We’ve all heard of a facial massage. Whether you’re using a jade roller, gently smoothing a gua sha tool over your skin, or DIY-ing it with your own hands, the benefits of face massage are endless. The technique typically involves stimulating your facial muscles from the surface – that is, until we caught the Netflix Original, Bling Empire.
For those who have yet to binge the series, Bling Empire is a reality show that follows a group of incredibly wealthy Asians living in Los Angeles as they navigate their close-knit social scene and find extravagant ways to spend their fortunes.
In the third episode, Anna Shay, a reclusive billionaire, invites her friends over to her house for a spa day, where she’s hired masseuses and manicurists for a pampering afternoon. Model Kevin Kreider jumps on the massage table, thinking he’d be getting a regular body massage, but he was in for a rude awakening when the masseuse proceeded to stick her hands into his mouth.
This is what Anna called a “mouth massage”.
So, what on earth is a “mouth massage”?
Also known as an internal face massage or a buccal face massage, a mouth massage involves using two hands to massage the inside of your mouth.
Facial massage works because it promotes blood circulation and stimulates your muscles, making your skin appear more refreshed and lifted. A mouth massage takes this a step further by applying motion from both the outside and the inside so your skin will appear more youthful. It is particularly helpful at targeting skin issues near your mouth, like nasolabial folds (laugh lines) and jowls.
It’s known as a holistic technique to get rid of jaw tension and headaches too. “First, I thought it was a bit odd. But it’s pretty amazing because it de-stresses you, if anything,” Anna says. True enough, after a few moments, Kevin warms up to it and says, “This feels great. I need a girlfriend to do this for me.”
The treatment usually runs for an hour and promises smoother skin, a more defined facial contour, and an increase in the production of collagen. We can totally see why Anna is obsessed with this unusual facial massage.
It rose in popularity thanks to Meghan Markle
The masseuse who gave Kevin a mouth massage was indeed correct. This form of facial massage really did become popular when Meghan Markle revealed that she does it regularly with facialist Nichola Joss in London. Apparently, this massage is the celeb secret to nabbing sculpted cheekbones before hitting the Oscars. Since the cat’s out of the bag, requests for this facial skyrocketed.
Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh from Mixed Makeup visited aesthetician Anastasia Talan at Kosha Spa in Los Angeles to try the buccal massage once word about Meghan Markle’s beauty secret got around. It felt uncomfortable at first because there was a build-up of tension that had to be released, but once they got used to it, they both zen-ed out. “I am in a state of pure relaxation and bliss,” Sharzad shared.
Since you can’t find buccal massage treatments in Singapore, you may be tempted to try this on yourself. However, it’s best to get your hands out of your mouth in case you cause any injuries! We’ll stick with the face rollers and outer facial massages for now.
