Does Gua Sha Help with Nasolabial Folds? What the Evidence Actually Shows

Yes, gua sha can visibly reduce nasolabial folds — but not by erasing wrinkles. What it does is move stagnant fluid away from the mid-face, increase blood flow to the skin around your mouth and nose, and gradually improve the volume and tone of tissue along those creases. Most people see a noticeable softening within 4 to 8 weeks of consistent daily use. The folds won't vanish completely (that requires filler or surgery), but the puffiness, depth, and shadow that make them look worse? That responds very well to gua sha.

BY RITUEL amethyst gua sha tool on marble surface — The BY RITUEL amethyst gua sha.

What Actually Causes Nasolabial Folds?

Nasolabial folds — the lines running from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth — exist on every human face. They're structural creases formed by the muscles that control your expressions. The question isn't whether you have them. It's why they become deeper and more visible over time.

Three things make nasolabial folds progressively more noticeable:

Volume loss in the mid-face. Starting around age 25, the fat pads in your cheeks begin to thin and descend. As this volume shifts downward, the fold between cheek and lip becomes a deeper valley. This is the primary driver of prominent nasolabial folds, and it's largely genetic and age-related.
Fluid retention and puffiness. The mid-face collects lymphatic fluid overnight. When drainage is sluggish — from poor sleep, high sodium intake, alcohol, or simply not moving enough — that fluid pools along the nasolabial fold, casting a shadow that deepens the crease. This is the factor gua sha addresses most directly.
Collagen and elastin breakdown. Sun exposure, smoking, and natural aging degrade the structural proteins that keep skin firm and bouncy. Without that scaffolding, the skin creases more easily and doesn't spring back. This is a slower process, but gua sha's circulation-boosting effect supports the skin's repair mechanisms.

Understanding these three causes matters because it explains what gua sha can and cannot do. It won't rebuild lost fat pads. But it directly tackles fluid retention and circulation — which together account for a significant portion of how deep and shadowed those folds appear on any given day.

How Gua Sha Addresses Nasolabial Folds

Research published in Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing found that gua sha increases microcirculation in treated tissue by up to 400%, with effects lasting up to 25 minutes post-treatment. That's not a cosmetic claim — it's a measured physiological response.

For nasolabial folds specifically, this increased circulation does three things:

Drains trapped fluid from the mid-face

The lymphatic system has no pump of its own. It depends entirely on muscle movement and external pressure to move fluid. When you sweep a gua sha stone from the nose outward along the cheekbone, you're physically pushing lymph toward the drainage points near your ears and down toward the neck. Less fluid along the fold means less puffiness, less shadow, and a visibly flatter crease.

Delivers fresh blood to the tissue

That 400% microcirculation increase means oxygen and nutrients flood the area during and after your session. Over weeks of daily practice, this supports healthier, more resilient skin. The tissue around nasolabial folds tends to be under-circulated because it sits at a junction point between muscle groups. Regular gua sha changes that.

Releases tension in the muscles that deepen folds

The levator labii superioris, zygomaticus major, and orbicularis oris all meet near the nasolabial fold. Chronic tension in these muscles — from stress, clenching, or habitual expressions — pulls the fold deeper. Gua sha's gliding pressure releases that tension the same way a massage releases a tight shoulder. The fold softens because the muscles pulling it taut relax.

The Exact Technique for Nasolabial Folds

This is where most people go wrong. Random scraping across your face won't target these folds. You need a specific approach.

Step 1: Prep with oil

Apply a generous layer of facial oil — enough that the stone glides without dragging. Rosehip oil works especially well here because it absorbs into skin rather than sitting on top, so you get both glide and active ingredients. Dry skin plus gua sha equals tugging, which can actually worsen the appearance of fine lines.

Step 2: Open the drainage pathways first

Before touching the nasolabial area, sweep your amethyst gua sha gently down each side of your neck, from jaw to collarbone, 5 times per side. This opens the lymphatic exit routes. If you skip this step, you're pushing fluid toward drains that are already backed up.

Step 3: Work the nasolabial fold directly

Place the curved edge of the stone right in the crease of the fold, near the nose. Using medium pressure, sweep outward and slightly upward along the cheekbone toward the ear. Repeat 8 to 10 times on each side. The direction matters: always move away from the fold, toward the ear. You're encouraging fluid to exit the area, not accumulate.

Step 4: Lift the cheek pad

Place the flat side of the stone against the apple of your cheek. Sweep upward toward the temple with firm, slow strokes. This physically lifts the tissue that gravity is pulling down onto the fold. Do 5 to 8 strokes per side.

Step 5: Finish with the jaw and neck

Sweep along the jawline from chin to ear, then down the neck to the collarbone. This ensures all the fluid you've mobilized has somewhere to go. Without this finishing step, the puffiness returns faster.

The entire routine takes about 5 minutes. Do it every morning for best results — overnight fluid retention is when nasolabial folds look their worst.

Realistic Timeline: When Will You See Results?

Managing expectations matters. Here's what the typical progression looks like:

Close-up of the glide.

Day 1: Immediate but temporary reduction in puffiness. The fold looks softer for 2 to 4 hours after your session. This is purely a fluid-drainage effect.
Week 1-2: You start noticing that morning puffiness resolves faster. The fold still returns to baseline by afternoon, but it's less pronounced in photos and mirrors during the first half of your day.
Week 3-4: Cumulative improvement. The tissue along the fold starts to look healthier — more color, more tone. The fold itself is visibly softer even later in the day.
Week 6-8: This is where most people report a real, lasting difference. The combination of better circulation, reduced chronic puffiness, and released muscle tension creates a visible change that others notice. The fold is still there — it always will be — but it's noticeably shallower.

Consistency is everything. Doing this three times a week will produce results, but daily use accelerates the timeline significantly. If you skip a week, you'll lose some ground on the fluid-drainage benefits, though the circulation improvements are more durable.

Common Mistakes That Make Nasolabial Folds Look Worse

Not all gua sha approaches are equal. These errors can actually deepen the appearance of folds:

Pressing too hard. Aggressive pressure near the nasolabial fold can cause micro-swelling that temporarily worsens the crease. Use medium, consistent pressure — firm enough to feel the stone working, gentle enough that you're not wincing.
Wrong direction. Scraping downward along the fold pushes fluid into the area instead of draining it. Always sweep outward and upward, toward the ear and temple.
Skipping the neck. If you don't clear the drainage pathways in the neck first, you're just redistributing fluid in circles. The lymphatic system drains through the neck — open it first.
Using gua sha on dry skin. Without oil, the stone drags and tugs at skin that's already losing elasticity. This creates more visible lines, not fewer. Always use a generous amount of facial oil.
Inconsistency. Doing a perfect routine once a week won't produce meaningful results. The fluid-drainage effect is temporary — daily practice is what creates lasting improvement.

Why the Stone Material Matters for This Area

The nasolabial area is sensitive. It has thinner skin than your forehead or jawline, and the muscles underneath are smaller and more reactive. This makes the tool choice more important than it is for, say, broad cheekbone sweeps.

An amethyst gua sha is particularly effective here because amethyst holds a cool temperature longer than jade or rose quartz. That coolness constricts blood vessels slightly, reducing puffiness on contact — an immediate visual benefit on top of the drainage work. The stone's naturally smooth polish also means less friction on thin, delicate mid-face skin.

The shape matters too. Look for a stone with both a curved notch (for tracing the fold itself) and a flat edge (for lifting the cheek pad). Most heart-shaped gua sha designs include both. Avoid flat, featureless stones — they can't reach into the crease effectively.

What to Combine with Gua Sha for Better Results

Gua sha works best as part of a routine, not in isolation. For nasolabial folds specifically:

Facial oil before every session. Rosehip oil is ideal because it's rich in vitamin A and essential fatty acids that support skin repair. Apply it, then use your gua sha immediately — the massage drives the oil deeper into the skin than surface application alone.
Hyaluronic acid serum underneath. Apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin, let it absorb for 30 seconds, then apply your oil and begin gua sha. The combination of hydration (hyaluronic acid), nourishment (oil), and circulation (gua sha) creates a synergy that none of them achieve alone.
SPF every single day. Sun damage is the number one accelerator of collagen loss along the nasolabial fold. If you're doing gua sha every morning but skipping sunscreen, you're fighting a losing battle.
Sleep on your back. Side sleeping compresses the nasolabial fold for 6 to 8 hours every night. Over years, this creates a permanent deepening on the side you sleep on. Switching to back sleeping — or at least alternating sides — makes your gua sha work go further.

Watch the technique

Sometimes the strokes are easier to see than to describe. This tutorial walks through the full facial gua sha sequence.

Video: Gua Sha Facial Massage Tutorial — credit: SheerLuxe Beauty School

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for gua sha to reduce nasolabial folds?

Most people see a noticeable softening within 4 to 8 weeks of daily use. You'll notice immediate temporary improvement from fluid drainage after each session, but the lasting structural changes — better circulation, reduced chronic puffiness, released muscle tension — take consistent daily practice over several weeks.

Can gua sha completely remove nasolabial folds?

No. Nasolabial folds are a natural structural feature of the human face — everyone has them. Gua sha reduces their depth and visibility by draining puffiness, boosting circulation, and releasing the muscle tension that deepens them. For complete elimination, dermal fillers or surgical intervention would be needed. Gua sha is a natural, non-invasive option that produces real but moderate improvement.

Which direction should I use gua sha for smile lines?

Always sweep outward and slightly upward — from the fold near the nose, along the cheekbone, toward the ear. This moves lymphatic fluid away from the crease toward drainage points. Never scrape downward along the fold or inward toward the nose, as this pushes fluid into the area and can temporarily worsen the appearance.

Should I use gua sha on nasolabial folds every day?

Daily use produces the best results. The fluid-drainage effect of each session is temporary (lasting a few hours), so consistent daily practice is what creates cumulative, lasting improvement. Morning sessions are ideal because overnight fluid retention is when the folds typically look their worst.

Does the type of gua sha stone matter for nasolabial folds?

Yes. The nasolabial area has thinner, more delicate skin than the jawline or forehead. A smooth, well-polished stone like amethyst works well because it holds coolness (which reduces puffiness on contact) and glides smoothly without tugging. Avoid rough or poorly finished stones that could irritate this sensitive area.

What oil should I use with gua sha for nasolabial folds?

Any facial oil that provides adequate glide works. Rosehip oil is a strong choice because it contains vitamin A (a natural retinoid precursor) and essential fatty acids that support skin repair — so you're nourishing the skin while you massage. Apply enough that the stone slides freely without any dragging sensation.

Can gua sha make nasolabial folds worse?

Only if done incorrectly. Pressing too hard can cause micro-swelling that temporarily deepens the fold. Scraping in the wrong direction pushes fluid toward the crease instead of away from it. And using gua sha on dry skin without oil creates friction that tugs at already-thinning skin. Follow proper technique and you'll see improvement, not worsening.