Celebrities have been poking their face with needles to hold back the years for some time now, yet facial acupuncture is only now just making its way into the mainstream world. It’s fast becoming the go-to therapy for firmer looking and smoother skin. Here, Sarah Bradden, cosmetic acupuncturist reveals the benefits of the 3,000+ year old beauty treatment.
“We call it facial acupuncture and it’s become known for its lifting affects, but it actually works on your whole body,” explains Sarah Bradden, who has a three-month waiting list for her famous lifting and sculpting treatment. “Traditional Chinese medicine treats from the inside out, so the health of the whole person – the organs, the blood and energy flow – is all equally important. When you make changes on the inside and get everything in balance, you have the best results on the outside, too.”
Cosmetic acupuncture addresses multiple factors of ageing – from smoothing lines, to enhancing the firmness and volume of skin. Unlike Botox, facial acupuncture can influence the health of the skin, working on more than the superficial signs of premature ageing. Aside from the ageing benefits, the higher cheekbones and the smoothed down frown lines, facial cosmetic acupuncture is a strangely relaxing restorative treatment that allows for holistic regeneration – both visible and not.
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While Bradden inserts hair-thin needles into the face and ears (it’s virtually painless), she also uses them all over the body. “It’s important to treat where’s needed. For instance, a painful knee will be causing inflammation, which creates ageing – but not just in that area. “In addition, her treatment includes other alternative therapies (reiki, reflexology, breathwork, ear seeding, oxygen therapy and LED therapy) that work in unison with the needles to heal your body from top-to-toe and bring a complete sense of calm and increase energy flow in the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine treats from the inside out – the organs, the blood and energy flow – is all equally important. When you make changes on the inside and get everything in balance, you have the best results on the outside, too.
“On one level we’re treating the chi, or energy, and getting the flow and balance back in the body,” Bradden explains. “On another, the needles increase the blood flow to that area, bringing nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, tissue and skin.” It causes a micro trauma to the skin, which prompts the body’s natural immune response to repair the micro-trauma, similar to when you get a cut or a scratch.
Like most wow facial treatments, Bradden’s expertise comes with a hefty price. So, while we are saving up for Bradden’s magical hands (which by the way is worth very single penny!) here, Bradden reveals how we can incorporate some of her methods at-home using acupressure which has a similar lifting effect when done routinely. Using the fingers pads to press on specific spots on your face, you can give your facial muscles a boost which in turn brings blood to the surface which oxidates blood cells and gives skin a healthy flush and super-smooth even tone.
Here are Bradden’s key points to press to achieve a face lift in just five minutes…
The Brow Lift
“Use your index fingers to work along the brow. First, press up and hold for a count of five on the inner end of the brows. Next, move to the arch of your brow, press up and hold, then switch to the outer end of the brow and repeat. Do it three or four times and you’ll see how quickly your muscles respond. It’s a good eyelid lift as well – and a great de-stressor, as we can hold a lot of tension here.”
The Cheek Sculpt
“Again, using your index finger, press the point either side of your nostrils and work the fingers under and along the cheekbone to the ears, then repeat up to five times. We have a lot of lymph nodes here, so this helps to remove any puffiness while also creating lift. You can use one finger or two – whatever feels best for you.”
The Energiser
“Put your index finger in front of the ears and your middle finger flat behind them [in a V shape] and rub the fingers up and down hard. It gets the heat and energy flowing when you’re flagging or [feeling] dull.”
The Body Booster
“We sit too much these days and we need to get our energy flowing more. Use your fingers, fists or a gua sha to tap up one side of each limb and down the other to get stagnant energy moving. This treats the body and the organs – and if you want great skin, you can’t separate the two.”
The Calming Influence
“Work on the third-eye point [between your brows] using your index finger to press or circle. It’s calming for the spirit when you’re stressed.”
Your DIY Therapy Toolkit…
Sarah Bradden appointments available at Hershesons Belgravia, London. Further information: www.sarahbradden.com
Sarah Bradden appointments available at Hershesons Belgravia, London.
Further information:
www.sarahbradden.com
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