How To Use The Facial Spa Set - A Video Guide

Start your facial massage routine here with this step by step guide on how to use the Mount Lai Facial Spa Set. Learning the proper technique is very important when using this tool to maximize results. Products featured in this video: Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist, Calming Herbal Repair Serum Concentrate Balm, and The Facial Spa Set. Here 3 of our top tips for results: Consistency is key! Aim to incorporate facial massage into your skincare routine at least once a day, or at minimum 3-4 times a week. Always prep the skin with a skincare product so that the tool glides smoothly instead of tugs. Mount Lai skincare is nutrient rich and pairs perfectly with facial tools. Proper technique is important to achieve results. For the gua sha tool, always hold the tool flat against the skin instead of digging in the edge. For both tools, always move in outward and upward motions.   How to use: Start with a clean face and prep skin with a facial oil or serum to enhance the glide of the gua sha tool and nourish the skin. We love to pair the gua sha tool with Mount Lai's natural skincare products, which are made from nourishing herbs & plants and designed to pair with our tools. Shop skincare here. The Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool: Keep the tool flat against the face and begin with the forehead. Scrape in an upwards motion from the eyebrows to the hairline. Move to the cheeks and scrape in an outwards motion starting from the crease of the nose until the ear. Move to the jawline and use the end of the gua sha tool with the two curves. Start from the chin and scrape until the ear. Gently massage the gua sha tool into the ear to release tension. For the under-eye area, very gently scrape the gua sha from the inner corner of the eye outwards to the temple. Because the area is so sensitive, it is important to only apply light pressure. Complete Your Ritual with the Mount Lai De-Puffing Facial Roller: Start in the middle of the face and roll outwards across the cheeks. Move to the eyebrows and roll upwards across the forehead. Move below the lower lip and roll downward across the chin. SHOP THE FACIAL SPA SET Available in Jade, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, and Black Obsidian

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Why Should I Use An Essence?

Adding an essence to your skincare routine is one of the most effective ways to get the most out of your skincare products, helping to prep the skin for the rest of your routine. They’re lightweight in feel, water-like to the touch, yet pack a powerful punch when it comes to providing long-lasting hydration and enhancing your glow. In case you are not very familiar with skincare essences and what exactly they do for the skin, we are here to break it down for you. What is an essence? Essences are the ideal skincare product to prep the skin for the rest of your routine as they allow following products to be absorbed deeper into the skin. Use an essence in your skincare routine after your toner and before layering serums or moisturizers and oils. An essence’s low molecular weight gives it a watery feel, which allows it to penetrate deep into the skin. We also love using essences cocktailed with our favorite skincare for extra hydration. Essences are a leave-on treatment that are extremely versatile, and beneficial to pair with your skincare products for enhanced effectiveness.  Who benefits from essences? In short: everyone! If you are looking for a product that maximizes the effectiveness of your skincare or just need a quick boost of plumping hydration, we highly recommend incorporating an essence into your beauty ritual. No matter your skin type, an essence can be a game changing skincare product that actively works throughout the day – not just during application.  Looking for an essence that supports skin health, and increases hydration with the power of plant botanicals and hyaluronic acid? Meet our new Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist. Introducing Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist activates the skin with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plant adaptogens. Tremella mushroom is boosted with hyaluronic acid for long-lasting and deep-penetrating hydration, while fermented black tea enhances the skin’s ability to absorb nutrients. Together, these ingredients plump your skin and enhance its glow.  Other additional benefits of Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist include: Drawing and locking moisture into the skin Enhancing nutrient absorption Smoothing and plumping the skin Supporting the skin microbiome with enriching postbiotics Helping other skincare products work better Hero Ingredients Rooted in Traditional Chinese Wisdom Tremella Mushroom: Draws in moisture and locks it into the skin for long lasting hydration, used for centuries as a Traditional Chinese herb for its beauty benefits Fermented Black Tea: Enhances nutrient absorption and supports the skin microbiome through its rich postbiotics profile  Green Tea Extract: Combats free radical damage for anti-inflammatory benefits  Bamboo Extract: Strengthens the skin barrier with essential amino acids and antioxidants Hyaluronic Acid: Smooths and plumps the skin Great for all skin types, use before applying serums and/or facial oils, or whenever your skin needs a boost of hydration. Pair Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist with Mount Lai’s nutrient-rich Serum Concentrate or non-comedogenic Facial Oils to maximize their absorption and effectiveness. Shop Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist

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Comprehensive Gua Sha Guide: The Differences & Routine

Gua sha is an ancient healing modality that is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). During the Ming Dynasty, gua sha was used to treat symptoms of illnesses, chronic pain, and relieve muscle tension in the form of body gua sha. It was also used to detoxify the body, and restore the flow of qi – the energy that is believed to keep us alive. Fast forward to today, gua sha is still practiced as it was traditionally used in ancient China on the body, and it has also evolved for use on the face to balance and renew the skin. Despite being practiced on different areas of the body, the principles are the same. Facial and body gua sha both help the body flush out toxins and move out stagnation. Practicing gua sha provides a moment of self-care, relieves tension and stress, and promotes lymphatic drainage that hands alone are unable to do. One of the best way to get the most out of gua sha is by pairing gua sha tools together. Having a complete gua sha routine will not only increase the benefits of gua sha massage, but leaves you with glowing results. Curious about what each tool does? Learn more about our gua sha tools below. The Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool Stones available: Jade, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Black Obsidian, and Stainless Steel  Best for relieving facial and jaw tension, as well as firming and lifting the face overtime. Its ability to relieve tension can also help relax the muscles that contribute to wrinkles, including smile lines and crow’s feet. This is the perfect gua sha tool to start with if you are looking for an introduction to gua sha.  To learn more about how to gua sha, visit our post here.  The Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon Stones available: Jade and Rose Quartz  This specialized gua sha tool is amazing for deeply sculpting facial features and precision work. Not only that, it encourages the gentle release of tension through targeting the acupressure points in the face. This tool is great for contouring facial features, such as the cheeks and jawline. View our Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon tutorial here.  The Massaging Gua Sha Comb   Stones available: Jade A special treat for the scalp – a tool that provides the most luxurious and relaxing head massage. The Massaging Gua Sha Comb improves blood circulation, which can stimulate hair growth, and reduces tension. It is ideal for anyone looking for a moment of clarity and renewal.  CREATING YOUR GUA SHA ROUTINE Before gua sha, it is very important to prep with skincare to ensure the tool glides across the skin instead of tugging. We love using nutrient-rich Mount Lai skincare products with our gua sha tools. Mount Lai skincare is vegan and non-comedogenic, and their formulations draw on plants and adaptogens that have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their healing benefits for centuries. Once the skin is prepped with skincare product, you're ready to start your massage. Pick the gua sha tool that fits into your routine, whether you want to use just one or all three! If you are looking for a comprehensive gua sha routine, here's the order we recommend using the tools in: Start with the Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool. After, use The Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon to continue the gentle release of tension with acupressure and for deeper sculpting. To complete your facial and head massage, end with The Massaging Gua Sha Comb for a luxurious scalp massage, and the ultimate tension release. Don't forget to breathe through each movement for a moment of calm and extra stress release.  SHOP GUA SHA TOOLS

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The Mount Lai Skincare Edit

What are the differences between each of our skincare products? All of our skincare leave your skin feeling balanced + renewed, and utilize ingredients based around Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including soothing purple gromwell root and brightening goji berry, to benefit the skin. Each product targets specific skin concerns to make your routine more personalized.  Made in small batches in the U.S., all Mount Lai skincare products are non-comedogenic, clean, vegan + great for all skin types. (Plus, Leaping Bunny Certified!) We do not use synthetic fragrances, sulfates and other harmful ingredients to ensure the quality and safety of products. To maximize the benefits of your skincare, complete your skincare ritual with any Mount Lai facial tool.  Use our guide below to learn more about our skincare collection.  Tremella Tonic Activating Essence Mist Key ingredient(s): Tremella Mushroom + Fermented Black Tea The newest addition to our skincare collection, Tremella Tonic Activating Essence is the first step to skincare prep. This essence, like our other products, contains ingredients based around Traditional Chinese medicine to heal and nourish, including tremella mushroom. Use a small spritz of Tremella Tonic to boost hydration and the effectiveness of your other skincare products.  Calming Herbal Repair Serum Concentrate Balm Key ingredient(s): Healing purple gromwell root A nutrient-dense serum concentrate balm that soothes + restores the skin barrier. Helps to balance the skin and lock in moisture with the help of potent botanicals and nourishing plant butters, all while leaving the complexion radiant. Also contains a proprietary blend of Traditional Chinese Medicine roots to accelerate cellular repair and healing to address visible signs of aging. When to use it: After essence, before moisturizer! Pro tip: Warm in hands to activate and massage into damp skin before moisturizer, just as you would apply a serum.  Brightening Berry Vitamin C Facial Oil Key ingredient(s): Antioxidant rich goji berry + Vitamin C Containing tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (Vitamin C!), this facial oil brightens and firms the skin to lighten dark spots, uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. In addition to all these benefits, Brightening Berry works to support elasticity and firmness of the skin.  Lightweight and absorbent enough for morning use, use after applying moisturizer, before your daily sunscreen. Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil Key ingredient(s): Ceramide rich rice + oat  Great for healing the skin barrier with nourishing plant herbs and oils, Plant Root Remedy is the perfect companion to fight against environmental stressors. Not only does it improve moisture and plumpness with naturally lipid-rich plant oils, it also supports cellular regeneration to promote skin renewal.  Amazing for evening use. Use as the last step in your skincare routine after moisturizer.  Try mixing it with Calming Herbal Repair to boost its benefits.   SHOP ALL SKINCARE

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The Holiday Gift Guide

It’s finally that time of year! As 2021 comes to a close, we want to take this moment to give thanks to those who have helped and supported us through the highs and lows of the past twelve months. Shopping for friends and family can be time-consuming and stressful, but we hope that our holiday gift sets & best selling products will make your shopping experience a little bit easier. These are the perfect items for that important person on your wishlist who deserves a wellness & self-care beauty ritual this holiday season. Here are our gift recommendations to give your special someone. FOR THE AVID TRAVELER Shop The Self Care Minis Set - a $43.50 value for $36.00 Our Self Care Minis Set is the perfect gift for that special someone who loves the little things in life, and is always up for an adventure. Perfect for travel, this set includes a few of our best-selling mini products, including our Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil, Brightening Berry Vitamin C Facial Oil and Mini Jade De-puffing Facial Roller. It is a trio that provides everything for a calming facial massage, no matter if you’re at home or on-the-go. SHOP THE SELF CARE MINIS SET FOR A COMPLETE MOMENT OF WELLNESS Shop The Tranquility Amethyst Skincare Set - a $110 value for $80 After a stressful and overwhelming year, we all need a moment of wellness more than ever. We wanted to incorporate a stone that is both healing and promotes tranquility, which is why we decided on using our Amethyst tools for this special limited edition product. This set, with Amethyst’s powerful properties, promotes a calming facial experience thanks to our Amethyst Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and Mini De-Puffing Facial Roller. This pair not only soothes the skin, but also gently de-puffs and massages. To complete your experience, the kit also contains a mini Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm and Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil to pair with the tools. Try Calming Herbal Repair Balm to soothe sensitive skin with healing ingredients like Purple Gromwell Root or Plant Root Remedy Balancing Facial Oil to support the skin barrier with natural ceramides.  Shop The Tranquility Amethyst Skincare Set FOR AN INSTANT MASSAGE AND PAIN RELIEF Shop The Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool - $28 to $38 While gua sha tools have been blowing up on social media over the past few months, the practice of gua sha has been utilized for centuries. Incorporating gua sha into your self-care routine has many benefits, some visible to the eye and others that go deeper than the skin. Whether you’re looking to relieve tension in your jaw from clenching during your sleep, or trying to promote lymphatic drainage, any of our gua sha tools can help you do so.  Shop The Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool FOR THOSE WITH LONG 9 TO 5 DAYS Shop The Tension Melting Massager - $72 The Tension Melting Massager is the ultimate stress reliever to reduce tension in the face, neck and shoulders. It is perfect to have next to your computer desk for a quick de-puffing sesh, or to have on your bathroom counter to recharge. If they’re looking for a mult-faceted facial tool, our massager has over 100 facets in each head to hug every corner of the face and body. Thus, providing that much-needed luxurious massage after a long day at the office.  Shop The Tension Melting Massager A GIFT FOR THOSE WHO DESERVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Shop The Facial Spa Set - $50 to $56 The perfect gift for anyone who needs a little extra me-time. Our facial spa sets include one of our favorite duos: the De-puffing Facial Roller and Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool. Pairing these tools together not only provides all the benefits of a relaxing facial massage, but also leaves the skin radiant, glowing and sculpted. Shop Facial Spa Sets FOR SOMEONE SEARCHING FOR A SPA-LIKE EXPERIENCE  Shop The Eye Mask - $48 to $84 Ideal for anyone who loves the spa, but can’t make it there often enough. This intricately woven eye mask is something we can’t help but rave about because of its versatility. For those moments when you want to unwind and relax, our eye masks help soothe and de-puff the delicate eye area. Other benefits include reducing eye bags/puffiness, awakening the eye area and soothing the skin. It is everything you love about a facial, but in the comfort of your own home. Shop The Eye Mask FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO SMELL AS GOOD AS THEY FEEL Shop Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm - $60 With a balm to oil formula, our Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm not only pairs perfectly with all of our tools, but smells amazing at the same time. In addition to accelerating cellular repair and hydrating the skin, this leave-on balm leaves your complexion feeling balanced, renewed, and radiant throughout the day. Shop Mount Lai Skincare THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOU AND YOUR TOOLS Shop Ritual Refresh Tool Cleansing Kit - $40 Like ourselves, one could say our facial tools also need a “self-care” routine. This holiday season, be sure to invest in our Ritual Refresh Tool Cleansing Kit not only for the special person on your gift list, but yourself as well. With gentle soaps for your tools, a specialty spa headband and 2 bamboo cloths, this kit will make your tools as happy as you are when you use them. Shop The Ritual Refresh Tool Cleansing Kit Shop All Now

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Meet TCM Chef and Nutritionist: Zoey Gong

We are so excited to finally launch Brightening Berry Vitamin C Facial Oil, and celebrate the powerful ingredient inside: the goji berry. This small yet mighty fruit has been used for its healing properties and sweet taste in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Chinese cuisine. As a way to commemorate Brightening Berry, we spoke with TCM chef and nutritionist Zoey Gong (@zoeyxinyigong) about the benefits of the goji berry and its role in TCM. Zoey owns a company called FiveSeasonsTCM that shares education content, provides high quality products and helps amplify the voices of the Asian community. Through this mission, Zoey hopes to encourage more people to include TCM in their daily lives.  Read our interview with Zoey below.  ML: How did you become a TCM chef? Z: I've been a TCM chef for a couple years now, but I didn't start my career as a TCM chef. I was born and raised in Shanghai, China and I came to the US when I was 16. After just a couple months of eating the foods here, I got very ill. That's when I really paid attention to changing the way I ate and it helped me tremendously. And because of that, I decided to pursue nutrition as my first career. I was in hospitals, in community centers and worked as a clinical nutritionist. And on the side, I was also a chef cooking very western kinds of healthy foods. But after a couple years of doing that, I realized there was something missing. I wanted to offer something more holistic, something that is closer to nature. That’s when I decided to look back to my culture and my roots, and discovered TCM and medicinal cuisine. It has been so inspiring for me and my clients and guests to see the magic of eating for yourself with the season and with this traditional wisdom. ML: The goji berry is a key ingredient in our newest launch, Brightening Berry. What are the benefits of this fruit for skin and nutritional health, and does TCM play a role? Z: Goji berry is probably one of the most important and famous herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. It is widely used in both medicinal cuisine as well as in herbal decoctions. This amazing berry has a neutral temperature and neutral energy. Personally, I love goji berry. I have a brand called FiveSeasonsTCM and we source organically grown goji berry from Central Ningxia, the best land in China to grow goji berry. It's such a versatile berry. You can use it in soups, in tea, smoothies, in granola and so many ways. It is really amazing to brighten our eyes, to help with liver function, treat dizziness, fatigue and some chronic lung issues. I'm very excited to see it being used as skincare. From a biomedical nutrition standpoint, goji berry contains a lot of antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C. These amazing compounds can help our skin to look younger and smoother. ML: What do you think of the new Brightening Berry Vitamin C Oil? Z: The Brightening Berry Vitamin C Oil is so nourishing for the skin. I actually love to put it on my hands because my hand is always under either heat or water all day long. It's really important for me to take care of my hands.ML: How do you incorporate TCM in your work? Z: I think most of you probably have heard of acupuncture, Gua Sha and Chinese massage. These are all different branches under a big umbrella called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). And what I do is another branch under TCM, and it is called food therapy but you can understand it as TCM nutrition. I use around 111 different kinds of herbs, and combine them with fresh produce. Discover our newest launch, Brightening Berry Vitamin C Oil, here.  Credits: Images courtesy of Zoey Gong (@zoeyxinyigong).

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Brightening Berry Inspired Goji Berry Granola

Follow along this fun and easy recipe for a Traditional Chinese Medicine inspired granola, featuring goji berry! Goji berry is the hero ingredient of Brightening Berry Vitamin C Facial Oil, and has incredible healing benefits when consumed and used on the skin.

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A 30 Second Guide On How To Use the Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon

Our Mount Lai sculpting spoon encourages the gentle release of facial + jaw tension through acupressure 😌 Learn how to use this specialized gua sha tool with our founder, Stephanie Zheng! The Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon is a fantastic to add to your existing gua sha ritual, or to use on its own. We love how this tool can really target specific points in the face. Don't forget to prep the skin with skincare product before using your facial massage! Shop the Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon

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Our Ultimate Guide to Tool Pairing

The Mount Lai collection has grown since our first release: The De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller. Now, we are a family of over 30 facial tools, and a (growing!) skincare line.  For those who enjoy pairing our tools just as much as we do, you already know that you can maximize the results of your facial massage by using different tools together! For your personal skincare routine, we always recommend choosing the tools that fit into your lifestyle and that address the benefits that you are looking for. Of course you don't need to use our full collection in your skincare routine, but we wanted to share how you would order them if you wanted to :)  Step 1: Prep the skin! - Shop here Before using facial tools, always start with clean skin that has been prepped with skincare product. Our favorite is the Calming Herbal Repair Facial Massage Balm to ensure that tools can glide on the skin without pulling.  Step 2: Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool - Shop here We love this tool for its ability to promote lymphatic drainage, which can aid in skin health. It's great for lifting, firming, and contouring the skin. If you are looking for one tool to add to your skincare routine, the Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool or the De-Puffing Facial Roller is a great place to start!   Step 3: Our *New* Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon - Shop here Unlike our Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool, the Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon encourages the gentle release of facial + jaw tension through acupressure. It’s spoon-like shape allows for more precise work and a deeper message to sculpt the face, while the pointed end can be used to target acupressure points to melt away tension.  The order in which you use your Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon is based on personal preference. Our founder, Stephanie Zheng, enjoys using the Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool as the first step for a gua sha massage. How-to use your Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon: Use the rounded spoon side to gently sculpt the face, focusing underneath the cheekbone. The specialized, rounded shape of the gua sha spoon allows for a deeper release.  Use the smaller end of the tool on acupressure trigger points, focusing on the areas near the brow bone, the temples, the ears and along the jaw. Massage in small, slow circles into the trigger points.  Step 4: Our *New* Tension Melting Massager - Shop here Feeling stressed or tense? Had a long day on Zoom? We feel you. The Tension Melting Massager is the ultimate stress reliever for its ability to be used for the face, neck and shoulders to deeply kneed the skin and muscles. Each head has over 100 facets to hug every corner of the face for a luxurious massage. How-to use your Tension Melting Massager: Begin with the neck and roll the Tension Melting Massager along the base of the neck and the shoulders. Due to the special shape and angle of the double rollers, you will feel a deep kneading massage.  Moving to the face, roll the Tension Melting Massager in an outwards and upwards direction across the contours of the face.  Breathe deeply and feel the tension melt away.  Step 5: Jade Textured Roller - Shop here Great to wake up the skin and aid in product absorption. Step 6: De-Puffing Facial Roller - Shop here Bring the skin back to harmony after all of those activating massages with our De-Puffing Facial Roller. Step 7: Eye Massage Tool - Shop here Before using any tool around the eye, prep with a moisturizing eye cream. You can de-puff and soothe the eye area using the Eye Massage Tool, or the tools below: Jade or Rose Quartz Eye Mask Mini De-Puffing Facial Roller De-Puffing Facial Roller Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool When you apply eye cream + use an eye tool in your routine is also based on personal preference. Our team applies eye cream as the first step to prevent transfer of different products to the delicate eye area.    What we love most about these tools is that it is so easy to incorporate different tools depending on how your skin is feeling. Sometimes you just want a gentle, cooling massage - opt for a roller. Other days, you may want something more active, and go for a complete gua sha routine with your Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool and Acupressure Gua Sha Spoon. Maybe your eyes just need a little pick me up, so you go to your Eye Massage Tool or Jade Eye Mask. Whatever your skin is looking for, we hope that Mount Lai can bring you a moment of wellness in your beauty ritual. Shop our full collection here.

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