How to Use Gua Sha for Puffy Eyes and Under-Eye Bags: A Complete Guide
by Amber Boone, Licensed Aesthetician & Founder of Skin Soul Rituals
You know the feeling. You wake up, look in the mirror, and your eyes are puffy, swollen, maybe even a little painful. The bags under your eyes make you look exhausted even though you slept seven hours. Concealer only does so much. By midday, you still look tired.
Under-eye puffiness is one of the most common concerns I hear from clients in my treatment room. It's frustrating because it's so visible. Your eyes are the first thing people see, and it's stubborn. Creams promise miracles but deliver minimal results. You're told to "sleep more" or "drink less salt" but even when you do, the puffiness persists.
As a licensed holistic aesthetician with over 13 years of hands-on experience, I've learned that puffy eyes and under-eye bags aren't just about one thing. They're about fluid retention, lymphatic drainage, inflammation, thin skin, aging, hormones, and stress, all layered together.
But here's the good news: gua sha, when done correctly, addresses many of these root causes at once. It manually drains the lymphatic fluid that's pooling under your eyes, reduces inflammation, increases circulation, and with consistent practice, can genuinely transform chronically puffy eyes into brighter, smoother, more awake-looking skin.
I'm going to teach you the exact technique I’ve used in my treatment room and in my own morning routine to de-puff your eyes quickly and effectively.
Important Disclaimer: I'm a licensed aesthetician, not a medical doctor. I cannot diagnose medical conditions. If your eye puffiness is sudden, severe, painful, or accompanied by vision changes or other symptoms, please see a healthcare provider. This guide is for cosmetic puffiness and fluid retention, not medical conditions.
Why Do Your Eyes Get Puffy in the First Place?
Before we get to the technique, you need to understand what's happening under your eyes so the gua sha movements make sense.
The under-eye area is uniquely vulnerable to puffiness because:
The skin is incredibly thin: The skin under your eyes is the thinnest on your entire body, about 0.5mm thick compared to 2mm on the rest of your face. This means fluid, blood vessels, and any inflammation show through much more visibly.
Lymphatic drainage is poor: Your lymphatic system (which removes excess fluid and waste) doesn't drain the eye area as efficiently as other parts of your face. Fluid can easily pool and stagnate there, especially when you've been lying flat all night.
Fat pads can protrude: As you age, the supportive structures around your eyes weaken, and the natural fat pads under your eyes can bulge forward, creating the appearance of bags.
Collagen and elasticity decrease: Aging reduces the firmness and bounce of the skin, so it can't "snap back" as easily after swelling.
Common causes of eye puffiness:
Sleeping position: Lying flat allows fluid to accumulate in your face, especially around your eyes where drainage is already sluggish.
High sodium intake: Salty foods cause water retention throughout your body, and the delicate eye area shows it first.
Allergies and sinus congestion: Inflammation in your sinuses blocks lymphatic pathways and causes fluid backup in the surrounding areas, including your eyes.
Dehydration: When you're dehydrated, your body holds onto water, which paradoxically causes puffiness.
Hormonal fluctuations: Changes in estrogen and progesterone (during your cycle, perimenopause, menopause) affect fluid retention significantly.
Crying: Tears contain salt, and the rubbing and inflammation from crying cause temporary but significant swelling.
Alcohol consumption: Alcohol dehydrates you and causes inflammation, leading to pronounced morning puffiness.
Aging: As mentioned, weakened structures and decreased lymphatic efficiency make puffiness more persistent with age.
Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality: Ironically, not sleeping well can cause puffy eyes just as much as sleeping too much, because your body's systems (including lymphatic drainage) don't function optimally when you're exhausted.
The key thing to understand is that puffiness = fluid that's not draining properly. Gua sha helps move that fluid where it needs to go.
How Gua Sha Reduces Puffy Eyes
Gua sha works on multiple levels to address under-eye puffiness:
Manual lymphatic drainage: The gentle gliding strokes physically push stagnant lymphatic fluid out of the under-eye area and toward your lymph nodes (located near your ears and down your neck), where it can be filtered and drained.
Increases microcirculation: The massage brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the area, which helps reduce the dark, deoxygenated blood that contributes to dark circles and swelling.
Reduces inflammation: The gentle pressure and movement have an anti-inflammatory effect, calming the tissue and reducing puffiness caused by irritation or allergies.
Cools and soothes: The gua sha stone (especially if you keep it in the fridge) provides a cooling sensation that constricts blood vessels and immediately reduces swelling, similar to how you'd ice a sprained ankle.
Improves product absorption: If you're using an eye serum or oil, the gua sha massage helps it penetrate more deeply and work more effectively.
Trains better drainage over time: With consistent practice, you're essentially training your lymphatic system to drain this area more efficiently on its own, so puffiness becomes less frequent and less severe.
Think of gua sha for the eyes like a very gentle, manual pump for a drainage system that's gotten sluggish. You're helping your body do what it's supposed to do naturally.
The Correct Gua Sha Technique for Puffy Eyes
This is where most people go wrong. I see so many videos showing people scraping under their eyes with way too much pressure, in random directions, or skipping the most important preparatory steps.
The under-eye area is DELICATE. You need to be gentle, intentional, and follow the correct sequence for lymphatic drainage.
What you'll need:
A smooth gua sha stone with a flat or gently curved edge
A lightweight facial oil or eye serum for slip, never drag on dry skin
If you're just getting started, our Glow & Lift Kit includes a professional-grade gua sha stone and our signature Glow Elixir facial oil, designed specifically for gentle facial work including the delicate eye area.
Critical technique principles for the eye area:
LIGHT pressure: The skin under your eyes is extremely thin and fragile. Use the lightest possible pressure, you're encouraging drainage, not pushing deep into tissue. If you see redness, broken capillaries, or bruising, you're pressing too hard.
Correct direction: Always move fluid OUT and DOWN, away from the inner corner of your eye, toward your temple, and then down toward your lymph nodes at your neck. Never scrape back and forth or push fluid toward the center of your face.
Slow movements: Each stroke should take 3-5 seconds. You're gently coaxing fluid to move, not frantically scraping.
Open drainage pathways first: If you don't prepare your neck lymph nodes to receive the fluid you're draining from your eyes, you're just moving it around with nowhere to go.
Step-by-Step Gua Sha Routine for Puffy Eyes
Here's my exact morning routine for de-puffing eyes. I do this almost every day, and it takes about 3-5 minutes.
Step 1: Prep Your Drainage Pathways (1 minute)
This is the step everyone skips, and it's the most important.
Sit comfortably. Take three deep breaths. Deep breathing actually stimulates lymphatic flow throughout your body.
Using the flat edge of your gua sha tool, start at your collarbone. Sweep gently downward toward your heart 3-5 times on each side. This opens your thoracic lymph nodes.
Then move to your neck. Place the tool just below your ear and glide straight down the side of your neck toward your collarbone. Use long, smooth strokes. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.
Why this matters: All the fluid from your face drains through your neck. If those pathways are congested, draining your eyes won't help if the fluid has nowhere to go. Always start here.
Step 2: Apply Your Eye Product (30 seconds)
Apply a small amount of lightweight facial oil or eye serum around your eye area. I use a few drops of my Glow Elixir because it's nourishing but not heavy, and it provides perfect slip for the stone.
Where to apply: On your orbital bone (the bone that circles your eye socket), under your eye, and gently on your upper eyelid if it's puffy. Avoid getting oil directly IN your eye.
Use your ring finger to gently pat the oil in, never rub or pull the delicate skin.
Step 3: Under-Eye Drainage (2 minutes)
Now we address the puffiness directly.
Hold your gua sha tool flat or at a very slight angle. Place the edge at the inner corner of your under-eye area, right where your nose meets your eye socket.
With the lightest possible pressure, I cannot stress this enough, glide the tool outward along your orbital bone toward your temple. Imagine you're gently pushing fluid out and away from the center of your face.
Continue the stroke all the way to your hairline at your temple. Don't stop at your outer eye corner, go farther.
Repeat this stroke 3-5 times under each eye.
What you should feel: A gentle, soothing glide. Cooling if your stone is cold. A slight sense of drainage or lightness.
What you should NOT feel: Pain, pulling, tugging, or any sharp sensation.
Pro tip: If one eye is puffier than the other (this is common), do a few extra strokes on that side.
Step 4: Upper Eyelid and Brow Bone (1 minute)
If your upper eyelids are puffy (this happens with allergies, crying, or hormonal swelling), you can gently work this area too.
Place the flat edge of your tool at the inner corner of your brow bone (not directly on your eyelid, but just above it on the bone).
Glide outward toward your temple, following the natural arch of your brow. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.
For the upper eyelid itself, use extremely gentle pressure, almost hovering and sweep from inner to outer corner. Only do this if your eyelids are noticeably puffy; otherwise, skip this step.
Step 5: Complete the Drainage (1 minute)
Finish by draining everything down your neck.
From your temple, glide the tool down the side of your face, past your ear, and down your neck toward your collarbone. This completes the drainage pathway, you've moved fluid from your eyes, out to your temples, and now down to your lymph nodes where it can be processed and removed.
Repeat 3-5 times on each side.
The entire routine: 3-5 minutes. You should see immediate reduction in puffiness, and your eyes should feel lighter and look brighter.
When to Do Gua Sha for Puffy Eyes
Best time: First thing in the morning
Morning puffiness is the most common and most pronounced because you've been lying flat all night. Doing this routine right after you wake up before you even have coffee can dramatically reduce the swelling and help you look more awake.
I keep my gua sha stone and facial oil right next to my bathroom sink so I don't forget or skip it.
You can also do it:
After crying (wait until the acute swelling calms a bit, then gently drain)
During allergy season when your eyes are chronically puffy
Before important events when you want to look your most awake and bright
In the evening if you've had a salty meal or alcohol and notice swelling
How often:
For chronic puffiness, daily use is ideal. For occasional puffiness, use as needed. There's no harm in doing this every single day, it's gentle, supportive, and beneficial.
Extra Tips to Maximize De-puffing
Gua sha is incredibly effective, but combining it with these practices makes it even better:
Keep your stone in the fridge or freezer: The cold enhances the anti-inflammatory, de-puffing effect. A chilled stone feels amazing and works faster.
Sleep with your head slightly elevated: Use an extra pillow or a wedge pillow to prevent fluid from pooling in your face overnight. This reduces morning puffiness before it even starts.
Drink water first thing: Hydration helps your lymphatic system function better. Paradoxically, drinking MORE water reduces water retention.
Reduce salt intake, especially at night: High-sodium dinners guarantee morning puffiness. If you know you'll be eating something salty, plan for it and do extra gua sha the next morning.
Manage allergies: If seasonal allergies are causing chronic eye puffiness, address the root cause with antihistamines, nasal sprays, or whatever your doctor recommends. Gua sha helps with the symptoms, but treating the inflammation at its source is important.
Use a quality eye product: While gua sha works on its own, pairing it with a good eye serum or oil enhances the benefits. Look for ingredients like:
Caffeine (constricts blood vessels, reduces puffiness)
Vitamin K (helps with dark circles)
Peptides (support collagen and firmness)
Hyaluronic acid (hydrates and plumps)
My Glow Elixir isn't specifically an "eye serum," but it's gentle and nourishing enough to use around the eyes, and the botanical oils support skin health without irritation.
Avoid rubbing your eyes: The more you rub, tug, or pull at your eye area, the more you damage the delicate skin and worsen puffiness. Treat this area with care always.
Get consistent sleep: Easier said than done, I know. But poor sleep quality disrupts your body's drainage systems and contributes to chronic puffiness.
What Results to Expect (And When)
Let's set realistic expectations so you know what's normal.
Immediately after gua sha:
Visible reduction in puffiness (sometimes dramatic, sometimes subtle depending on severity)
Eyes look brighter and more awake
Under-eye area feels lighter, less "heavy"
Slight glow from increased circulation
These immediate results will fade somewhat over the next few hours as your body continues its normal processes. That's okay, you're training your lymphatic system to drain better over time.
After 1-2 weeks of daily practice:
Morning puffiness is less severe when you wake up
The de-puffing effect from gua sha lasts longer throughout the day
Dark circles may start to lighten slightly (from better circulation)
Skin texture around eyes improves
After 4-6 weeks:
Chronic puffiness becomes noticeably less frequent
Your lymphatic drainage functions more efficiently on its own
Fine lines from dehydration or fluid retention soften
Overall eye area looks healthier and more rested
Long-term (2-3 months+):
Baseline puffiness is significantly reduced
You might only need gua sha occasionally rather than daily
The under-eye area maintains better tone and firmness from consistent circulation
You look more awake naturally, without relying on makeup or caffeine
The key is consistency. Daily practice for at least a month will give you the best results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I see these mistakes all the time, and they can actually make puffiness worse or damage the delicate eye area:
Pressing too hard: This is the #1 mistake. The under-eye skin is so thin that aggressive pressure can break capillaries, cause bruising, or create more inflammation. Always use the lightest touch.
Dragging on dry skin: Without oil or serum for slip, you're tugging and pulling the skin, which contributes to sagging and wrinkles over time.
Moving in the wrong direction: Pushing fluid toward the center of your face or scraping back and forth doesn't support drainage. Always move OUT and DOWN.
Skipping the neck prep: If you don't open your drainage pathways first, you're just moving fluid around your face with nowhere for it to go.
Using a tool with sharp or rough edges: The eye area requires a perfectly smooth edge. Check your stone for any chips or rough spots before using it near your eyes.
Expecting instant permanent results: One session will reduce puffiness temporarily. Permanent improvement requires consistent practice over weeks.
Doing it too fast: Rushing defeats the purpose. Slow, intentional strokes are what stimulate lymphatic drainage.
Can Gua Sha Fix Under-Eye Bags Permanently?
I want to be honest about what gua sha can and can't do.
What gua sha CAN help with:
Fluid retention and puffiness (this is where it shines)
Mild to moderate under-eye bags caused by swelling
Dark circles from poor circulation
Temporary bags from lack of sleep, salt, alcohol, crying
Fine lines and crepiness from dehydration
What gua sha CANNOT fix:
Severe under-eye bags caused by protruding fat pads (this is structural and may require cosmetic procedures)
Deep wrinkles or significant skin laxity from aging (though gua sha can improve them somewhat)
Genetic dark circles caused by pigmentation or very thin skin showing blood vessels
Medical conditions causing puffiness (thyroid issues, kidney problems, etc.)
If your under-eye bags are primarily from fat pad protrusion or severe skin laxity, gua sha will help with any fluid retention on top of that, but it won't address the structural component. That's where you'd need to talk to a cosmetic dermatologist or plastic surgeon about other options.
For most people dealing with everyday puffiness, hormonal swelling, and fluid retention, gua sha is incredibly effective.
Final Thoughts: Gentle Care for a Delicate Area
Your under-eye area is one of the first places to show stress, exhaustion, and aging. It's also one of the most delicate and deserving of gentle care.
Gua sha offers a way to actively support this vulnerable area without harsh treatments, expensive procedures, or complicated routines. It's a practice that honors your skin's natural intelligence, works with your lymphatic system rather than against it, and requires nothing more than a smooth stone, a bit of oil, and a few minutes of intentional attention.
If you struggle with puffy eyes, I encourage you to try this practice consistently for at least two weeks. Be gentle, follow the proper technique, and give your body time to respond.
Your eyes and the rest of your face, will thank you.
Ready to Get Started?
New to gua sha? Join our free 5-Day Gua Sha Challenge where I'll teach you the fundamentals of proper technique, including one video for the delicate eye area. You'll get daily video tutorials and guidance delivered straight to your inbox.
Ready to start today? Our Glow & Lift Kit includes everything you need: a professional-grade gua sha stone with smooth edges perfect for the eye area, and our nourishing Glow Elixir facial oil that provides the ideal slip for gentle massage.