So last month I went down a rabbit hole about Meghan Markle's skincare routine.

Obsessed.

Turns out her facialist has this whole gua sha technique that's apparently been transforming faces for centuries. And I'm sitting here thinking - I have a gua sha tool that's been collecting dust in my bathroom drawer for like, two years?

Time to change that.

Here's what happened when I actually learned to use it properly, plus the exact technique Meghan's facialist swears by. Spoiler: I've been doing it completely wrong this whole time.

Wait, What Even Is Gua Sha?

Okay so gua sha is this ancient Chinese healing technique. The name literally means "scraping" which sounds scary but I promise it's not.

You use a flat stone tool - usually jade or rose quartz - to massage your face in specific upward strokes. The whole point is to boost circulation, drain lymphatic fluid, and basically sculpt your face naturally.

No needles, no fillers, just you and a pretty stone.

The technique has been around for literally thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. But it's having this huge moment right now because celebrities like Meghan are obsessed with it.

And honestly? After trying it properly, I get the hype.

The Meghan Markle Connection

Meghan's facialist, Nichola Joss, is basically the gua sha queen. She's worked with tons of celebrities and has this specific facial massage technique that includes gua sha as a key step.

Her approach is all about intentional morning rituals and taking your time with each stroke. No rushing, no scrolling through your phone while you do it.

She says the key is consistency - doing it every single day, even if it's just for five minutes.

Which tbh is way more doable than I thought.

This tutorial breaks down the basic strokes so perfectly. I watched it probably ten times before I felt confident enough to try.

My Biggest Mistakes (And You're Probably Making Them Too)

Okay real talk - I was doing everything wrong.

First mistake: using it on dry skin. Huge no. You need either a facial oil or serum to create slip, otherwise you're just dragging the stone across your face. Not cute, and definitely not effective.

Second mistake: pressing way too hard. I thought more pressure = better results, but actually you want gentle to medium pressure. You're not trying to bruise yourself.

Third mistake: going in random directions. The whole point is to follow your lymphatic drainage pathways, which means always moving upward and outward. Never down.

And the biggest one? Doing it too fast. This isn't a race. Each stroke should be slow and intentional, taking like 3-5 seconds.

Once I fixed these things, the results were completely different.

The Actual Technique (Step by Step)

Here's exactly how to do it the right way.

Start with clean skin. I do this right after washing my face in the morning, while my skin is still slightly damp.

Apply your serum or facial oil. I use about 3-4 drops - enough to create slip but not so much that you're sliding all over the place.

Keep your gua sha tool in the fridge. The cooling effect helps with depuffing and just feels amazing.

Now for the actual strokes:

Neck first. Always start here to open up the lymphatic drainage pathways. Sweep from your collarbone up to your jawline, 5 strokes on each side.

Jawline. Start at your chin and sweep along your jawbone up toward your ear. This is where you'll see the most sculpting effect. Do 5-7 strokes per side.

Cheeks. Start at your nose and sweep outward toward your temples. Use the curved edge of the tool. 5 strokes on each side.

Under eyes. Super gentle here. Start at the inner corner and sweep outward. 3-5 strokes per side. This is amazing for puffiness.

Forehead. Start at your eyebrows and sweep up toward your hairline. Then do horizontal strokes from the center outward. 5 strokes each direction.

Brows. Use the curved edge to sweep along your brow bone. Feels so good and helps with tension headaches.

She shows some advanced techniques here that I'm still working on mastering. But even the basics make a huge difference.

What Actually Happened After Two Weeks

I committed to doing this every morning for two weeks straight.

Day one: honestly just felt nice and relaxing. My face looked slightly less puffy but nothing dramatic.

Day three: okay this is becoming part of my mindful morning practice. It's actually kind of meditative?

Day five: my jawline looks... different? More defined maybe? Could be placebo but I don't think so.

Week two: my skin texture is noticeably smoother. And that puffy morning face I always wake up with? Basically gone.

The biggest change wasn't even physical though. It's become this little self-care ritual that I actually look forward to. It forces me to slow down for five minutes and just focus on myself.

Kind of like breathing exercises for anxiety but for your face.

The Tools That Actually Matter

You don't need to spend a fortune on this.

I started with a $12 rose quartz tool from Amazon and it works perfectly fine. The expensive jade ones are nice but not necessary when you're just starting out.

What matters more is the shape. Look for one with both a curved edge and a flat edge - gives you more versatility.

Some people swear by bian stone, which stays cooler longer. I haven't tried it yet but it's on my list.

The only other thing you really need is a good facial oil. I use a simple rosehip oil but any facial oil works. Just needs enough slip.

Pro tip: clean your tool after every use with soap and water. Bacteria buildup is real and we're not about that.

Her before and after is wild. Like you can actually see the difference in facial definition.

Common Questions (Because I Had All of These)

Does it hurt? Not if you're doing it right. Should feel like a firm massage, not painful.

How long does it take to see results? I noticed subtle changes after a few days, but real visible changes took about two weeks of daily use.

Can you do it too much? Yes actually. Once a day is plenty. Overdoing it can irritate your skin.

What if I have acne? Skip over active breakouts. You can still do it on clear areas, just be gentle and make sure your tool is super clean.

Morning or night? Most people do morning because it's great for depuffing. But night works too if that fits your routine better.

Does the stone type matter? Jade stays cooler, rose quartz is supposed to be better for sensitive skin. Honestly though, the technique matters way more than the stone.

Making It Part of Your Routine

The hardest part is actually remembering to do it consistently.

I keep mine right next to my cleanser so I see it every morning. Out of sight, out of mind is real with this stuff.

Some days I do the full ten-minute routine. Other days it's just a quick five-minute version. Both work - the key is just doing it regularly.

It pairs really well with morning movement practices or any kind of wellness routine you're already doing. Just adds that extra little self-care moment.

I've also started doing it while listening to podcasts or my morning playlist. Makes the time fly by.

The Mental Health Piece Nobody Talks About

Here's something unexpected - this has become a genuine mental health tool for me.

Those five minutes of just focusing on the physical sensations and movements? It's basically a moving meditation. My brain can't spiral into anxiety when I'm concentrating on the technique.

Plus there's something really grounding about the ritual of it. On chaotic mornings when everything feels overwhelming, this is my anchor.

It's similar to how gut health practices can impact your mental state - taking care of your physical body affects your mental wellbeing too.

Is It Worth The Hype?

Look, I'm not gonna tell you this is some miracle cure that'll completely transform your face overnight.

But.

For a low-cost, low-effort daily practice? Yeah, it's absolutely worth trying.

My face genuinely looks more sculpted. The puffiness is way down. My skin texture is better. And I have this nice little morning ritual that makes me feel put together.

Plus knowing that Meghan Markle's facialist uses these exact techniques makes me feel fancy, not gonna lie.

The biggest thing is just committing to doing it consistently. It's not a one-and-done thing - the results come from regular practice.

Kind of like sustainable wellness challenges - consistency beats intensity every time.

My Current Routine

Since I know you're wondering exactly what I do now...

I wake up, splash my face with cool water, and apply my vitamin C serum while my skin is still damp. Then I grab my gua sha tool from the fridge.

I do the full face routine - neck, jaw, cheeks, under eyes, forehead, brows. Takes about seven minutes total.

Some mornings I'll do an extra pass on my jawline because that's where I see the most definition.

Then I follow up with moisturizer and SPF like normal.

The whole thing has become as automatic as brushing my teeth. And honestly? My face feels weird now on the rare days I skip it.

Final Thoughts

If you have a gua sha tool collecting dust somewhere, dig it out.

If you don't have one yet, grab a cheap one and just try it. Worst case scenario, you're out twelve bucks and you have a pretty stone. Best case? Your face looks more sculpted and you've added a genuinely relaxing practice to your morning.

The technique takes a little practice to get right, but it's not complicated. Just remember: upward and outward, gentle pressure, slow strokes.

And keep it consistent. That's really the secret.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with my rose quartz and some facial oil.