Facial Cupping is a modality that can be used to fight against many conditions from the neck up. Issues such as acne, headaches, and even facial paralysis can be addressed using this technique.
Sakina has practiced acupuncture globally for the past 12 years. She began using Facial Cupping, in addition to her needles, to help alleviate the pain of patients with nerve conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, and to stimulate muscle strength in paralysis cases such as Bell’s Palsy. Realizing how beneficial Facial Cupping was to her patients, she decided to incorporate the technique into her cosmetic acupuncture treatments.
Sakina is the creator of the ‘6-step Facial Cupping Protocol for Beginners’, along with a popular and accredited ‘Facial Cupping For Professionals Course’ that helps teach those who want to become qualified in offering facial cupping to their clients. You can learn more about Sakina and her work here:
Sakina’s background and scope of work:
I’ve been working as an acupuncturist and massage therapist for the past 12 years both in the UK and in the US. Soon after I graduated, I decided to join a cruise line and work as an acupuncturist in the pacific ocean between Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska. During these 7 months at sea, I gave acupuncture to over 1000 patients. It was such a learning experience for me, seeing so many patients in such a small period of time in very unique conditions. Work was hard, as I could see patients simultaneously in two treatment rooms at the same time from 8 am to 10 pm! However, during the port day (days we were not at sea), I had the luxury to be able to visit the places we had stopped in.
When I came back from the cruise, I opened a clinic in Edinburgh then in Brighton a few years later. My business was running smoothly until the 2020 lockdown arrived, when I, unfortunately, couldn’t see my patients face-to-face anymore. As a result, I had the idea to share my expertise and knowledge online and to focus on facial cupping specifically as it was an area where we couldn’t find much information. That is how the idea of The Facial Cupping Expert was created.
I started using Facial Cupping, in addition to my needles, to help alleviate the pain of some patients with nerve conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, and to stimulate muscle strength in paralysis cases such as Bell’s Palsy.
Realizing how beneficial Facial Cupping was to my patients, I decided to incorporate Facial Cupping into my Cosmetic Acupuncture treatments. If it could stimulate paralyzed facial muscles, I knew that Facial Cupping could work in helping to improve facial muscle tone in my cosmetic patients.
It was an instant success. Patients were loving facial cupping. Most of them wanted to buy facial cups and oil but I didn’t have any to resell. I was sending them to various websites, but I knew that if I would sell the facial cups myself, it would be successful. However, I just wanted to keep my life simple and focus on my patients’ treatments rather than reselling any products. This idea changed when lockdown happened!
One of my favorite aspects of having an online business is the connection I’m developing with people all over the world. I don’t have a customer service team, it’s just me. And answering DMs from the 5 continents feels really special. Some women (I say women as it’s mostly women who contact me) share very personal aspects of their lives and I want to give them my full attention. It doesn’t matter if they buy my products or if they don’t.
As I said before, I don’t have a team but delegate some tasks to other people and they’re also from the 5 continents. Ashish from India, helps me with my website, whereas Arnold from Cameroon helps me with my accounts, Lindsay from the US edits my content as English is not my first language, and Christian from Brazil helps me with medical image creation. All these connections are networks of energy that are very precious!
What is facial cupping:
When you squeeze your facial cup on an area of your face, it creates a suction that pulls blood towards the surface of the skin, underneath the cup. As a result, the surrounding tissue fills with fresh blood, and new blood vessels form.
In other words, cupping increases circulation to your face. The suction also creates a controlled mini trauma to the skin (just like micro-needling and the use of a derma roller would). This treatment kickstarts the natural healing process, sending more oxygenated blood to the area, stimulating collagen and fibroblasts, and encouraging skin cell reproduction.
Facial cupping is akin to a facial massage, or what I like to call ‘a workout for the face’. It relaxes your muscles and, after a home facial cupping session, this will show through. Over time, it’ll help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and will bring a natural brightness to your skin.
Always perform a facial cupping session on clean skin, and apply a good quality oil generously all over the face, neck, and décolleté. I recommend prickly pear seed oil as the best oil to use alongside facial cupping.
Then, to get the best result, you need to start by stimulating the lymphatic system by opening up the nodes lower down the neck and collarbone. This step is crucial, and neglecting to do it is the number one mistake I see online. This is also very important to choose a good quality oil. I personally recommend prickly pear seed oil.
Then, work your way up to your face, including your lips! Facial cupping is an excellent way to make them plumper! Start with only three strokes at a time on each area, from the midline of your face towards your ears, as it’s the location of other lymph nodes. Keep the cups moving at all times to avoid any marking on your skin.
Be gentle and careful around the eye area, as the skin is delicate there. Instead of sliding the facial cups, use a ‘flash cupping’ technique, which consists of squeezing and releasing the cups.
Be gentle and careful around the eye area, as the skin is delicate there. Instead of sliding the facial cups, use a ‘flash cupping’ technique, which consists of squeezing and releasing the cups.
What it’s beneficial for:
Facial cupping can be very effective for many health challenges. I already mentioned facial paralysis. Facial cupping can stimulate the nerves that have been damaged and which cause paralysis.
It’s also good for conditions such as sinusitis, headaches, cystic acne, and cellulite. Facial cupping moves stagnant Qi and Blood which is often linked with these conditions. It’s also very good for any muscle strain, like on the neck and shoulder. Doing facial cupping over tensed muscles can provide a lot of relief. The suction is like an inverse massage that stimulates blood flow and stretches connective tissue.
The main Traditional Medicine perspective on natural beauty is that if you’re healthy physically and balanced emotionally, then your skin will be healthy. Imbalances on the face, such as pimples around the chin, dry skin, or red rashes are a manifestation of internal imbalances that need to be treated internally.
Nearly all the acupuncture channels converge to the neck, then continue up the head and face. Many acupuncture points you’re going to massage during a facial cupping session, serve to regulate and balance these channels. When our inner channels are balanced and work well, it will directly reflect on how our face looks.
Always keep the cups moving and make sure you apply enough oil! Never do a cupping session longer than 20 minutes and don’t forget to stimulate the lymphatic system!
It feels like a gentle workout for the face. As a patient, you’ll feel your energy and blood flowing. It is very relaxing and many patients fall asleep while getting it done professionally.
For the skeptics:
I’ve to say that I never try to force my point of view on someone skeptical about any aspect of my beliefs. Whether it is about acupuncture, facial cupping, or being vegetarian. I respect people’s opinions and unless someone specifically asks me to convince them about what I believe I generally just stay quiet.
Some people prefer Botox and I respect this. I prefer to lead by example. For example, not long ago something emotionally challenging happened to me. I felt really unbalanced, vulnerable, upset, and scared. Seeing my acupuncturist was the only thing that helped me. Two of my friends saw the shift in me, and since then both of them went to have an acupuncture treatment. I didn’t say anything to convince them. They just saw me before and after acupuncture and it inspired them to also have acupuncture.
Sakina’s overall wellbeing tips:
Start and finish the day with a cup of room temperature water with lemon. Cook your own food. Protect your lower back from the cold. Less is more when it comes to skincare!
I would tell them it is ok to feel like this and that it’ll pass. Accepting to struggle is the first step to getting better. Put your hand over your chest and take long deep breaths. If the struggle is emotional, I would really encourage them to see an acupuncturist. It’s not common practice to think of seeing an acupuncturist for emotional struggles as we often think of acupuncture as a way to treat pain, digestive, or fertility issues. However, acupuncture is a fantastic tool for emotional issues too. So if you’re struggling try to find a good acupuncturist!
Sakina’s recommended resources:
- Face Reading in Chinese Medicine from Lilian Bridges
- The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted Kaptchuk
- Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford
Facial cupping manipulates the blood flow in your face and head to address internal and external issues such as cystic acne, headaches, and even reviving damaged nerves from paralysis.
You can learn more about Sakina and her work here:
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