Should You Ditch Your Gua Sha for This Motorized Gadget?
We put Shark Beauty’s new Depuffi Tool to the test.
Thanks to our current online beauty landscape, gua shas have transformed from an ancient traditional Chinese medicine practice to a symbol of cool girl wellness. As a result, skincare tools of all kinds are all the rage. From microcurrent devices that stimulate facial muscles to LED face masks that promise anti-aging benefits, there are no shortage of gadgets and gizmos to add to our skincare routines. However, with how oversaturated the skincare space has become, it can be increasingly difficult to discern which ones are actually worth investing in.
Personally, I’ve found that a traditional gua sha suits my everyday routine just fine. Although I appreciate the occasional LED light therapy and microcurrent moment when getting a facial at the spa, I’ve never really sought out similar devices for at-home use. Mostly because, my gua sha has served as a fairly simple and effective way to decrease puffiness and sculpt my face over time. So, when I heard about Shark Beauty’s innovative take on the classic face tool, I was very interested to see how it stacked up against my trusty stone.
Diary Diary, Meet the Shark Beauty Depuffi Tool
Best for: Experienced gua sha users, lymphatic drainage
Price: $200 USD on the brand’s website
Grade: B+
Notes From an Expert
According to double board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Maryam Zamani, the Shark Depuffi Tool is basically a high-tech upgrade of the typical gua sha. The motorized skincare tool includes a cooling and warming setting through a contoured metallic surface which is designed to glide along the face and neck — mimicking the mechanics of a traditional gua sha while removing the hassle of trips to the fridge.
“The benefit of having it in a motorized device is that if you don’t have access to a fridge, let’s say you’re traveling, or your traditional devices lose their cooling ability after a while, this generates the cool using its motor and ventilation system — so it’s ongoing,” she tells Hypebae. For those already loyal to their ice rollers or jade stones, Dr. Zamani notes that similar results are achievable with conventional tools, as long as you’re willing to put in the extra prep work.
However, Dr. Zamani says what really sets the Shark Depuffi apart is its warming function — which can be hard to find among other at-home devices. While the cool setting is said to constrict blood vessels while reducing swelling and puffiness, the warming feature does the opposite, opening vessells up to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage while also enhancing product absorption. Dr. Zamani recommends using the cool setting in the morning for a quick refresh and reserving the warm setting for nighttime, as it can double as a relaxing, wind-down ritual. In order to avoid irritation, she also says you should hold off on pairing retinol or other active ingredients with the warm setting until your skin has had enough time to adjust.
Diary Entry
With everything Dr. Zamani said in mind, I use the Shark Depuffi Tool the same way I use my normal gua sha. First, prepping the skin before ensures that the device can glide smoothly across the skin without any friction, so I was sure to properly hydrate my skin each time I used the Depuffi. After cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizer, I move the device across my face in an upward motion to drain fluid from my face. As for my neck, I follow Dr. Zamani’s advice and swipe downward to soothe my muscles and also encourage lymphatic drainage.
When it comes to the temperature settings, Dr. Zamani’s advice was correct: the warm setting was a relaxing addition to my nighttime routine while the cool setting woke my skin up in the morning. Not to mention, immediately following with the cool setting after a few swipes on warm mode made me feel even more refreshed after a restless sleep. After using, I wiped the tool down, as it requires thorough and routine cleaning to avoid the transfer of bacteria. After using the Depuffi consistently for around two weeks, I can say the results are pretty on par with my usual gua sha.
My Findings
Above all else, I noticed right away how heavy the Depuffi felt in my hand. I already assumed it would be a little heftier than my normal gua sha since it needs a motor to heat up/cool down, but I wasn’t anticipating such a substantial difference. Thankfully, it doesn’t take too much of my energy to swipe it across my face but it can take some getting used to at first. Beyond that, I found that the temperature settings were a convenient way to reap benefits I don’t get with a basic, room temperature gua sha. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take much time at all for either setting to kick in, which meant it didn’t add any time to my usual skincare routine.
Although you might assume a motorized gua sha is capable of accelerating results, that’s not exactly the case. At its core, the Depuffi uses the same exact techniques as a traditional gua sha — which means it takes just as long to see a visual change in your skin. For me, I found that it was great at decreasing puffiness and easing tension fairly quickly. So, while it’s not as futuristic as it might seem, it’s definitely a step up from what I was using before.
Sincerely, Hypebae
If you’re already an avid gua sha user and don’t mind splurging on a few extra settings, the Shark Beauty Depuffi is the tool for you. Unlike other devices which can feel a bit more intimidating and unfamiliar, the Depuffi will come naturally to anyone with gua sha experience. Rather than wasting time waiting for your stone to cool in the fridge, it changes temperature almost immediately and can switch between cold and hot equally as fast. Sure, it’s not exactly a miracle tool — but for someone who’s never really ventured beyond a gua sha, it feels like just the right amount of technology without going overboard.
