Facial Cupping: What Is It And What Are The Benefits?

I have personally been using facial cupping and body cupping for over 10 years now both privately and professionally. I currently use it as part of my facial acupuncture treatment protocol. Many of my clients go on to buy their own facial cupping sets to use at home. Here is some info about the benefits of facial cupping and which cups are the best to use on your face.

What Is Facial Cupping?

Facial cupping is an ancient holistic technique that originated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Originally bamboo cups were used which later evolved into glass cups and then more recently the use of plastic or silicone. Cupping helps to increase Qi (energy flow) and blood supply to the tissue, thus it can help in the healing of scars and inflammation. With facial cupping the cups are kept moving rather than being left in place as will traditional body cupping. Facial cupping can help relax tense muscles and help with lymph flow.

Benefits of Facial Cupping.

Increased blood circulation to the face and neck
Improved lymphatic drainage
Relaxation of tense facial muscles
Improved sinus drainage
Reduction of tension headaches

Facial Cupping Precautions.

Do no use over active acne breakouts.
Do not use on broken skin.
Do not use over bruised skin.
Do not use if you have filler or botox.
Do no use over very inflamed skin or active eczema / psoriasis.
Do not use as static cups on the face (keep the cup constantly moving).

Types Of Cupping Sets.

Glass Cupping Set.

This four piece set of glass cups with silicone vacuum tops is my favourite cupping set to use. I tend to only use the first three smaller sizes on the face and the largest one for body cupping. There are easy to clean and so far I have not had any cups break. These are the cups I recommend my clients to use themselves at home. Please remember to oil the skin prior to applying the cups.

Silicone Cupping Set.

The silicone cupping sets I only use when traveling as they are not breakable. They are great to use whilst flying to help with puffiness and are lightweight. They are also easy to clean with soap and water. They however don’t have quite as good suction as the glass cups which I why I only recommend them for when you are traveling or on holiday. This set also contains body sized cups which are great for reducing muscle tension and self massage. Please remember to oil the skin prior to applying the cups.

FAQ?

How to clean your Facial Cups?

Just soap and warm water are needed to clean the cups, sometimes I used a cotton stick to clean inside the smallest cups. Wash after each use and let air dry. There is no need to boil your cups. You can also wipe with an alcohol wipe or household cleaning wipes but it’s best to rinse well after.

How often should you use your Facial Cups?

There is no limit, you could use daily or once a week, it all depends on you preference. I would not use more than once a day, night time is the best time to do your facial cupping, followed by your night time skincare routine. There may be some redness to the skin after you finish which will fade quickly as your skin settles down. It will also help you have a great nights sleep.

Is Facial Cupping better than Gua Sha?

There are two different treatments though they do have some similar benefits, if you enjoy facial cupping you will probably also enjoy using gua sha. They compliment each other so you don’t have to choose either or. I tend to use gua sha first and then follow with some facial cupping.

Can Facial Cupping Slim the Face?

Facial cupping can help move fluid from puffy areas of the face which may give a slight change in the shape of the face. Results are minimal though, cupping cannot move fat around the face.