Here's how it works: The cup creates a gentle vacuum that lifts the skin and the tissue beneath it, drawing fresh blood to the surface. That boost in blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients with it, also encouraging lymphatic drainage, which is why faces often look less puffy and more sculpted afterwards. It can also help to release tension in the small muscles that form expression lines, giving skin a more rested appearance.
Hero image: Nature's Best
Facial cupping routine
A five-minute nightly ritual is plenty. This is what I do:
Cleanse so the skin is clean and dry.
Apply enough oil — this is key. The cup must glide, never grip dry skin, so use a facial oil generous enough to keep everything slipping. I love Ranavat's Brightening Saffron Serum.
Squeeze, place, glide. Pinch the cup to create suction, place it down, then move it straight away in short strokes — outwards along the forehead, up the neck, out along the jaw and cheeks. Never let it sit still.
For the 11s specifically, I work small, gentle upward strokes across the brow furrow and press-release across the area to ease the muscle tension that deepens those lines.
Frequency: two to three nights a week is a good place to start. I've built mine into my nightly routine and started seeing a difference in about three to four weeks.
The classic beginner mistakes are too little oil (leading to dragging and tugging the skin), too much suction (can cause bruising) and holding the cup static. I wouldn't suggest cupping over active breakouts, rosacea, broken capillaries or broken skin, and leave it for a couple of weeks after any injectables. If in doubt, ask your dermatologist first.
Facial Cups
Nature's Best
Silicone Cups (Facial Set), £4.99
These silicone cupping cups are made from medical-grade silicone that's soft, flexible, and durable. Simply squeeze to create suction .
FaceGym
Facial Cupping Set, £35
A more serious investment that takes facial fitness to another level. The Facial Cupping Set is a professional-grade cupping set that lifts, firms and refreshes skin for a visibly sculpted, radiant glow..
5 Facial Oils I Recommend For Face Cupping (And Gua Sha Too):
Ranavat
Brightening Saffron Serum, £135
A beautiful golden serum-oil, that gives good slippage and a deeply nourishing treatment to boot, with saffron and turmeric to brighten as you go.
Coraline Skincare
You Must Be Sisters - Collagen and Ceramide Boosting Facial Oil, £32.95
Hand-blended in Topsham, Devon. This rich, velvety, essential-oil-free oil is great for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin.
Votary
Super Seed Facial Oil, £70
Packed with twenty-one seed oils, fragrance-free, and a real favourite for skin in hormonal flux, think perimenopause and menopause. It has a lovely light slip and sinks in beautifully afterwards.
Sunday Riley
C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, £65
A brightening vitamin C oil that leaves skin really brightened. This one absorbs fast, so you need to work fast with cupping, or reapply liberally - but worth it for the glow-giving effect.
Elemis Superfood Facial Oil, £57
Lightweight, nutrient-dense and a good all-rounder if your skin doesn't tolerate a heavier oil but still loves the nourishing benefits.
FAQs: Face Cupping
What is face cupping and how does it work?
Face cupping uses a small silicone or glass cup to create gentle suction on the skin. The vacuum lifts the tissue and draws blood to the area, which increases local circulation, encourages lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness, and releases tension in facial muscles. The cup is kept moving across the skin rather than left in one place.
Does face cupping help with wrinkles and the '11' lines between the brows?
Face cupping can soften the appearance of fine and expression lines, including the vertical '11' lines, by boosting circulation, relaxing muscle tension and temporarily plumping the skin. Results are gradual and not permanent, and evidence is still limited. It won't erase deep, set-in lines the way in-clinic treatments can.
How do you do face cupping at home?
Cleanse, then apply a generous facial oil so the cup can glide. Squeeze the cup, place it on the skin and immediately move it in short strokes — outwards on the forehead, upwards on the neck and jaw. Never leave it stationary. Spend around five minutes, two to three times a week; sensitive skin should start once weekly.
Why do you need a facial oil for cupping?
A facial oil provides slip so the cup glides smoothly instead of tugging or gripping dry skin, which prevents bruising and broken capillaries. Richer oils such as the Ranavat Brightening Saffron Serum or Coraline You Must Be Sisters give longer slip; lighter, fast-absorbing oils like Elemis Superfood work best applied quickly.
Is face cupping safe, and who should avoid it?
Face cupping is low-risk when done gently with the cup kept moving. Avoid it over active acne, rosacea, broken capillaries or broken skin, and after recent injectables. If you have a skin condition or any concern, check with a dermatologist first.
How much does a facial cupping set cost?
A basic silicone facial cup costs around £5 online. The bigger investment is a good facial oil to use with it, which doubles as a skincare step.
