What Serum to Use with Gua Sha: Top Picks for Glowing Skin

If you could bottle up a radiant glow (the kind that gets you double-takes even when you’re bleary-eyed at brunch), it might just come down to picking the right serum for your gua sha routine. Gua sha isn’t new—heck, it’s as old as your grandma’s grandma—but it’s become a covetable beauty ritual you’ve probably seen all over your social feeds lately. Every time I try it, I remember why: my face feels alive, like it’s finally had its morning coffee. But here’s the real question people are Googling at 2AM: What serum should you use with gua sha to actually get that glow?

Let’s just say—not all serums are made equal, and not all pairings are blissful. In reality, what you slather under that cool piece of jade or rose quartz can make or break your whole experience. I’ve spent months playing beauty guinea pig, researching, talking to dermatologists, scouring Reddit threads, and even roping in my mom (she’s way more skeptical than I am, FYI). Here’s what I discovered—warts, wonders, and all.

So, What Even Is Gua Sha, and Is It Worth the Hype?

Gua sha hails from Traditional Chinese Medicine, but don’t let the “ancient” label fool you—it fits right into our obsession with instant results. The process? You take a smooth, sometimes heart-shaped stone tool and sweep it gently across your face and neck (think: upward, outward, like drawing little rainbows with gentle pressure). I used to be skeptical—can scraping do more than just, well… scrape? But after a few weeks, my jawline started to reappear from its pandemic hibernation. My cheeks? Way less puffy in the a.m.

If you’re still on the fence, here’s the gist of what gua sha believers rave about:

• Better blood flow (hello, post-workout rosy flush but without running)
• Drainage of that weird, hard-to-lose morning puffiness
• Skin that looks firmer, bouncier
• Supercharged absorption of whatever you apply first (yep, that’s where serum comes in)

Why Bother With Serum When Doing Gua Sha?

Here’s the thing: running a stone on dry skin is basically a recipe for redness. I learned this the hard way – don’t be like me. Gua sha works best on skin that’s a little juicy, so a slick serum does double duty: you get glide and deliver actives deep where they can actually make a difference. Let’s not forget, the right product can turn your seven-minute ritual into either, “Wow, glowy and hydrated!” or “Oh no, red and weirdly sticky.” You want the first one. Trust me.

The Big Serum Question: Which Type Does What?

Not to sound dramatic, but there are so many serums it kind of makes my head spin. Everyone has an opinion—my DMs are full of suggestions from friends, some sensible and some… not so much. So here’s my honest, lived-through breakdown (the good, the greasy, and the game-changers):

Mini confession: I sometimes mix a plain hyaluronic serum with a tiny drop of squalane oil—don’t tell the purists, but it works. If your skin likes a little more, try “cocktailing” your products. You do you.

What Ingredients Actually Make You Glow?

This part used to feel overwhelming (so many labels, so few answers), so coming from someone who’s thrown lots of paychecks at Sephora, let me save you some trial and error. The MVPs are:

• Hyaluronic Acid – Binds moisture like a sponge. Instantly plumps up tired skin. Cheap and cheerful or fancy and bougie—it all works.
• Vitamin C – The brightener! If your “canvas” looks dull after too many 3AM Netflix binges, this is your wake-up call.
• Peptides – Think “collagen whispers.” Slowly but surely, you’ll notice fewer fine lines.
• Niacinamide – For “why is my face so blotchy?” days. Calms, evens out tone. Bit of an unsung hero.
• Centella Asiatica – When my skin’s mad at me (rashes, irritation), this makes it forgive and forget faster.

Retinol is a thing—but, warning: don’t go hard and heavy before bed with a strong retinol plus gua sha if you’re new. Red faces, not cute. Been there.

I Screwed Up My Gua Sha. Here’s What I Learned (Take Notes!)

• Do. Not. Use. On. Dry. Skin. (Did I mention that?)
• You can actually bruise if you press too hard—go gentle. Lighter pressure won’t make you look 80; it makes you look like you know what you’re doing.
• Some oils broke me out, and I ended up swapping to gel-serums with a drop of oil just for slip—my T-zone thanked me.
• Wash your stone. Every time. This isn’t optional, nobody wants breakouts from yesterday’s grime.

My Morning Routine — For Anyone Who Wants a Template

1. Wash face. (Duh)
2. While skin’s still kind of damp, drop on 3- drops of serum (I rotate between vitamin C in the morning and peptides at night).
3. One or two drops of oil in winter, especially for cheeks.
4. Gua sha! Start at the neck, working up toward the jaw. Think “pushing up, out, and away”—not circles, not back and forth.
5. Avoid under-eye bags if you didn’t sleep. Just a few gentle passes—trust me, it helps.
6. SPF if it’s the a.m. (Yes, even in winter, and yes, indoors. Learned that too.)

Do Oils or Serums Work Better? Let’s Get Real

I’ve argued with friends about this over drinks, honestly. Some swear by facial oils (“maximum glide!”) while others insist on “serums first, oils optional,” especially if you’re on the shiny side. Me? Depends on my mood and how Sahara-dry my skin feels. Do a patch test, especially with actives—one friend got red for days with retinol and gua sha. Yikes.

What Serums “Almost Always Work” — Real World Picks

I polled my (overly honest) group chat and here’s what people actually use and rebuy:

• Timeless Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid (best for: even tone, glowy mornings)
• The Ordinary Buffet (love for: overall firmness, price point that feels legal)
• La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 (lives up to the hype: hydration without oil-slick)
• Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum (SOS product: calms down red, freaked-out skin)
• Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow (bougiest, but legit if you want to glow and can splurge)

(This is not sponsored, but if someone wants to sponsor my skincare habit, I’m available.)

Common FAQs (Summed Up by Yours Truly)

Q: Oil or serum for gua sha?

A: Depends on what your skin loves. Dry? Oil is king. Combo? Try serum plus a drop of something oily for the perfect glide. Oily folks? Stick to lightweight, non-comedogenic serums. You can always add oil sparingly.

Q: Morning or night?
A: If you wake up puffy, do the deed before coffee. If you want to unwind, do it before bed. No rules. Morning sometimes gives me a tighter jawline for the day, though.

Q: How long till you see results?
A: First day, you might look more awake. But real glow—like, “Did you get fillers?” comments—comes after three weeks or so of sticking with it. Patience pays.

Q: Can gua sha with serum fix acne or very sensitive skin?
A: With gentle serums (think niacinamide or cica) and no heavy pressure—yes! But patch test, and skip if you’ve got active breakouts. Safety first.

If You’ve Read This Far, a Final Pep Talk

Look, gua sha isn’t magic (unless magic = a prettier, less puffy version of your real face), but pairing it with the right serum turns it from “pretty stone, whatever” to “why did I wait this long?” Skincare is one of those weirdly personal, sometimes expensive, sometimes trial-and-error journeys. If you’re going to try gua sha, do yourself a favor and choose your serum wisely. Not every bottle works for every face—and sometimes the cheap stuff is as good as the splurges. Mix, match, listen to your skin.

Your face will thank you with a glow you can’t get from any filter. If you experiment, take a before and after. You’ll get hooked. Promise.

Quick Recap (a little table, because who doesn’t love a cheat sheet?)

So, that’s my take. If you want to see what the buzz is about, snag a serum that suits you, chill your gua sha stone for seconds, and take the time for a little self-care. Glow on, friend.