Memoirs of a Gua Sha
INTERVIEW WITH ACUPUNCTURIST / CHINESE MEDICINE / SCULPTURAL TRANSFORMATION GURU ELAINE HUNTZINGER
Sought after by fashion and beauty’s elite and the most discerning of Parisiennes, Elaine Huntzinger has transformed the wellness space with her sought-after gua sha facials and blissed out acupuncture sessions. The no-frills Américaine has carved out a loyal niche following in her 11ème apartment (where landing a rendezvous can necessitate booking months in advance). We chat post-needles for the tips and tricks to achieve that ever-allusive glow-up we are all searching for.
What first inspired your foray into Chinese medicine ?
I grew up with Chinese Medicine without knowing it. So I naturally would eat certain foods for certain symptoms or seasons. When I was living in Thailand, I wanted to study homeopathy to help my eczema. I ended up studying TCM and homeopathy in Sri Lanka with Prof Jayasuriya. I treated patients everyday and saw the results of acupuncture.
How did this body work move into gua sha and structural facials?
In my studies, we always view massage as part of TCM. We also learned gua sha at school. I have always used jade rollers and acupuncture, but when I started integrating more massage and gua sha, to move qi and blood, I saw better results.
Does gua sha offer proven results, or is it just the new jade egg? How often should we be gua sha-ing to see results?
I see results. The way we use gua sha on the face helps move the lymph in the face and we also help hydrate the fascia with certain movements. I am a firm believer in massage for the face, whether via your hands or via a gua sha tool. It increases circulation and helps release tension. If you can do it at least 3x a week, you are doing great. I tell clients to keep it by their bedside and just do a quick massage before going to sleep.
What’s the biggest complaint from your clients, in terms of their skin?
The sagginess that occurs around the mouth after a certain age or after a huge amount of stress in their lives.
How have you seen the beauty and wellness INDUSTRY shift in the last years, and where are we going post 2020?
I have seen a huge shift from treating a little line in their face to treating how they feel about their face. We have been forced to look internally and this has fortunately inspired people to take better care of themselves and also to be responsible for their health.
Jade Rollers have had excellent PR in the last year, but if a woman (or man!) has room for only one new tool, what do you recommend?
A gua sha tool.
Face oils, yay or nay?
Yay.
Worst wellness faux pas you see in your clientele:
Using only micellar water to clean their face or not washing their face at all. Also, over exfoliating with harsh acids.
