Self-Care September: All About Face Cupping

Nancy, registered dental hygienist, wrapped up Self-Care September with a BURST tv segment on facial cupping.

Do you happen to know how many facial muscles we have in our face, and how our daily facial expressions can cause them to be tense? The face contains 43 different muscles. If you applied pressure with your fingers onto your face, you probably could feel tension/soreness that you didn’t even realize you had!

Facial cupping is different than body cupping in various ways. The techniques are the same, but the overall benefits are a little bit different. Facial cupping can be done professionally or within the comforts of your own home. Facial cupping differs from body cupping because you use smaller cups and the cups are constantly moving versus body cupping. The constant movement of the facial cups reduces friction and it leaves you without facial redness or bruising. It is considered a reverse massage. During a massage, the therapist pushes down into the muscle but cupping pulls the skin away from the deep layers of the muscle which creates blood flow and blood flow reduces tension. Facial cupping also helps increase lymphatic drainage, increases collagen production, and reduces fine line and wrinkles.

To prep the skin, you will want to have clean face free from any makeup. It is also preferred to use a facial oil or massage oil to help reduce friction as the cups are moving. Using an oil will help the suction cups to glide easier and will reduce the chance of skin irritations or bruising.

Before using the cups, it is a good idea to give your face a light massage while applying the oil. Then, you will start with the cup at your chin and slowly guide toward your ear. Repeat this movement and move up the face. Nancy demonstrates this technique in her BURST tv segment attached below.

Don’t forget to check out Marisa’s segment on acupuncture & body cupping here: https://youtu.be/edJ9fg2Kpi8