What is facial cupping?

Facial cupping is a type of Eastern Medicine therapy in which small silicone cups are attached to the surface of the face to create a gentle suction with continuous movement. Unlike body cupping, there are no cupping marks left behind. In the eye area, the eye tissue is too delicate for sliding cupping so we use a technique called octopus kisses in which we apply suction to the cup for a second and then release the suction. Then move the cup to another area nearby and repeat. Both of these techniques are subtle and should not leave any marks like body cupping.

What are the benefits of facial cupping?

Facial cupping has many amazing benefits but here are a few that will encourage you to get your own facial cupping set today!

1. Increases blood flow and circulation –  cupping immediately increases blood flow creating a glow to the skin and also promotes the formation of new blood vessels which deliver more nutrients to the skin.
2. Boosts collagen production – cupping stimulates collagen and fibroblasts which helps improve skin elasticity for firmer skin.
3. Relieves muscle tension – many people do not realize how much tension we carry in our faces, especially in the jaw and the temple areas. Cupping can help relieve tension headaches and TMJ pain.
4. Supports lymph function/reduces puffiness – the suction from the cups encourages and stimulates the lymphatic system to move fluid through the body thereby reducing excess fluid and puffiness. This naturally creates more definition in the cheekbones and jawline.

Where do I get a facial cupping set?

Schedule a session for facial cupping to experience a treatment and buy your own facial cupping set before you leave the office or click here to order online from The Facial Cupping Expert store where I was trained and certified.

There are so many types of facial cups on the market these days. I have a whole drawer full of ones I have tried 😝

I have finally found my favorite ones from @thefacialcuppingexpert. They are soft and super flexible. The flexibility means that when I squeeze them, my hands don’t have to work very hard. For anyone, like me, who uses their hands all day or has any kind of arthritis, these are the ones to use.

They are also non-toxic and odorless – contain no BPA, latex, lead, or phthalates. The skin is our largest and most permeable organ so we want to keep our tools as clean as possible – just like our skincare!

How do I use these Facial Cups?

I usually spend some time going over some basic techniques during your first facial cupping treatment so you can do your own treatments at home (which I highly recommend!). But it is still nice to have a little bit of a routine written down for you to reference so that you feel more confident in your techniques. After all, the benefits of facial cupping are compounded over time!

But first, a few basic rules:

1.  Always use oil – oil helps the cups glide and will prevent marks/bruises.
2. Always keep the cups moving – again, this will prevent too strong of suction which causes marks/bruises.
3. Less is more – aim to do facial cupping ~3x/week. I know people get excited for results and want to do it everyday but your skin needs time to recover, especially as we age. For people like me who struggle to get to bed at a decent time already, I often focus on one small area (just eyes or chin) a few times a week and then do a full face routine maybe 3x/month. Not ideal but life is full!
4. Always clean your cups after every use – using warm water and soap will clean the cups without damaging them with harsh abrasives. You may need a little pipe cleaner brush or a Q tip to clean the tiny cup.
5. Do not cup over areas of inflammation/redness – this means irritated or red skin, broken blood vessels, sunburn, cystic acne, breakouts, sunburn, open wounds, itchy rashes, etc.

Ok, now for the basic routine:

1. Prepare the skin – after cleaning the face, neck and chest, apply a generous amount of facial oil to the face, neck and chest. There are so many wonderful oils to use so I encourage you to experiment to see which one you prefer. I will write another blog post on oils (I am always trying new ones!) but in my clinic, I mainly use these 3 oils:
   • • Prickly Pear Oil – it’s simple, pure and is exceptionally rich in unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, to benefit all skin types.
     • TOMA Sculpting Treatment Oil – this oil is rich in fatty acids to hydrate and calm the skin thanks to this powerhouse blend of grapeseed oil, avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil, and tamanu oil.
     • Apothecary Company CoQ10 + Jasmine Intense Hydration Facial Oil – this ultra-hydrating botanical oil is infused with powerful antioxidants and the delicate scent of jasmine and rose essential oils.
2. Start with lymphatic drainage – With the large cup, do flash cupping (flash cupping = creating suction on a spot and then immediately releasing it, also called “octopus kisses”) on the sternum 3x, then down the neck, repeating 3x on each side, followed by under the chin, repeating 3x.
3. Begin sculpting and lifting on the lower face – With the large cup, do sliding cupping (sliding cupping = creating the suction and then sliding from one point to another) under the jawbone from the chin to the ear, repeat 3x, then from the corner of the mouth to the ear, repeat 3x, then from the cheekbone to the ear, repeat 3x. Repeat on the other side. Do flash cupping in the area of the crow’s feet, repeat 3x on each side.
4. Continue sculpting and lifting on the forehead – Using the large cup, do sliding cupping from the eyebrow lines (or the “11’s”) up to the top of the forehead, repeat along the entire forehead 3x (or less if redness occurs). Do sliding cupping with the smaller cup over the eyebrow lines (essentially tracing the wrinkles).
5. Lift and open the eyes – With the small cup, do flash cupping (“octopus kisses”) along the orbital bone (the bone under the eye/top of cheekbone) from the inside of the eye to the outside of each eye, repeat 3x. Continue the flash cupping underneath the brow bone from the inside to the outside of the eye, repeat 3x on each side. Be careful in this area, the skin here is very delicate but it is especially helpful for a dropping eyelid.
6. Plump the lips – With the small cup, do the octopus kisses around the lips 3x and then repeat with sliding cupping around and even on the lips. Be sure to apply more oil if needed.
7. Focus on fine lines and wrinkles – Do flash cupping followed by sliding cupping over any areas of deep wrinkles or lines such as laugh lines or worry lines on the forehead or from the nose to the mouth). Be careful not to overwork an area – a little goes a long way.
8. Finish with lymph drainage – Because this routine moves fluid from the face, finish with a few strokes to assist the lymph system. Using the large cup, do flash cupping under the chin 3x and on the sternum 3x. I love finishing with a jade roller or a hydrating mist

I hope you enjoy this relaxing nighttime ritual!

If you are still curious about cupping, schedule a combination session of Acupuncture + Facial Cupping or book your AcuGlow™️ treatment today!