves overall skin tone.
Better Product Absorption
Gua Sha stimulates circulation and warms up the tissue, helping skincare products absorb more effectively.
White Jade vs Amethyst Gua Sha: The Two Superior Stones
Among all materials available today, White Jade Gua Sha and Amethyst Gua Sha remain the most versatile, effective, and well-balanced options for daily use.
White Jade Gua Sha
White Jade is known for its cooling density. This makes it ideal for reducing inflammation, soothing irritation, and combating puffiness.
White Jade Benefits
- Excellent for morning use to reduce puffiness under the eyes.
- Naturally cooling, offering strong inflammation relief.
- Helps balance skin energy and calm heat.
- Supports detoxifying Gua Sha effects.
- Ideal for congested or redness-prone skin.
- Feels refreshing and revitalizing.
Because of its density, White Jade maintains its coolness during the entire facial massage, offering calming and restorative benefits.
Amethyst Gua Sha
Amethyst is known as the calming stone. Amethyst healing properties are highly regarded and align well with skin health. Its soothing qualities make it a recommended choice for sensitive and reactive skin among all skin types.
Its energy associations support stress relief and emotional grounding, making it ideal for evening routines.
Amethyst Benefits
- Excellent for soothing irritated or sensitive skin.
- Reduces jaw tension, brow tightness, and stress-related muscle holding.
- Helps calm redness and hormonal flare-ups.
- Supports relaxation and mental unwinding.
- Ideal for softening tension-driven wrinkles.
- A superior choice for calming Gua Sha benefits.
Because of its tension-relieving qualities, Amethyst is highly recommended for Gua Sha for wrinkles related to expression and muscle tightness.
How White Jade and Amethyst Combine the Benefits of All Materials
Every Gua Sha material carries its own unique strengths.
- Green Jade offers traditional balancing benefits and gentle cooling.
- Rose Quartz promotes a nurturing, gentle facial massage and is associated with emotional warmth.
- Stainless Steel maintains an extended cooling effect, is hygienic, and glides smoothly across the skin.
White Jade and Amethyst bring together many of these strengths.
White Jade delivers refreshing coolness, balancing qualities, and detoxifying Gua Sha benefits. Its cooling ability mirrors stainless steel’s temperature retention while offering the calming smoothness associated with green jade.
Amethyst provides deep relaxation, facial tension relief, emotional grounding, and gentle support for sensitive skin, echoing rose quartz’s soothing qualities while adding broader tension-relieving effects.
Together, White Jade and Amethyst Gua Sha tools offer a balanced combination of the benefits seen in all these materials.
Gua Sha Material Comparison: Benefits of All Stones
|
Material |
Benefits |
|
Jade |
Provides gentle cooling, traditional balancing properties, and grounding energy. It supports steady circulation and offers a smooth glide for facial massage. |
|
Rose Quartz |
Associated with emotional balance and self-care. It delivers a soft, soothing facial massage experience and is ideal for calming rituals. |
|
Metal |
Maintains a long-lasting cold temperature, supporting puffiness reduction. It is also highly hygienic and easy to clean, making it effective for inflamed or breakout-prone skin. |
Each material offers distinct benefits to the overall practice of facial massage. White Jade and Amethyst simply bring together these complementary strengths.
Advanced Gua Sha Applications
Gua Sha can support more than facial sculpting.
For Tension Headaches, glide along the base of the skull.
For Tech Neck, use long downward strokes across the neck and shoulders.
For TMJ or Jaw Clenching, gently massage the masseter muscle.
For Sinus Drainage, press gently between the brows and inner eye area.
How to Use Your Gua Sha Correctly
- Begin on clean skin with a facial oil or serum.
- Hold the tool at 15 to 45 degrees.
- Use upward and outward strokes.
- Apply gentle, consistent pressure.
- Repeat each motion 5–10 times.
- Finish with downward drainage along the neck.
- Clean your tool after every use.
Consistency is the key to achieving visible results.
Final Thoughts
White Jade and Amethyst Gua Sha remain excellent choices for your skincare and wellness routine. They offer the strongest combination of cooling, soothing, lymphatic drainage, circulation support, facial contouring, and facial tension relief.
White Jade provides clarity, detoxifying Gua Sha benefits, and a refreshing cool sensation.
Amethyst offers calming Gua Sha qualities, emotional grounding, and targeted relief for sensitivity and stress.
Together or individually, these stones deliver a holistic facial massage experience backed by tradition, aesthetics, and emerging scientific support.
References
Ahn, S. H., Hwang, U. J., Han, H. S., Kim, J. H., Lee, H. J., Jeon, Y. R., Lee, H. H., & Hwang, A. H. (2025). Comparative Effects of Facial Roller and Gua Sha Massage on Facial Contour, Muscle Tone, and Skin Elasticity: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Nielsen, A., et al. (2018). The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Chan, S. T., et al. (2017). Physiological Effects of Gua Sha: A Review. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences.
Chang, P. (2011). Gua Sha and Skin Blood Flow Response. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Wong, A., et al. (2020). Manual Facial Massage and Local Blood Flow: A Controlled Study. Dermatologic Therapy.