Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1505456
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 85 TAKEAWAY: Our combined love of facials and cupping led us to ask: Why not merge the two to create a dose of bliss in our self-care styles? a few times a week. It not only feels good but also offers relaxed, refreshed results and feelings similar to those after a standard facial. BENEFITS OF FACIAL CUPPING Use facial cupping to: • Increase oxygen-rich blood circulation • Strengthen the skin and connective tissues • Stimulate the cells responsible for collagen production • Relax muscle tension Because of this, the practice is said to: • Brighten skin • Minimize the appearance of scars, fine lines, and wrinkles • Tone the chin, jawline, neck, and décolletage • Decrease puffiness • Regulate oil production • Improve nutrient delivery and product absorption • Reduce headaches and the frequency of migraines • Reduce symptoms related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD) • Reduce the appearance of scar tissue • Relieve sinus congestion and symptoms related to allergies BEST PRACTICES FOR FACIAL CUPPING The effectiveness of facial cupping depends on how often you practice. A simple, 3-minute daily cupping session is ideal for reducing fine lines and preserving skin firmness and elasticity. That being said, this is not meant to be another chore or box to check off, but rather an opportunity to care for yourself in a way that brings you joy. Please don't do it if it doesn't bring you joy. Your Face Is Unique Your face is a sublime landscape of skin, muscles, and expression, containing 14 bones, 40 muscles, and 32 teeth that enable you to eat, speak, express, and so much more. The incredibly complex structure of the human face can reveal and reflect your thoughts, feelings, and intentions, and each is unique to the individual. Face the Facts 1. Some estimates claim it takes 43 facial muscles to frown. 1 2. It takes about 13 facial muscles to smile, according to some sources. 2 3. We have 19 types of smiles. 3 4. The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your face. 5. The skin on your face has three distinct layers—the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. 6. The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in the human body for its size. 7. Throughout the world, there are seven universal facial expressions: happy, sad, angry, disgusted, surprised, contempt, and afraid. 4 8. Microexpressions can appear on the face for as short as 1/25 of a second. Notes 1. Tom Scheve, How Stuff Works, "How Many Muscles Does It Take to Smile?" updated April 2021, https://science. howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the- mind/emotions/muscles-smile.htm. 2. Amboy Orthodontics, "What Muscle Is Used in Smiling?" https://amboyortho. com/what-muscle-is-used-in-smiling. 3. Zaria Gorvett, BBC, "There Are 19 Types of Smile But Only Six Are for Happiness," April 10, 2017, www.bbc. com/future/article/20170407-why- all-smiles-are-not-the-same. 4. CBC, "The Seven Universal Emotions We Wear on our Face," www. cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/ the-seven-universal-emotions- we-wear-on-our-face.