2026-01-19 – Weekly Esthetician News : Gua sha: Does a quick lift last?

Last week in the esthetician community, members engaged in vibrant discussions tackling both practical and strategic aspects of skincare services. A recurring theme was how to enhance client satisfaction through personalized experiences, with several threads delving into ingredient-led facials and tailored facial menus. Another noteworthy topic was the challenge of maintaining a serene spa environment, as members shared their amusing struggles with squeaky lotion pumps. The community also explored ways to effectively communicate post-care instructions that clients are likely to follow.


This Week’s Hot Topics

  • Retinol results without the purge
    Members are exploring methods to achieve the benefits of retinol while minimizing the initial skin purge. This discussion is crucial for those looking to introduce retinol to clients with minimal downtime.
    Read more here

  • Does a 3-minute gua sha lift last
    A lively debate on the effectiveness and longevity of quick gua sha techniques. This topic matters for estheticians seeking efficient and impactful treatments.
    Read more here

  • Setting up a personalized facial menu
    Dive into strategies for creating custom facial menus that cater to individual client needs. A must-read for those wanting to enhance their service offerings.
    Read more here

  • Starting out with ingredient-led facials
    This thread provides insights into designing facials centered around specific ingredients, perfect for those aiming to differentiate their services.
    Read more here

  • CE ideas for advanced facial massage
    Discover innovative continuing education ideas focusing on advanced facial massage techniques. This is key for practitioners looking to deepen their expertise.
    Read more here

  • That lotion pump squeak that ruins zen
    An amusing yet practical conversation about maintaining a tranquil atmosphere in your spa. It’s the small details that count.
    Read more here

  • Holistic post-care handouts clients actually read
    Explore effective ways to create post-care instructions that clients will find engaging and easy to follow. This could improve client adherence and results.
    Read more here


Looking forward to another productive week in our community. Keep sharing your experiences and tips!

And > post-care handouts clients read I film a 45-second gua sha routine on the client’s phone and stick a tiny QR on their receipt; in my studio that keeps the quick lift about 24–36 hours, and if they want it to last longer I add 5 minutes of microcurrent. Do you anchor at the masseter to help the cheek lift hold?

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I’ve found a 2‑minute neck/SC drain before any face strokes makes the “quick lift” last 6–8 hours; teach 5 gentle passes at the supraclavicular notch and behind the ear, then cheek sculpt, and seal with humectant plus a light occlusive — it’s like unclogging the drain before mopping. For clients with salt/sleep puffiness, it fades faster, so I’ll swap in a short microcurrent finisher for hold. Anyone else seeing better retention when the neck is prepped first?

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I get more staying power by finishing with 30 seconds of cold glide over the brow and along the jaw using a chilled stone (or a wrapped ice cube) — it’s like hitting the cool shot after a blowout — then a light humectant mist to keep tissues happy; clients can copy it mid‑day with a clean spoon… I cue ‘soft pressure, slow pace’ so we don’t trigger rebound redness.

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