Learn all about TRADITIONAL beauty therapies

Facial acupuncture

Facial acupuncture stimulates your lymphatic and circulatory system, delivering nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells, nourishing skin from the inside out. It can even out your complexion and promote glowing skin. The positive microtraumas also stimulates the production of collagen, improving elasticity, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. Facial acupuncture isn’t a quick fix but will definitely brighten your complexion and give you that make-up free glow.

Facial acupuncture sessions includes a consultation, a facial massage, then 10- 50 acupuncture facial needles, as well as body points that will help to harmonise the effect. It will then finish with a facial gua sha session to help relax and further enhance the effects, followed by a serum.

It is usually recommended that 4-6 weekly sessions are a necessary to begin to see changes in your face.

Have you heard about gua sha and the dermal rolling?

Gua sha and rolling are known to improve circulation of blood to the face, bringing with it new oxygen and nutrients, as well improving collagen and elastin production, giving your face a new found glow.

Both the gua sha and roller tool can be used in a similar way, although the the gua sha is used commonly for lymphatic drainage and contouring the face as well as used on the neck and shoulders in times of pain and stiffness. I personally prefer this tool as it is more diverse in how you can use it, and the different shaped edges are used for different areas of the face, molding to the contours of the forehead, temples, cheeks, jaw and neck more easily.

The roller can also be used for lymphatic drainage and is more or a relaxation tool that glides easily over the face. The larger and smaller rollers are used for different areas, with the smaller roller better to relax around the eyes and target around the nose and lips.

In saying this, both tools can be used in the one session or you can choose which one you prefer to use.

What's the difference between the rose quartz and jade tools?

Many people choose the tools according to their preference of colour, if your like me, I love the rose quarts tool as its pretty, and pink!

But when buying a set, you may also want to decide on a couple of factors:

Rose quartz is often said to radiate loving energy, while jade is both soothing and purifying

The rose quartz tool is naturally cooler in property. It retains its cold feeling, soothing and cooling the face as you use it. I generally recommend the rose tool for people if they are prone to inflammation and red, dry or irritated skin.

The jade tool is adaptive in its' temperature properties, meaning that it will get warmer, adapting to the temperature of your skin as you use it. This is not a bad thing, it just means the get less of the cooling properties. I will recommend that people put their jade tool in the fridge before use, for 10-20 mins, to cool their tool and benefit from the gentle, cooling sensation this way.

Sooo ...How do i use my tools?

You can you your tools any time of the day. If your a morning person, incorporate it into your morning routine to begin the day feeling fresh.

If your more of a night person, like myself, make it a part of your sleep routine and wind down activity, de-stressing for the day

To begin, decide if you want to use your roller or gua sha.
Clean and wash your face, you want to do the session with no makeup on.
Cover the face with your favourite oil. I recommend an organic rosehip oil.
Gently scrape or roll the tool across your face in a long, sweeping motion. You don't want to apply too much pressure, just enough to stimulate blood flow and clear lymphatic build up
Begin with the neck, sweeping down to clear the lymph here first.
Then, begin with the forehead, sweeping over the three lines, 10x each.
Then the eye and cheek area, again doing the same, sweeping 10 x each
Use the V shape side of the gua sha to contour the nose, chin and jaw line 10 x each.
Use the smaller edge or roller to sweep under the eyes and on the eyebrows, over the lips and nasal lines, while using the curved area of the gua sha to massage the temples.
Then sweep down from the temples, down the neck 10x to drain the lymphatic fluid.
You can sweep down the neck on its own in 3-5 lines to also target the neck area.
You can spend more time in your problem areas.
Use 3 - 5 times a week.
It is recommended to apply a final product, like a hyaluronic acid or your favourite face product, as gua sha and rolling enhance the effects of absorption.

What not to do!

Many people are confused or unsure how to use their products at first. Many people end up damaging their skin or not doing it properly, finally deciding to give up.

A few tips:

It is a common mistake, that people apply to much pressure to their face. With these tools, less is more. You don't want to bruise your face or burst any blood vessels.

If your doing a lymphatic drainage technique, remember that your lymph is just under the surface of the skin, so only featherlight pressure is needed.

The only instance I would recommend more pressure, is if your massaging tight jaw muscles or if your massaging the back of the neck and shoulders.

Also ensure you have a clean face when using these products. You face will absorb whatever is on your skin, and if you decided to do a facial session with all your make-up, you will absorb your products, clogging your skin further.

Another mistake a lot of people make is not cleaning their products after use. Ensure that you clean with soapy water and allow to air dry, or wipe it over with an alcohol wipe.

What products should i use with my beauty set?

If your like me, I am a natural kind of girl all the way. I don't have fancy, expensive products. If you understand the dynamics of the body and the importance of keeping a clean, healthy environment not only around you but for your internal being, you would opt for natural products more regularly.

It may seem like expensive, chemically produced products give you better results. But in the long run, too many chemicals and synthetic products build up in the system, causing poor detoxification and toxic overload.

Therefore consider what products you use on your face and skin, trying to love your body from the inside out.

Below you'll see my recommendations for some facial oils I like. Please don't feel like you have to use only these products. If you have a favourite facial product that works well for your skin, stick with that!!!

Rosehip oil

Rosehip oil is by far my favourite oil to use with these products and preferably organic. It brightens and evens out your complexion and reduce hyperpigmentation due to its vitamin C content. It helps to regenerate and heal the skin, while also aiding in collagen production and elasticity. It is also rich in Vitamin E, and therefore calms and soothes irritated skin in cases of eczema and rosacea. It is a great oil as it is beneficial for all skin types, having low comedogenic properties.

Almond oil

Almond oil is a rich antioxidant oil that is great for calming the skin and supporting skin rejuvenation. It will aid in evening out skin tone and improve the overall complexion. Almond oil is also known to protect the skin from harmful uv rays, and supporting the reversal of any damage that has happened to the skin as a result.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is very similar to the skin's natural sebum, sharing the same molecular structure as the natural oils found in healthy skin,. This ensures vital nutrients and antioxidants are absorbed and therefore supports restoring appropriate balance to the skin. Jojoba is full of essential fatty acids and antioxidants as well as vitamins A, D and E, which gently supports the regeneration of skin cells.

Coconut oil

Coconut has always be hailed as a holy grail of oils. But for some people it isn't the best option for a facial oil. It may be useful in helping acne prone skin due to high levels of linoleic acid, while the lauric acid content may work as an antimicrobial. But in saying that, coconut oil can be too heavy for some skin types and clog the pores further.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is an important molecule involved in the keeping moisture within the skin. It has the ability to retain water in the skin, deeply hydrating it. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in our skin, keeping it refreshed and stable, as well as encouraging skin cell renewal. As we get older, we tend to lose this valuable molecule, leaving us with drier faces, and leading to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid also acts as an antioxidant, protecting the face from the external environment and its harmful effects. There are many products out there now containing hyaluronic acid, I always opt for a natural one when I can. Brands such as The Ordinary are popular these days.

Retinol

Retinal is a form of Vitamin A. and known as a powerhouse for reducing wrinkles and fine lines as well as preventing them. It may assist in slowing down the ageing process and support the production of collagen, It is also well known in cases of acne. It is wise to start easy when using a retinol product as it can cause a reaction for some people. It's best to begin sparingly and work up to more frequent use. It is not advised to be used in pregnancy as well. I like the brand Eco oils for a more natural form of retinol.

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