Because sometimes your skin just needs a little lift—literally.
At Resonance Marin, a luxury sustainable spa in Corte Madera, we like to think of facial cupping as the unsung poetry of self-care: a little suction, a lot of circulation, and an elegant nod to thousands of years of healing wisdom. Long before the term “lymphatic drainage facial” trended on TikTok, Traditional Chinese Medicine understood that stagnation dulls the glow — and movement restores it.
Facial cupping is, quite simply, the art of getting things flowing again.
From Ancient Apothecaries to Modern Glow Seekers
While the small glass or silicone cups you see today look sleek and spa-worthy, their lineage is ancient — stretching back to the Han Dynasty in China, ancient Egypt’s Ebers Papyrus, and even early Greek medicine.
The principle was always the same: create gentle suction to move what’s stuck. In the body, that meant clearing pain, phlegm, or fatigue. On the face, it translates beautifully to lifting puffiness, easing jaw tension, and waking up the skin from its 21st-century slumber.
As the Chinese alchemist Ge Hong wrote in the 4th century, cupping was used to “draw out illness by restoring the free flow of Qi.” At Resonance Marin, we like to think of it as drawing out the dullness — restoring the flow of radiance.
How Facial Cupping Works (Without the Ladybug Spots)
Unlike Gua Sha, which smooths and sculpts through glide and pressure, Facial Cupping lifts.
Tiny cups create a soft pull on the skin and fascia — enough to activate microcirculation and encourage lymphatic drainage, but gentle enough to feel like a whisper rather than a vacuum.
That delicate lifting motion invites the lymphatic system — your body’s internal detox network — to wake up and get to work. The result? A complexion that looks clearer, lighter, and somehow happier.
Why We Love It (and Why You Will Too)
De-puffs + detoxifies – Moves stagnant fluid and encourages deeper lymphatic flow.
Plumps + firms – Stimulates circulation, oxygenation, and collagen support.
Smooths + softens – Refines skin texture and eases facial tension (jaw clenchers, we see you).
Boosts your skincare – Enhances absorption of your serums and oils, turning each product into a little overachiever.
This technique “stimulates the lymphatic system, brightens and strengthens the skin, and supports collagen production.”
In our experience: it also melts away stress and gives your skin that quietly smug, just-had-a-facial glow.
Facial Cupping at Resonance Marin
We weave facial cupping into our Meridian Sculpt Facial and Meridian Sculpt + No-Tox Facial treatments — because the skin doesn’t just need products; it needs movement, rhythm, and intention.
These techniques lift more than the contours — they lift your entire mood.
To keep that post-facial glow between visits, we recommend cupping 3–4 times a week at home. It’s one of those rituals that pays you back in radiance.
And if you’ve ever wondered “Am I doing this right?”, we’ve made it simple:
Follow Along with Our Facial Cupping Tutorial
You’ll learn the same sequences and techniques our estheticians use in the treatment room.
Workshop: Learn the Ritual with Us
For those who want to dive deeper (and maybe giggle a little while they learn), we offer a 4-week hands-on course that teaches everything from foundational technique to focused work on lips, eyes, forehead, and jawline.
Includes your own facial cup set, curated INBAR+co skincare, tea & snacks, and 15% off all skincare during the course.
Schedule Options:
Thursdays at 4:30 PM — starting October 29, 2025
Saturdays at 10 AM — starting November 1, 2025
$240 for the 4-week series | Space is limited
Reserve Your Spot: info@resonancemarin.com or call 415-891-3328