Gua sha, facial cupping and buccal massage: the difference.

Gua sha presses. Facial cupping lifts. Buccal massage works from inside the mouth.

They are often listed together because all three are manual techniques and all three are layered into The Aura Ritual. They are performed differently and each has a distinct feel.

A gua sha stone is worked along the face with sustained pressure and long strokes, always in one direction rather than back and forth. It is the technique most people have tried at home.

In a treatment it is used with controlled movements and enough product for the tool to glide comfortably across the skin.

Instead of pressing down, small silicone cups create a light suction that lifts the tissue while being moved across the face. It is the opposite mechanism to gua sha, which is why they pair well.

Cups are kept moving rather than parked in one place. Some people notice mild temporary redness afterwards, which settles.

This is the one that surprises people. Working with gloved hands inside the mouth, the therapist can reach the cheek and jaw muscles directly, rather than through the skin.

The intraoral approach allows areas around the cheeks and jaw to be worked from a different angle than external facial massage. It is worked slowly and checked with you throughout.

Buccal massage is offered as a beauty and relaxation treatment. It is not a treatment for TMJ dysfunction, bruxism or an underlying medical condition. Ongoing jaw pain, clicking, headaches or dental concerns should be discussed with a GP, dentist or physiotherapist.

Lymphatic-style facial massage is another technique used in The Aura Ritual and The Aura Lift. It uses slow, light and rhythmic movements rather than firm pressure.

It is layered with the other techniques according to the client's skin and needs on the day.