I Tried Facial Cupping, the Celebrity-Loved Plumping Technique That's All Over TikTok
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TikTok is a one-stop shop for all of the latest beauty trends. Slugging, "facelift" concealer hacks, retro hairstyle challenges — you can find it all on the app. If you're tuned into the beauty space and up to date on the most recent treatments, then you've probably spotted facial cupping while scrolling the app.
Facial cupping comes from traditional Chinese medicine. It's a popular spa treatment but you can also do it at home. It involves gently dragging small suction cup tools across the skin in upward and outward motions. It's said to relieve muscle tension (especially in the jaw), increase blood flow, and give you an instantly lifted appearance, similar to jade rolling or gua sha.
In addition to your TikTok For You Page, you've probably seen some of your favorite celebrities talk about cupping. Kaley Cuoco recently made headlines by showing the aftermath of a body cupping session that left her back bruised right before the SAG Awards.
"Cupping, whether on the face or body, is thought to relieve muscle tension and increase blood flow via a temporary vacuum," Ted Lain, MD, MBA, FAAD, chief medical officer of Austin-based Sanova Dermatology, told POPSUGAR. "In terms of the skin, cupping could feasibly increase hydration and plumpness via this increased blood flow, although results would be temporary." Joshua Zeicher, MD, FAAD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, added: "Over time, it may help strengthen the skin's foundation by stimulating collagen," but he cautioned "we have little data showing the true effectiveness of cupping."
Temporary results or not, the beauty editor in me decided to give facial cupping a try to see what all of the excitement is about. Keep reading to find out how it went.
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How to Start Facial Cupping
First things first, you need a cupping tool. I used the Wthn Facial Cupping Kit ($50), which comes with a small and a large tool. There are also options on Amazon and at many beauty and wellness retailers. Before you begin, it's recommended that you apply a serum or facial oil to help the tool glide smoothly over the skin. I used the True Botanical Radiance Oil ($110). (Pro tip from me to you: I also recommend going on YouTube and watching a face cupping tutorial before you try it out for the first time just to ensure you're getting the motions right.)
The Wthn cups have squeeze-balls on the ends that allow you to create the suction you need to perform the technique. The biggest tip that aestheticians and dermatologists share is to be gentle — don't squeeze or press too hard, or drag the tool across the skin with too much force. You want the tool to run over the skin with slight resistance, not tug at your face.
"The downside to cupping would be a risk of bruising from too much vacuum pressure," said Dr. Lain. "If you are trying this for the first time, try it on an area with thicker skin, such as the cheek, and apply the vacuum for a short amount of time." The biggest mistake people on TikTok make is leaving the cupping tool on the skin for too long — the tool shouldn't be stationary at any point. Dr. Lain added, "As long as your skin does not bruise or hurt after the cupping, you should be fine."
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My Experience With Facial Cupping
I decided to practice my cupping technique on the back of my hand first before putting the tool to my face. Once I felt like I had the motion down, I started by the corner of my mouth. I squeezed the end of the device to create a suction, gently rested it on my skin, and held that tension as I dragged the tool up along my cheekbone and out to my lower temple. My immediate thought was, Oh, this isn't as scary as I thought it was going to be.
I continued with that side of my face running the facial cup along the upper part of my cheek (but not over the delicate skin under my eye) and jawline before moving to the other side. Then I did between my eyebrows, dragging the tool along my forehead and out to my temples. The tool left my skin looking a little flushed afterward, but it's completely painless.
The whole process takes less than five minutes and overall, I found it pretty relaxing. The motion of gliding the tool over your skin is soothing and makes for a nice little self-care moment before you have to get back to the busy day. I'll probably incorporate cupping into my beauty routine once a week whenever I'm looking for some extra me time.