Which oil should you use when you gua sha?

The Purpose of a Gua Sha Oil

Oils are used to help the gua sha tool glide smoothly across the face. This prevents the skin from pulling which could potentially cause more damage.

If oils are just not for you, you can also gua sha with water and a facial cleanser of your choice. The idea is for the face to be slick so that the gua sha can glide on top of the skin rather than tug at the skin. This optimizes lymphatic drainage while also protecting the outer layers of the skin.

The process of gua sha is also gently pressing the oil you choose to use into your skin, so this is the perfect opportunity to introduce a variety of hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Looking at the price point, clean beauty standard, sustainability, and benefits of the oils chosen in formulation, these are the oils we think you should use with your gua sha.

Our top picks:

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
The Ordinary | $9.80 | 30mL
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Clean Beauty Standard: The Ordinary is a cruelty free brand and all of their products are certified vegan. This facial oil is no exception.

Sustainability: The Ordinary is not a sustainable brand, and they admit this. Founded on transparency, The Ordinay is working on minimizing their impact, however, they have a long way to go.


Oils in formulation: This facial oil is an unrefinded pure formula of rose hip seed oil. Packed with essential fatty acids, vitamins A and vitamin C, rose hip seed oil is deeply nourishing and moisturizing. If you’re looking for extremely targeted results, reaching for a pure oil may be the right move.

Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil
Youth to the People | $44.00 | 30mL

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Clean Beauty Standard: Youth to the People is a cruelty free brand and 100% vegan brand. This, oil is 100% animal free since as they say, “animals are not ingredients.”

Sustainability: Youth to the People is committed to sustainability and “committed to being a work in progress,” always working to be as sustainable as they can be. All their formulations are made in California, with extracts sourced from local suppliers. Additionally, all their bottles and jars are glass, meaning they can be recyclable forever. read more.

Oils in formulation: This oil blend is packed with non-inflammatory oils such as sunflower oil and squalane oil. The second ingredient on the inky list for this product is dicaprylyl carbonate which is an emollient and solvent. Dicaprylyl carbonate aids with the absorption of other cosmetic ingredients without clogging pores. In tandem with the other ingredients in this formulation, the dicaprylyl carbonate helps this oils be as hydrating as it can be.

Gua Sha Glide Oil

xyz skin | $15.00 | 30 mL
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Clean Beauty Standard: XYZ Skin is certified gluten free, vegan, and cruelty free. Additioinally, this brand has gone above and beyond, checking that all their formulations are kosher and halal friendly as well.

Sustainability: XYZ skin is committed to being as sustainable as they can be. Their packaging is 100% recyclable with custom made 50% PCR plastic tops. Additionally, all their formulations as well as their shipping container are completely biodegradable. XYZ skin doesn't claim to be perfect, but they are truly doing everything they can to be as sustainable as possible.

Oils in formulation: The main oils used in the formulation of this facial oil is blue tansy. Blue tansy has the ability to kill off any acne-causing bacteria (from your face as well as from the gua sha while also clearing congested pores. This makes it one of the best oils for acne-prone skin. Blue chamomile had very similar benefits, also reducing redness and calming inflamed skin. Blue chamomile is commonly found in eye serums since there is evidence that it improves dryness and relieves puffy skin through deep hydration.

Organic Beauty Facial Oil
Honest Beauty | $29.99 | 30mL
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Clean Beauty Standard: Honest Beauty is not certified cruelty free. Although they claim to be cruelty free, their lack of transparency around the practices of their manufactures suggests they are not a true cruelty free brand. Honest Beuaty is not 100% vegan brand, some of their products (such as this facial oil) are vegan, however, not all of their products are.


Sustainability: Honest Beauty is doing their best on the sustainability front, recently announcing their new 100% recyclable, tree-less packaging. Made from upcycled sugar-cane by product, this is the first step for the brand to lessen their carbon footprint.


Oils in formulation: The first oil in this blend is olive fruit oil which is a deeply moisturizing oil that easily absorbs into the skin. Sunflower seed oil is packed with vitamin E which combats any inflammation and irratation that might be caused by the gua sha tool while also moisturizing the skin. This formulation does include a number of essential oils like lavender and ylang ylang. Essential oils may be irritating on skin.

Heavenly Sixteen All-in-One Face Oil
Summer Fridays | $55.00 | 30 mL
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Clean Beauty Standard: Summer Fridays is cruelty free. None of their finished products or ingredients are tested on animals. Additionally, Summer Fridays is a 100% vegan brand which means none of their products contain any animal derived ingredients.


Sustainability: Summer Fridays does not claim or market itself as a sustainable company. However, their products are packaged in aluminum tubes or glass bottles/jars. They also offer a recycling program where you can send your empties back to them for proper recycling in exchange for a free product.


Oils in formulation: This facial oil is a blend of sixteen different natural oils such as sunflower seed oil, grape seed oil, and squalane. Sunflower seed oil and grape seed oil are packed with vitamin E which is effective at combatting inflammation and irratation that might be caused by the gua sha tool while also moisturizing the skin. Squalane is particularly good for a gua sha oil because its structure mimincs the structure of your skin’s natural oils (known as sebum). The similar structure allows for it to truly moisturize the face without reacting or causing other inflammation. This blend of oils is perfect if you have dry or dehydrated skin and are looking for that glow.