The content in this blog post is based on authentic and genuine personal experience and it is written with full honesty. The items mentioned in this blog post are NOT SPONSORED and they are fully purchased with my own money. As usual, all of my reviews, verdicts and opinions are truthful and will not be influenced by the sponsors/collaborators.
This blog post will start with a product and brand introduction with a first-look review, then it will end with the final verdict.
My bloated face with stagnant lymphatic nodes is always a problem for me. Despite trying facial massages with my own hands, I feel like they weren’t doing enough because my hands and joints are so weak. Initially, I brushed off the thoughts about buying gua sha tools since they were so expensive but after months of contemplating, I ended up buying from Root Remedies because they are about 2x cheaper than the ones on Sephora!
Best part: They have a Referral Program! Just click the button below and stay within the newly opened tab all the way through checking out your cart! The RM25 discount will automatically apply when you’re in the Check Out page.
Gua Sha
Originated from Ancient Chinese practices, Gua (刮; scrape) Sha (沙; sand) was initially used for releasing tension and stuck lymphatic nodes of the body. The process uses a tool that scrapes the body and leaves marks on it. The tools used are traditionally stones or horns from buffaloes and other cows with horns.
Traditionally, when Gua Sha is being done on the body, it leaves a harsh-red trail on the skin. It looks like red sand, which is called petechiea or blood spots. The tools used are thinner and tougher too. If you have delicate skin, it may as well be a torture for you because it really hurts. Many people do think that Gua Sha does help after a few session. Personally, I would avoid it when my skin is very sensitive and easily damaged. Essentially, the point of it is to release internal ‘heat’ (aka Yeet Hay / 热气) and increase blood circulation. There are many benefits to Gua Sha which can be found in many other articles, so I would not emphasise them here.
When the Westerners ‘discovered’ the usefulness of Gua Sha, they used it on the face, claims that it gives glowy skin, and crystal stones are used instead. There are different crystal stones used, such as Jade, Rose Quartz, and Amethyst. Even Opal became a choice too. However, it is important to note that Gua Sha is not completely safe if you have never done it before or used too much strength than your skin can bear. This is because you might bruise or further worsen your skin when it is not done properly. If you are unsure, go to a licensed practitioner to get a good idea on how to do it before actually trying on your own.
If you think that you know your skin and arm-strength well, watch a couple of videos and read a couple of articles before proceeding. It is always good to know where the nodes are and how to increase blood circulation on the face properly. We don’t want to unintentionally bruise or cause any injuries on our face.
Choosing Crystal Stones
Many claimed that each stones has their own properties and benefits. While it all may be true, it is important to choose the correct stone with a more rational tone before proceeding.
Obsidian stones are widely used traditionally and the price varies. Different grades, different types, and different sizes are the main variables of the prices. Chinese Medicine Practitioners believe that obsidian-made tools has even better and wider benefits than other stones.
Rose Quartz is another ‘fan-favourite’ when it comes to Gua Sha tools with Amethyst as a runner-up. Though, I never really believe the so-called “benefits” that these stones could directly penetrate into the skin as it is used merely as a skincare tool instead of a spiritual tool. There’s no way the crystals can heal physical wounds or imperfections. The best they can do is to cool down the skin to reduce redness and puffiness (thanks to their coldness!). Jade stones, on the other hand, are porous. What this means is that it harbours bacteria when you don’t clean it properly. If you don’t feel that you will clean your tools very thoroughly, I would suggest avoiding Jade.
My suggestion when it comes to picking crystal is to only care about whether it is a real crystal or not, instead of focusing on the quality of the crystal in face-value (i.e.: colour, brightness, dullness, etc). A large majority of real crystals feels slightly heavier and they will always be cold, even without refrigerating. This includes Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jade, and Obsidian. The point of the cold feeling is to cool our skin down effectively. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on crystals to think that it works best. Crystals are actually very, very cheap but people resell them for an extremely higher price. Just pick one with a suitable price point that you can accept. At the end of the day, you will still drench it in skincare oils, chemicals and components, as well as water and soap anyway (which all of these can ruin the stones).
Moreover, whether it is a natural stone or factory-made shouldn’t matter because both options are equally fine. Unless you want to perform spiritual healing activities, how it is made shouldn’t matter at all. Nature stone is great because it is natural but the method of sourcing may not be great for the world. Hence, many people are now switching too factory-made stones because they retain the same components and can be produced without using harsh labour and polluting methods. (If any difference, it is only for spiritual use. Natural stones has centuries of ‘memories’, that’s why they are stronger. Factory-made ones are like babies, they still have potentials but will never have as many ‘memories’ as natural stones do.)
Root Remedies
Rose Quartz Gua Sha Stone
Rm69 | Approx 8cm x 5cm
Root Remedies said:
Boost your routine with a Rose Quartz Gua Sha Stone. Use this massage stone to gently massage and release tension from your face.
Gua Sha Massage is known to:
– Stimulate collagen production and firm up sagging facial muscles.
– Smoothens and reduces wrinkles.
– Improve dark circles and bags under eyes.
Comes with a Blush Pink Beauty Pouch (S), to keep your Gua Sha safe and sound.
Remember, your imperfections make you beautiful.
Our Rose Quartz Gua Sha Stone and Rose Quartz Face Roller are crafted using real crystals sourced from the earth. Just like humans, each one is unique in colour and pattern. Small imperfections and blemishes are to be expected, as they appear due to the particular way the crystal is formed from heat and pressure. It is what makes each crystal unique!
Please do note that we only offer replacements for these products if there are cracks or dents that affect the usability of these products on the skin, or if the product is broken. Please notify us within 24 hours of receiving the product in such cases.
If you would like to be certain to get a crystal that you are satisfied with, we encourage you to come visit us at our Root Remedies Experience Store at Bangsar, where you can select the product yourself.
* Imperfections and blemishes are defined as the natural variations in colour, pattern, texture and veining.
After applying facial oil and eye serum, use the stone to massage your face. Use light pressure and always scrap upwards. You can also massage under eyes to reduce eye bags and fine lines. Check out our Gua Sha Tutorial here.
Ordering from Root Remedies was easy and swiftly. You just need to log into their website, sign up for an account, add items into the cart, and then check out your cart. If you have not made any orders with them yet, you can use my referral link to get RM25 off your first order.
All you need to do is just to click into the link and stay within the same browser tab until you finished your order purchasing. (Side note: I tested the referral program with a second email address. While I’m not sure if it was intended but you could also get RM25 store credit immediately after your first order has been made. This means that you’re getting RM50 rebate in total!)
They shipped out my item on the 2nd day of purchase and I got the parcel on the 3rd day. When I first received the parcel, I was impressed by the shop owner’s effort to keep it as sustainable as possible. Actually, I also had not paid attention to the description where a pouch is included within the RM69 price tag as well. It’s a ‘nice-to-have’ but I don’t see myself using it unless I’m travelling, which is impossible at the moment due to FMCO.
The colour of the stone is duller than I had expected but then again, it doesn’t really do much besides looking good. The most important part is the smoothness, the durability, the thickness, and convenience. Basically, the practicality of the stone.
Every stone has their own imperfection and it is absolutely okay. The Rose Quartz has a smooth surface with some pores, which is absolutely alright. It is incredible soothing to just look at it and also touching it. It is also very cooling to hold. If you put it down after using it for a while, it will immediately become cooling again.
The logo that is imprinted onto the stone made me panicked a few times thinking I accidentally dented it or something and I only had it for a day. I think I should be able to get used to it really quickly.
All of the edges are sanded and polished down smoothly. There’s no sharp edges anywhere. If used without too much strength, you technically cannot injure your skin with scrapes and torn skin.
The insignificant curve on the long side of the stone also made it really easy to glide across the cheeks. I find that it covers almost all areas on my cheeks really well despite my high cheekbones. I believe this size is suitable for most of the Asian face types, shapes and sizes.
The size of it is adorably petite, which makes it convenient to bring to anywhere and uses very little space in the bags. It also fits nicely into my tiny hands and allows me to move in different angles without hindering the process.
Overall, the size is just nice, the weight is just nice, and the thickness is thick enough to keep me from worrying that I might break it halfway Gua-Sha-ing my face or when I accidentally sit on it. Of course, it is still essentially a crystal, so I still have to try my best from dropping it to the floor.
Verdict
It has been nothing but good vibes with Root Remedies and the Rose Quartz stones, from surfing through their website to actually using the product. I would say that they are one of the most credible yet affordable sources to purchase the Gua Sha stone. Of course, there could be cheaper alternatives but I am unable to venture outside of my house to find it. So, for now, Root Remedies seems like the best place to get it online.
Honestly, I’m glad I got this Gua Sha stone because it works so much better than my bare hands. My hands and joints are naturally weak so using this tool makes it easier to target acupuncture points and pushing stagnant blood circulation around, letting lymphatic nodes to circulate better. That aside, skincare is a long-term strategic game and if there are shortcuts to getting perfect skin, it is most likely going to haunt you within a short period of time too. It will take a really, really long time for crystal Gua Sha tools to work, especially if you are using it for ‘glowy’ skin or ‘toned’ skin. Gua Sha tools are mainly for massages and releasing stagnation, it isn’t made for skincare purposes anyway.
As for certain effects like “purifying your energy”, “opening your heart” or any similar things, please note that if you want those things to really happen, you need to do it spiritually. The stone alone is not going to miraculously change your energy or your heart. They are simply just a booster/tool, just the same as using it for skincare. You need to work on yourself spiritually before you can effectively harvest that goodness.
That is all for this blog post! If you feel like getting a piece to try out, make sure you use the referral link below to get RM25 off your first order! (RM69-RM25 = RM44 a piece! (excl. Delivery Fee)). You can also click the second button to see all of the referral links and codes that I have in store for you!
