As a skincare or beauty enthusiast, you hunt down the latest products, techniques and beauty trends. Frequently, you find a diamond in the rough, like the oil cleansing method to remove dirt and bacteria. Other times you find bizarre trends like ear makeup, which was hot for a while in 2016. But what do you do when you find a bizarre trend that has the potential of being a diamond in the rough? This was our dilemma with the spoon facial until we thoroughly researched its effects.
The Story Behind the Spoon Facial
The spoon facial has been popular in Asia for many years, which comes as no surprise to us. Asian countries are the leaders in”unusual” (yet surprisingly effective) beauty fads. The spoon facial gained popularity in the Western world when German physician cosmetologist Rene Koch recommended this technique to help maintain a youthful appearance.
If done correctly, spoon facials can actually make your face slimmer.
Beauty YouTubers have put this concept to the test with some impressive results. One YouTuber measured her face before doing the spoon facial, and then measured it after. She claimed to have lost 3mm from her face. Another YouTuber’s face slimmed down by 1.5mm.
The science behind the efficacy of a spoon facial is very similar to that of the jade roller and gua sha. This spoon massage helps release fluids retained in the face, while also increasing blood flow, drain puff-inducing fluids (facial bloating) and detoxifies the face. All of this leads to:
- Reduced fine lines
- Reduced wrinkles
- Increase in skin elasticity
- Smoother and firmer skin
- The appearance of a slimmer face
If you want the results to last, you have to repeat the technique every other day.
Your Supplies
You’ll need to use a ceramic or porcelain spoon when performing the spoon facial. If you use plastic or metal, the sharp edges may end up damaging your skin -the goal here is to revitalize your skin.
Use an oil to avoid the spoon from chafing your skin. And of course, some oils get bonus points for their anti-aging benefits and added moisture. We recommend using the following carrier oils for your face.
- Coconut oil (for sensitive skin and skin that suffers from irritations)
- Flaxseed oil (for skin irritations such as eczema)
- Argan oil (for mature and dry skin)
- Avocado oil (for dry, irritated skin)
- Jojoba oil (for dry skin)
- Olive oil (for extremely dry skin)
Technique
Prep your skin by massaging the oil into your face.
Beautytips4her.com has an extremely helpful and self-explanatory illustration on how/where to apply the spoons. Essentially, you start at the top of your face and work your way down. Don’t glide the spoon too gently or too rough. Find a middle balance that achieves the results you want.
- Start at the center of the forehead and move the spoon upward to your hairline (remember, moving upward lifts your skin because as we age, it begins to sag).
- Start at the center of your forehead and move the spoon upward to your temple.
- Use the back of the spoon to glide it above your eyebrows, eyelids and the outer corner of your eyes.
- Massage the entire surface of your cheeks, moving the spoon up toward your ear.
- Continue at the chin and move up toward your jawline.
The entire process takes ten minutes – while that is time-consuming, it sure beats an expensive facial from an esthetician. Don’t go longer than ten minutes, or else you’re overstimulating.
Would you give this a try, or would you rather stick with the jade roller or gua sha techniques? Or would you incorporate all three into your skincare routine.
