Face cupping 101

Learn about this unique self-massage technique

by Megan

As a massage therapist and movement instructor, one of my favourite techniques to work into treatments and homecare is cupping. Let’s explore face cupping for self-use. 

If you are unsure if face cupping is for you, please discuss it with your healthcare provider trained in this modality. 

What is cupping? 

Face cupping is a natural, non-invasive massage technique to help manage tissue tension and improve the health of the skin, muscles, and fascia of the neck and face. Cupping therapy has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other traditional practices across East Asia. 

By applying cups, typically made of silicone, to the skin, you create suction which stimulates the underlying skin, muscle and fascial tissue. This gentle tension improves circulation and reduced tissue tightness, while supporting lymph flow and collagen production.

Various cup sizes and face oil

Is face cupping for me? 

Due to the small size of the cups and the low intensity of suction, these are an appropriate tool to use on adults, children, and seniors. 

Benefits of face cupping

• Improves circulation of oxygen-rich blood, creating bright and glowy skin

• Improves lymphatic fluid flow and reduces congestion and “puffiness”

• Decreases fine lines and wrinkles 

• Stimulate collagen and elastin production

• Breaks down adhesions and scar tissue

A systematic review found that face cupping - both in isolation and in combination with additional techniques - was more effective than some medication at managing various conditions, including facial paralysis and acne.

Risks of face cupping

Some folks who try face cupping experience the following:

• Dizziness

• Light headache

• Bruising 

• Redness/swelling

• Skin infection  

But these outcomes are rare; one study found that less than 5% of treatments cause effects like bruising, redness, infection. These symptoms typically resolved within a month. Headaches, muscle ache or dizziness, meanwhile, usually resolved within hours to days. 

Make sure to clean your cups thoroughly (see the last section of this post for instructions!) and limit the time under suction to decrease your chances of a bad reaction!  

To avoid infections or exacerbating skin issues, don’t use your cups when you have broken or fragile skin or when you are sick with a fever.

Face cupping best practices

Before you begin

• Remove any makeup and wash and cleanse your face and hands.

• Pat face to dry and add a small amount of moisturising face oil or lotion. This hydrating process will help the cups glide over the surface of the skin. 

• Ensure face cups are clean and sterile before use. 

How to use face cups

• Begin with the smaller cup - test your sensitivity to suction, and move up in size 

• The smaller cup is best used in areas of thin or sensitive skin (lips, eyes)

• The larger cup works best following the broad structures of the face (jawline, cheeks, forehead) 

• Work from the center of the face outwards 

• Use a slow and repetitive application, repeating each pass of the face three to five times

Diagram showing directions of movement using face cup

Application techniques

• Gently pinch the cup to help create suction, then place on skin to create a seal

• Don’t hold the cup in one spot for a long time; instead keep a slow, rhythmic pace:

• Gliding - place cups on skin and drag in a gliding manner

• Plucking- place cups on skin and quickly pull away until the cup releases

Let’s practice together

How often should I use face cups?

This is pretty flexible, depending on your goals and desired treatment areas. You could spend three to five minutes daily doing a very general full-face treatment, or instead, you could do a more focused application on a specific area of the face. 

For example, say you spend up to five minutes daily rotating through treating the neck, jaw, lips and around the mouth, the cheeks and around the eyes, and the forehead. 

You could try a longer practice, around 15 minutes, once or twice a week, depending on personal needs and tolerance. Research suggests that cupping benefits on the skin and circulation begin to reduce after 3 weeks.

How to clean your cups after use

Sanitize your cups after every use! To do so:

• wash with Dawn dish soap

• soak cups in very hot water for 20 minutes 

• rinse and leave to dry

• scrub the inside of the cups with a straw cleaner (if desired)

• once dry, place cups in a sealed container until your next use

Cups in bin being cleaned

Other self-care resources

• Read the Simple Self-Care: Jaw blog post

• Read the Simple Self-Care: Headache blog post

Further reading

1. Aboushanab, T., & Qureshi, D. N. Safety of Cupping Therapy in Studies Conducted in Twenty One Century: A Review of Literature. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJMMR/2016/26285

2. Cao, H., Han, M., Zhu, X., & Liu, J. (2015). An overview of systematic reviews of clinical evidence for cupping therapy. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, 2(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcms.2014.11.012 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754815000277

3. Al-Rubaye, K.Q. (2012). The Clinical and Histological Skin Changes After the Cupping Therapy (Al-Hijamah). Journal of Turkish Academy of Dermatology. https://www.jtad.org/pdf/f88090da-efac-4ecf-a15c-83ab968f5c5d/articles/jtad.1261a1/jtad-6-0-En.pdf