All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Reactions range from OMG WTF to likening the practice to finding the fountain of youth.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
Whatever the results, it looks super cool and weirdso I was intrigued.
Cuppingis an ancient practice that supposedly increases blood flow and helps sore muscles heal.
Facial cupping is a little different.
Courtesy of Lure Essentials
But the same basic principles apply.
Its all temporary, but people who do it swear by it.
A facial cupping treatment at a spa or salon can cost north of $200.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
you’ve got the option to break capillaries and bruise, she explains.
What can I sayIll do just about anything for beauty.
The estheticians I spoke to recommended that you only do at-home cupping two or three times a week.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
You dont need to do sessions more than every 72 hours, Condon tells SELF.
Too much cupping can overstimulate the skin, causing a negative effect.
For my experiment, I did five five-minute sessions over two weeks.
Thats not exactly what happened.
While still pinching it closed, you press it to your skin, creating a sealthen let go.
This creates a vacuum that sticks the cup to your face, picking up the skin underneath.
During facial cupping, its important to always keep the cups moving.
Thats how you get the massaging action and prevent bruising.
Before starting, you have to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize.
This was a mistake.
After a few more tries, I found just the right balance of oil.
For me, it was about three to four drops.
Note: Always wash your hands after applying the oil, or youll have trouble grasping the plastic cups.
I did this three times, moving cups on both sides of my face at the same time.
Then, I moved to under my jaw, which I found to be the easiest place.
I did each side of my jaw one at a time, again, doing three strokes.
From there, I moved to my forehead then the outside of my face.
The kit also comes with smaller cups for the eye area.
When in doubt, always think up.
I think my favorite thing about facial cupping was how it felt.
The cups sucking up my skin felt really cool.
It felt like I had a flushed face, sort of like arashI couldnt get rid of.
The redness calmed down quickly each time, and afterwards, my skin did feel smooth and lovely.
But I dont think Ill be adding cupping to my regular skin-care routine.
I didnt think my face looked any less puffy than when I started.
I was hoping it would give me a more contoured effect, which clearly did not happen.
