Why I Invented Glissage

May 13, 2025 Priti Moudgill

Skincare tools haven’t changed much in decades - but our skin, our schedules, and our standards have. I invented Glissage to bridge that gap. Like many women, I wanted a skincare ritual that felt luxurious, but didn’t take 20 minutes or leave oil stains on my clothes. Glissage is the tool I couldn’t find in stores: a clean, ergonomic ice sculptor that lifts, de-puffs, and calms - in under three minutes. No oil. No mess. No tugging. Just a smart routine designed for real mornings and real results.

Why I Needed Something Better Than Gua Sha

I’ve always had combination skin that rebels against oily products and too much friction. No rubbing, tugging, scraping for me. And like most people, I don’t have the time, or patience, for a 20-minute gua sha or facial yoga session every morning and evening. Add to that the hassle of buying expensive oils and creams, avoiding permanent stains on clothing from massage oils, and worrying about the massage creams getting into my hairline ruining my latest blowout. I knew there had to be a better way.

That’s when I began dreaming up Glissage.

A Quick, Clean, and Cooling Ritual

Most mornings, I make tea, and while it steeps, I do a 3-minute Glissage session right in my kitchen. That’s it. That's all the time and effort it takes.

The melting ice glides effortlessly over my skin, giving just the right lubrication without staining my clothes or leaving residue in my hair unlike with gua sha. Also unlike gua sha, I don’t need to worry about technique or damaging delicate facial skin. The pressure is soothing, not aggressive. And because it’s ice, it comes with a built-in timer: once it fully melts, you’re done!

I get a flushed look much like after an intense workout, accompanied with a feeling of calm. The lymphatic lift slowly kicks in over the next 15 minutes or so, and I’m ready to take on the day.

The Hidden Benefits: Skin, Stress, and Simplicity

Here’s why I am proud of inventing Glissage:

No chemicals or oils
No special training
No recurring purchases
No mess, stains, or breakouts

For me, it's more than just skincare; it’s a moment of mindfulness. Neuroscientists often talk about how cold therapy helps reduce anxiety. They recommend cold showers. Not happening. They recommended dunking one's face in an ice bath. Also not happening. I found an easier way with Glissage. Glissage absolutely taps into cold therapy, but without the shiver and the shudder. It’s my morning meditation in motion.

Even as someone long past my teenage acne years, I still get hormonal breakouts. Glissage helps keep them in check: clean, effective, and calming. I wish I had thought it up in my college years when my cystic acne breakouts were intensely painful.

Real Talk: Gluten, Late Nights, and Puffy Mornings

As someone who’s mildly sensitive to gluten, I’ve learned to read my face like a diary. If I’ve indulged the night before, whether it’s a slice of cake or a late-night party, I often wake up to a severely puffy face, under-eye bags, and full-on chipmunk cheeks.

It’s not exactly the look I want to start the day with.

That’s where I really rely on Glissage. Just three minutes of this cooling ritual, and it’s like pressing reset. The puffiness melts away. My cheekbones come back. My eyes look brighter. It’s become my personal remedy for all the mornings that didn’t go to plan.

The Magic of Ice That Molds to Your Face

While traditional gua sha tools offer concave and convex edges, and you have to know which surface to use on which part of your face, Glissage lets the ice itself take the shape of your face.

Jawline? It cups it just right.
Under the eyes? The rounded edge gently smooths without tugging.
Neck and cheekbones? Seamless glide.

And unlike bulky ice rollers that miss the fine facial contours, Glissage uses a precision ice blade that fits where it matters.

A Story of Necessity and Invention

The seed for Glissage was planted one summer when my mother was visiting. She was stung by a wasp: right near her eye. She tried to brush it off, but I could tell the pain was intense.

Desperate to help, I tried a few random things (pre-AI, google offered up some bizarre suggestions including applying a powder made of matchstick tips!) Luckily, I stumbled across a simple suggestion: ice it. So I did - but my fingers were freezing, and controlling the ice was awkward. That moment stayed with me. The ice, by the way, was the answer. The pain and inflammation subsided almost magically.

Later, when I tried to use ice on my face, I realized that a cube of ice was impossible to hold for long, and a popsicle stick aka ice roller was too bulky. If I wanted a tool that could combine the benefits of ice therapy and gua sha, it needed to be a specific shape and size, ergonomic, flat, and streamlined, something like a cross between a guitar pick and a gua sha stone.

Thus, Glissage was born: an ice gua sha with a custom holder that acts as an extension of your hand.

From Prototype to Patent Pending

As with any invention, however minor, creating Glissage wasn’t just a moment of inspiration - it was a process:

Sketching industrial designs
3D printing and refining
Visiting factories and sourcing parts
Testing, testing, testing

Now, Glissage is patent pending, and it’s ready for the world.

It is also earth friendly since It is a “buy once, use forever” tool: no fragile parts, no fancy extras, no restocking needed. Just water and a freezer.

One Warning: Use Gently

Glissage is simple, but powerful. Just one note of caution: don’t go over the same area more than once or twice. Ice is intense. You don’t want to give yourself an “ice cream headache” or freeze your skin.