Facial gua sha massage has become an important part of many people's skincare routines. It’s gentle, relaxing, and with regular use, it can help reduce puffiness, improve circulation, and make you look and feel better. "Jade gua sha” tools are offered by all kinds of sellers, from small shops to the world's largest beauty brands.
But there’s a problem with most of these products. The vast majority of gua sha tools labeled as “jade” aren’t actually made of jade.
This isn’t just a technicality. Real jade—meaning jadeite or nephrite—is a valuable, distinctive, and culturally significant stone. What most sellers are calling “jade” is usually something else entirely: materials like green aventurine, serpentine (often sold as “xiuyan jade”), or white quartz labeled as “white jade.”
What Is Real Jade?
The word “jade” can refer to only two minerals: jadeite and nephrite.
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Jadeite is rarer, can be brighter and more translucent, and is found mostly in Myanmar and Guatemala. High-end jadeite is gem-like with a glassy sheen, and is rarely if ever used to make gua sha. Lower-end jadeite is sometimes used for gua sha, but tends to have dull colors and lack translucency. Despite the name, jadeite is actually a newer discovery in Asia, having only become popular in recent centuries. Below is a pendant made with Guatemalan jadeite.
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Nephrite is less gem-like but can also be very attractive, often in a more subtle way than jadeite. It has been valued in China for millennia as the ideal carving and decorative stone. Nephrite has softer, less flashy colors than jadeite and is highly durable, making it perfect for gua sha massage tools. Some gua sha factories produce nephrite jade tools but they usually use a very dark, almost black variety that is cheap, opaque and has little appeal beyond technically being jade. Better quality nephrite comes in a range of green shades, often with patterns as well. Nephrite can also be white—a color considered especially valuable in China. The gua sha below is made from Sumatran nephrite.
Real jade is denser and conducts heat more readily than most crystals, making it feel cool to the touch. It also has a satisfying weight and toughness that cheaper crystals can't match.
Jade has a long history in Chinese culture. In traditional medicine, it wasn’t typically used for gua sha tools, but it is associated with longevity, protection, and health. People have used jade for millennia to make amulets and ceremonial objects, and also carved it into intricate objects of art.
What Are Most “Jade” Gua Sha Tools Actually Made Of?
Most gua sha tools labeled simply as “jade” are actually:
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Green aventurine (a type of quartz that contains other minerals that create a glittery appearance)
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Serpentine, sometimes marketed as “xiuyan jade”
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White quartz, sometimes labeled as “white jade”
These stones can be beautiful in their own right, but they’re not jade.
Unfortunately, the gua sha market is full of mislabeled tools. This isn’t just happening on obscure online shops—it’s widespread, including among big brands and well-known retailers. In many cases, sellers either don’t know or don’t disclose what their tools are actually made of, and customers are led to believe they’re buying jade when they’re not.
A Closer Look at the Common Substitutes
Green Aventurine
This is the most common crystal mislabeled as "jade" by less reputable gua sha sellers. Often mistaken for jade because of its color, aventurine has a glassy surface and often a noticeable sparkle. It’s a form of quartz (technically quartzite, composed of metamorphic quartz sand) and is more fragile than jade. The natural color can range from rich green to pale green to nearly colorless. Aventurine is also found in other colors, which are determined by the minerals mixed in with the quartz.
How to recognize it:
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Has tiny glitter-like flecks and a grainy texture
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Can look glassy
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Feels lighter than jade
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Less durable, more likely to break or chip
Serpentine (“Xiuyan Jade”)
Serpentine is soft and easy to carve, which makes it a common choice for mass-produced tools. It’s sometimes marketed as “xiuyan jade,” named after a region in China. The cheapest gua sha tools are made of serpentine. Some may be attractive and well made, but many serpentine gua sha are visually unappealing and poorly carved since they are typically intended for the lowest end of the market.
How to recognize it:
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Has a waxy or soapy surface
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Feels lighter and softer than real jade
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Scratches easily
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Has a blotchy green and white pattern with dull colors
White Quartz (“White Jade”)
White quartz is often used for gua sha and sold as “white jade." It is an attractive crystal that carves smoothly, and the problem is not with the material itself but the fact that it is often mislabeled.
How to recognize it:
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Transparent, white or cloudy appearance
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Lighter than jade
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Internal cracks and visible crystalline structure
- Breaks easily if not treated with care
How to Tell If Your Gua Sha Tool Is Real Jade
If you’re wondering what a gua sha tool is actually made of, here are a few tips:
1. Material label
Real jade tools should clearly say nephrite or jadeite. If it just says “jade,” be skeptical.
2. Appearance and texture
Real jade tends to have a fine, silky polish, with nephrite often containing small black inclusions. Aventurine has a grainy consistency (since it's composed of quartz sand), sparkles and looks glassy. Serpentine looks dull and waxy. Quartz is glassy and has a visible crystal structure resembling internal cracks.
3. Weight and coolness
Nephrite and jadeite are denser than quartz and serpentine. They often feel cooler due to their density and heat conductivity. Nephrite is about 10% heavier than quartz, while jadeite is about 20% heavier. The difference is typically noticeable if you compare two similarly-sized pieces of different materials.
4. Durability
Real jade is tough. If your tool chips, scratches, or breaks easily, it probably isn’t jade. However, even real jade can break if dropped on a hard surface, so this is not a good way to test a gua sha.
5. Ask the seller
A reputable vendor or brand should be familiar with the material they sell and be able to tell you exactly what it is. If they can’t, or if they evade the question, that’s a red flag. Most brands buy from large factories that themselves are often less than transparent about their materials.
Why It Matters
Some people might wonder: does it really matter what stone my gua sha is made of, as long as it looks nice and feels smooth?
That depends on what you value. If you care about durability, authenticity, and the connection to a deeper tradition, then the material matters. A genuine jade gua sha tool won’t just last longer, it offers a different tactile experience: cooler, denser, and more satisfying to use.
Mislabeled stones aren’t just a technical issue—they reflect a wider problem of misinformation in the beauty industry. And when even big-name brands aren’t being transparent about their materials, it’s worth taking the time to learn the difference.
After all, if a company is selling beauty products made of inauthentic jade, their other claims may be doubtful. If having a genuine jade gua sha is important to you, make sure to do your due diligence before investing in a massage tool.
