Facial Cupping: A Surprising Journey Into Healing

My First Session with Frances

Today I had my very first experience with facial cupping—a modality I knew almost nothing about. When I initially booked the session, I honestly thought, “Isn’t this just another type of facial?” I imagined pampering, glowing skin, maybe some oil and a face mask. I didn’t expect what actually happened: a deep emotional and physical healing experience that left me both grounded and awakened.

Let me take you back to the beginning.

What Is Facial Cupping, Anyway?

For those who are new to the concept like I was, facial cupping is a gentle technique rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It uses small, soft cups to create suction on the skin, stimulating circulation, relieving muscle tension, and encouraging lymphatic drainage. Unlike body cupping, which often leaves those dramatic round marks, facial cupping is more delicate and doesn’t typically bruise the skin.

Some of the known benefits of facial cupping include:

• Improved skin tone and texture

• Reduced puffiness and inflammation

• Relief from jaw tension and sinus congestion

• Enhanced collagen production (hello, anti-aging!)

But what I didn’t realize—and what nobody really tells you—is how deeply emotional the experience can be.

The Healing Begins Before the Cups Even Touch You

The session with Frances started slowly, with some breathwork and facial stretches. It was here that things began to shift for me.

My whole life, I’ve had underlying health anxieties—irrational fears that my body would somehow betray me. At times I’ve been convinced my heart might give out, triggered by strange sensations I couldn’t explain. During the session, when Frances began working on specific areas of my face, those very fears showed up.

Suddenly, old stories came rushing back: “Danger, danger,” my mind shouted. I felt fear rising in places I didn’t know I held it—under my cheekbones, along my jawline, near my temples. But then I heard Frances say gently:

“You are safe.”

Over and over, like a mantra: “You are safe.”

I leaned into her words and used my breath to calm my mind. I breathed through the discomfort, through the memories my body was holding onto. And somehow, in that quiet room, before the cups even touched my skin, I started meeting myself—maybe for the first time.

Cupping Like Kisses: A Surprising Sensation

When Frances finally placed the cups on my face, I braced myself for pain, pressure, or something intense. But instead?

It felt like tiny kisses—just like the ones my youngest son gives me.Soft, sweet, and full of love.

The cups gently lifted the fascia and muscles of my face, places where I’ve clearly been holding years of stress and emotion. It felt like they were pulling tension right out of me—lifting not just the skin, but the stories I’ve stored there.

I could feel the energy moving. My face began to feel alive, plump in all the right ways, but also calm.

Like I had just been given permission toexhale—fully.

The Results: More Than Skin Deep

From just one session:

• My skin looks noticeably refreshed—brighter, tighter, and lifted without a single cupping mark.

• But more importantly, I left with a new lease on my own life.

• A sense of reconnection. Of embodiment. Of safety.

It was like receiving a gentle facelift and a full-body emotional reset in one hour.

Moving Forward: Weekly Healing Rituals

Energetically, I can absolutely see the value in doing this once a week for six weeks, not just for the visible benefits, but as a regular practice of emotional clearing and self-connection.

Yes, it supports facial aging. But more than that, it supportssoul aging—letting go of what no longer serves and allowing in lightness and softness.

Gratitude to Frances

Frances, thank you for creating such a safe and sacred space for me to heal. You held space not just for my face, but for my fears. You reminded me I am safe—words I’ll carry with me long after today.

To anyone curious about facial cupping: it's so much more than skincare.

It’s a doorway to yourself.