Facial cupping originated during the Qing Dynasty under Empress Dowager Cixi — who was passionate about beauty — as a gentler cupping practice that was derived from body cupping, which uses a quick smothered flame to effect an intense suction that is far too rough for our delicate faces.
Facial cupping brings stagnant qi (energy) and blood to the surface, wherein it can be circulated out so that new qi and blood can then enter, and help our skin to return to an optimized equanimity. The suction causes blood vessels to gently dilate so as to encourage and magnify our skins natural ability to flush and cleanse itself internally via our network of capillaries.
What Is Facial Cupping?
Facial Cupping is a “negative pressure massage,” which uses gentle special cup suction with upward gliding motions to massage our skin slightly upward rather than the downward pressure of a normal massage.
What Types of Cups Are Used?
There are several choices of cups when it comes to facial cupping. Silicone or plastic is, by far, the easiest for beginners to use. Glass cups and glass cups with plastic rims require a bit of practice, so you might want to leave these types of cups for trained professionals as it is possible to bruise skin with bad technique and too much suction.
How Does Face Cupping Work?
It uses specialized small cups and can include lip cupping with an even smaller cup. Facial cupping is performed without the heat and the stationary placing of multiple and larger cups that are standard for traditional body cupping. Facial cupping is substantially more gentle. When facial cupping is performed correctly, it is both pleasant and invigorating while bringing beneficial positive blood flow to our skin.
The use of facial oil is imperative as this allows the suctioned cup to glide easily upwards across our skin. If you have never cupped before, the best place to start is with a malleable silicone cup. These can be used to easily squeeze and create the needed suction. Next, glide, sweep, and drag upwards and release the suction along the hairline. Begin again towards the bottom of the face, always sweeping gently upwards and releasing along the hairline. Our forehead requires shorter movements.
Does a Cupping Facial Really Work?
The inverse pressure lends itself to helping tremendously with an impressive list of facial issues such as:
- All muscle tension including our forehead
- Jaw clenching
- Sinus congestion
- Puffy face and eyes
- Inflammation
But my favorite thing about facial cupping is that it feels really, really good!
Can Everyone Benefit?
There are instances where facial cupping is not beneficial because the skin is already struggling with too much blood flow. Do not cup your face if your skin is reeling from any of these popular trauma-based procedures, which also do not feel very good at all, to say the least:
- Lasers
- Microdermabrasion
- Microneedling
- Chemical peels
- Conventional and generic brand Retinol inflammation
The Bottom Line
Learn about the Dermal Nutrient alternative to traditional inflammatory retinol that only contributes to healthy blood flow via a resourced dermal mattress while not inflaming and wearing down our skin.
If you are already inflamed from rosacea, acne, or a sunburn then facial cupping is not a good idea either.
Face Cupping optimizes blood flow which is 100% healthy, but this can move fillers and shorten the life of a botox injection, so keep this in mind the next time you schedule your next injection fix.
The easeful natural glow that comes from healthy optimized blood flow is a beautiful sight. Happy cupping.