And then, I go in with the cups. Wildling’s two cups are made 100% food grade silicone, one larger (for the neck, cheekbones, and forehead) and one about as thin as a marker (for delicate areas like the eyes and lips, or even for targeting individual lines). If you’ve never used a cup before, I recommend practicing on your forearm to nail down the technique—even though it’s quite simple. Slightly pinch the middle of the cone, and then place it on the skin before releasing: You’ll feel the skin being pulled into the cup. From here, there are two main movements. The first is that you can quickly go back to re-pinch the cup and release the skin. (Then do this a few more times in the same area.) The second is that you grab the cup, and slowly drag it across the skin until it naturally releases on its own. 

On the body, the cups are placed on the body and not moved—a still process that is about release. The face, however, is more fluid, and is about circulation and flow. There’s no perfect facial cupping process that everyone must follow, but for beginners, a simple routine acts as a good foundation. And as you get used to the process, you can make adjustments and tweaks that feel good to you. 

Start at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone, use the suction-and-release technique. This, experts note, can help kick-start lymphatic drainage and circulation. Do this several times on both sides of the neck. Then repeat this action just under the ear, right next to the jawbone on both slides. 

Once you’ve done this (it helps open the circulation in the face and neck), you can move onto the gliding technique. If you’re one to guasha or facial roll, you’ll see a lot of similarities in the movements. For example, you want to start to lift up and out as you drag the cup across the skin—you also want to make sure you’re keeping your other hand gently resting at the beginning point, as to limit aggressive tugging. 

I start at my chin and sweep across the jawline, slowly moving up to my cheekbones with each passing stroke. Then I skip over the eyes (I come back to them later with the smaller cup), and go to my brows and forehead. I start with the cup at the center of my brows and move out just above the brow bone on both sides. Then I work my forehead by pulling the cup into my hairline. 

Switching cups, I then tend to my eye area. The skin around the eyes is very thin, and requires extra care. You can use either technique when working here, but if you do glide the cup across the skin, do so extra lightly. You’ll find that the smaller cup doesn’t allow for much suction, which is the exact purpose for using it around the eyes: I cannot stress enough you should be cautious here. 

So often I get asked about how long you should do this for, and my go-to answer is whatever feels right! You certainly don’t want to overdo it, but you shouldn’t feel that there’s a singular, perfect routine that works for everyone. The best thing you can do is learn the basics, what you shouldn’t do (don’t be too hard), and the rest is, quite literally, in your hands. 

The kit comes with a cloud-like cloth made from viscose bamboo and certified organic cotton, which I use to pat off excess oil post cupping. There’s also a small round 1005 white jade stone, perfect for depuffing eyes. I’ve been keeping mine in the freezer, and using it in the morning when my bags are swollen. The cooled rounded end simply glides over my lids and under eyes, making me look and feel more awake in the process. 

For Kung, it all comes down to thoughtful formulations. “Sustainable and clean beauty products rooted in science are important to me but hard to find. This is why I personally love the new cellular beauty+ formula. There is nothing like it on the market,” she says. “The four high-quality ingredients and their dosing are informed by clinical studies. This unique combination simultaneously supports my skin barrier, moisture, texture, and glow—from the inside out! This smart beauty supplement will be a lifelong tool for me to maximize my cellular beauty potential.”*

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For example, the astaxanthin in this formula is clinically shown to enhance skin quality.* In one study, astaxanthin supplementation significantly improved skin elasticity, smoothness, and hydration in just 12 weeks.* Another study found astaxanthin improved skin wrinkles, age spot size, and skin texture.* And in a recent double-blind clinical, subjects reported significant improvement in moisture levels (especially around the eyes), overall improved elasticity, and appearance of tone.* Another recent double-blind clinical found that it can even help skin’s water-retention capacity and reduce barrier damage.*

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Finally, pomegranate whole fruit extract can help skin deal with environmental stressors, like from UV exposure. Clinical studies have shown that this targeted phytonutrient-rich botanical has the ability to enhance photoprotection in the skin, meaning your skin cells are better equipped to deal with UV rays and their subsequent effects.* For example, one randomized controlled trial found that the pomegranate extract increased skin’s resilience against UVB rays, as well as changes to the skin microbiome.* Another—this one, a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial—found that taking pomegranate extract orally could help with common sun-induced pigmentation.*

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Of all the types of wrinkles, laugh lines (also called “smile lines,” or “marionette lines”) are one of the most difficult to treat. Technically, they fall under the “expression wrinkle” bucket, as they form by, well, smiling or laughing—and tend to stick around when collagen declines and your skin isn’t as able to bounce back from these movements. But these creases are also considered “gravitational,” too: When your facial fat pads start to sag over time (the effects of gravity afflict us all at some point), the lower cheek area becomes more hollow, which can make those marionette lines more pronounced. All that to say: Laugh lines are no joke. 

Now, we would never tell you to quit smiling and laughing—not only is that ridiculous advice, but your mental health is a vital component of skin care, anyway. But for those moments when you’re not actively engaging, experts suggest slotting in intentional movement, via a face yoga practice or mindful massage, both of which can stimulate blood flow and promote collagen production. 

If you’re in the market for some facial massage tips, you’re in luck: We recently came across an easy TikTok tutorial to target those laugh lines—with just two steps, it seamlessly fits into your skin care routine. 

For an exercise that targets quite a few regions of your face, it’s surprisingly simple: All you need to do, says face yoga expert Parmita Katkar in a TikTok video, is puff some air in your cheeks, then smile and lift your cheeks 50 times. That’s it! You’ll just want to “avoid squinting and contorting other facial muscles,” says Katkar, as this unintentional movement can demolish your progress. (Face yoga is about intentionally isolating the movement, remember?)

Don’t be fooled by its simplicity, though: This exercise can be hard, especially once you hit 30 or so pulses. Because your facial muscles are so small and delicate, it’s difficult to isolate and activate the exact muscle you’re trying to target, particularly more fragile areas like the eyes and mouth. That’s why it’s pretty common to unintentionally hold your breath or tense up (or in this case, squint) as you hold a pose during face yoga. 

As for when to practice, many experts suggest once in the morning to wake up your facial muscles and once again before bed to release all the tension you’ve accumulated during the day. You don’t need to practice for very long—just a few minutes will do; again, your facial muscles are much tinier and more delicate than, say, your biceps—so they don’t need as much time and effort to tone.