Wildling Beauty is the leading gua sha brand that makes expert-level techniques easy for anyone. I have used traditional gua sha tools and jade rollers in the past, but never have I seen results like what the empress stone delivers. Which led me to wonder: What makes this tool so successfully unique? Wildling Beauty founders Britta Plug, Jill Munson and Gianna De La Torre shared with Artful Living the story behind the stone and more on their sophisticated self-care brand.
Have you always had an interest in beauty?
As cofounders, we have combined years of experience in beauty in different ways. Britta is a holistic aesthetician with 15 years of experience in green beauty. Gianna is a facial acupuncturist with a focus on Eastern traditions and whole-body healing. Jill is an herbalist with 20 years of beauty product development under her belt.
What inspired you to start Wildling Beauty?
We started Wildling because we feel passionate about empowering women to use time-tested skin rituals that really work. It has become the standard for women to turn to injectables after a certain age, and we want to provide a natural alternative to this notion that really works. The connects the modern woman with the ancient Chinese medicine technique of gua sha, an empowering and self-loving ritual that anyone can do.
What makes your gua sha tool different from the others?
Unlike other gua sha stones typically made from quartz, the empress is composed of bian stone, an amalgamate of 40+ minerals known for their healing properties. Each edge of the tool is intentionally architected to enhance the practice of facial gua sha. Bian stone was created when a meteor struck a mountain in ancient China, and it is said to emit ultrasound pulsations, infrared rays and negative ions as a result of the cosmic impact, all of which are known for their antioxidant and antiaging effects on cells and DNA.
Photography provided by Wildling Beauty
Do you have any gua sha usage tips?
Our stone is created to be used at a 15- to 30-degree angle from the skin, which maximizes surface area between the skin and the tool. You’ll get the best results when you move slowly and also anchor the skin with the opposite hand to prevent tugging on the delicate tissues of the face. The pressure of facial gua sha is remarkably light — less is more. This technique opens the flow of energy in your entire body, so take a time-out to do gua sha by taking deep breaths. This will reset your nervous system and deliver glowing skin.
Aside from the amazing benefits of plumping skin and smoothing wrinkles, what are some other benefits of the empress ritual?
Gua sha calms the nervous system, eases stress and anxiety, and makes you feel more relaxed. It can also energize you and give you some clarity if you’re feeling tired.
What steps have you taken to create a sustainable, green business?
We are a plastic-free company, and all of our packaging is biodegradable. We plant a tree for every empress stone we sell, and at this time, we have planted several thousand trees in areas of the world that need it the most.
Can you share some of your biggest learnings as entrepreneurs?
As a direct-to-consumer brand on Instagram, our success comes from our desire to connect with and know our customers. This authentic relationship has been the reason that we continue to grow. We teach tutorials every Tuesday on Instagram and answer personal questions whenever we can. We’ve created a community.
