Leading the way of facial cupping in the UK, Urtekram, who celebrated 50 years of sustainable, natural beauty in 2022, have partnered with Denmark’s leading holistic facialist Line Friis to share the ultimate guide to facial cupping, using their newly launched skin and body care products.
What you’ll need:
Quality of the cups are crucial for the practice to be as beneficial and smooth as possible. Line recommends purchasing a set of cups including a smaller one for the eye area, which needs extra TLC, plus a bigger one for the rest of the face. Onto the products: look no further than Urtekram’s brand NEW for 2023, Rise & Shine skincare range featuring an Eye Cream, Gentle Cleansing Milk, Day Cream and Night Cream, plus their new Soothing Lavender Oil.
Step one: prep the skin
Start by removing any excess make-up and impurities using the Gentle Cleansing Milk (RRP £7.79, launching on Amazon soon) which respects the skins barrier while gently cleaning, freshening up and hydrating the skin.
Step two: open the drainage pathways
Opening the lymphatic drainage system is key so that there’s somewhere for the excess toxins to travel out through the neck. Start by placing a generous amount of Lavender Body Oil (RRP £7.99) onto the face and down the neck; for extra moisture you can even mix some of the Gentle Cleansing Milk onto the skin. Then, take the big cup and squeeze and release to suction onto the skin before gently gliding down the collarbone four times on each side to open the pathways. If you feel any pulling at all, add more product – the only thing you can go wrong with in cupping is not having enough product so don’t be scared!
Step three: eye-care
Start on the eye area by applying a generous amount of the Nourishing Eye Cream (RRP £5.50, launching on Amazon soon), which helps to improve skin elasticity, before going in with the small cup. Underneath the eye, take outward suction motions towards the temple and release. Repeat 3-4 times.
Step four: lymphatic drainage sequence
As you can really get into the nooks of the skin, cupping is perfect for lymphatic drainage and detoxing of the skin. Go back in with the big cup and start by feeling your way from the middle of the face (starting on the chin, to cheek to the forehead and so on), simply slide out and let go. When you reach the forehead, you can also do some extra up and down motions in the middle. The forehead can feel harder to stretch out so you might need to push a little harder to achieve the suction.
Finish off by sliding from the temple down to the collarbone on each side three times. This step is also useful for anyone with acne or rosacea, if done every day the skin will see changes in just three weeks.
Step five: deep tissue sequence
Next up, you can start to plump the skin. Using the bigger cup again you want to do similar motions from the middle of the face outwards but this time, never fully releasing the suction but just gently opening and closing it by squeezing the cup. Avoid the under-eye area for this one and expect a very good glow after!
Step five: reducing wrinkles sequence
Going back to the small cup once again, you just want to simply move the cup from side to side and up and down, while keeping the suction, in whichever problem area you please. For example, this is a great one to do on the forehead area to not only reduce fine lines but also relieve tension from headaches and tense muscles.
Step six: close the cupping ritual
If its morning, end the cupping by applying the Nourishing Day Cream (RRP £8.00), or if its evening, apply the day cream followed by the Nourishing Night Cream (RRP £8.00) too. Think of this combo like your sweater and winter jacket, you’d never go out with just one on, right? Well one cream isn’t enough during winter as the air contracts and contains less moisture, leaving our skin feeling much drier. Also, when you sleep, 70% of the moisture in your skin will disappear so applying both provides you the chance to stay super hydrated through to morning.
To really treat yourself, you could then pop a couple drops of the Lavender Body Oil onto your pillow and relax deeply into the night.
Final tip: Try cupping while in the shower, the combination of the products with the steam and hot water will create the perfect glow almost instantly!
