Iā€™m no stranger to facials and skin treatments. My obsession with them started in high school, and for years Iā€™ve entrusted my skincare to Jane Cowan at Pink Moon. So when an email arrived from Beth Griffing of All and One Acupuncture informing me of a new beauty trend involving facial sculpting with stones and herbs derived from ancient East Asian techniques, I jumped at the chance to experience it for myself. An all-natural alternative to cosmetic surgery, Botox, and injections, the Thai Herb and Jade Stone Facial involves a type of massage named Gua Sha thatā€™s administered with a cooling jade stone. This techniqueā€”with the addition of a hot steamed Thai herbal compressā€”promises to help lift and firm skin, reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and promote lymphatic drainage. Iā€™m pretty lucky that, at almost 37 years young, I donā€™t really have many skin aging issues, thanks to my aforementioned obsession. I do, however, have that pesky line in between my eyebrows. Add sleep deprivation and stress, and that line gets deeper, making me appear mad and tired. Lately, Iā€™ve been toying with the idea of solving my problem with Botox, but I prefer natural products and techniquesā€”so this new beauty trend seemed right up my alley.


One doesnā€™t realize just how much stress and tension is held in the muscles of the face and jaw until a qualified person works on them. Over the course of the hour-long treatment, I could actually feel my skin lifting, the tension in my muscles and jaw melting, and the toxins being flushed away.


Usually during a facial, the treatment focuses on various topical products to achieve different results, which sometimes can cause irritation. The Gua Sha massage and Thai compress, however, only rely on a neutral oil, a gentle pearl exfoliating powder, and the natural herbs in the compress; the main treatment is the massage itself, which is absolute HEAVEN. One doesnā€™t realize just how much stress and tension is held in the muscles of the face and jaw until a qualified person works on them. Over the course of the hour-long treatment, I could actually feel my skin lifting, the tension in my muscles and jaw melting, and the toxins being flushed away. And that pesky line? Gone!

The treatment was almost a month (and two fashion shows) ago, and the line has come back a littleā€”but the overall effects of the treatment continue. At $110 per treatment, itā€™s not cheap, but compare that to the cost of injections, Botox, and other cosmetic procedures, and itā€™s a downright steal. Plus, no pain or downtime! While Iā€™ll still be going to my much-trusted facialist for regular surface treatments, Iā€™ll definitely be incorporating this new technique into my self-care routine.

Luckily, Griffing also offers classes that teach you this technique for just $50, and she includes the Gua Sha tool. The class is open to recipients of the treatments as well as those who would like to employ a more DIY approach. To learn more, visit allandone.com.

And now... an event!

Stockpiler, a creative community connector that works closely with early and mid-career artists to curate and produce events, will host a collaborative project at Alexa Stark Studio, Designers in Residence. Focusing on slow fashion, the residency will feature work from Alexa Stark, Veil & Valor, and Amy Yeung of Los Angelesā€™ Orenda Tribe. The designers will display pieces from their spring collections, each making a statement about slowing down the pace of fashion, using upcycled and small-batch materials, and creating seasonless garments that can be mixed and matched. Be sure to check out @stockpiler on Instagram for updates on studio hours for specific designers and events.