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A beautiful gua sha tool will not tell you how much pressure to use or where. Christine focuses on your skin, gentle technique and clear instructions.

Gua sha tools come in polished jade, rose quartz, horn, stainless steel and more. They are lovely objects, and choosing one can be part of the fun. The material, however, is a small part of the picture. A gleaming tool cannot tell you whether the pressure, the area or the reason for using it suits your skin.

Start with your skin, not the shop

Before you begin any routine at home, Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, suggests a conversation at the Freshwater clinic about what would be appropriate for you. She will want to hear about:

• active skin conditions such as eczema, acne or broken skin;
• recent cosmetic procedures, peels or laser treatment;
• skincare products, such as retinoids, that can heighten sensitivity;
• medicines that may make you bruise more easily.

Gentle handling matters more than material

Christine places far more emphasis on light, careful technique and clear instructions than on whether a tool is made of a premium stone. A pricey material does not automatically lead to a better clinical result, whatever the packaging suggests. Hygiene also matters: tools should be cleaned between uses and not shared over broken skin. Working slowly, with a little oil and light strokes, tends to feel far more pleasant than pressing hard.

Watching how the skin responds

If an area stayed sore, felt irritated or bruised more than you expected, mention it before your next visit. The choice of tool and technique should follow your circumstances, not an image of the skin colour someone hoped to achieve. From there, she can suggest continuing, changing the approach or trying something else.

Bring the tool along

If you already own a gua sha tool, consider bringing it to your appointment. Christine can look at its shape and edges and show you how gentle the pressure can be. A few minutes of demonstration in Freshwater often clears up more questions than hours of online tutorials, and leaves you with a routine that suits your own skin.