EXPERT ADVICE
EXPERT ADVICE
Cosmetic acupuncture and the rise of the holistic facial: would you have needles put in your face for wellness?
"Needling certain points in the body can stimulate or calm the qi of internal organs, while boosting the body's metabolism and the supply of blood to the face achieving beauty from within," says Ada Ooi, facialist and founder of 001 Skincare.
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These are the very best professional facials we’ve ever tried
The facial itself incorporates intense facial massage (it’s not comfortable, but you’ll see an instant difference) plus acupuncture and extractions. Skin is left glowing, red-carpet ready and the glow only gets better in those days to come.
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The best facials in London, hand-picked by Bazaar's beauty team
Expertly fusing eastern and western techniques, Ada Ooi combines aesthetic therapy and acupuncture into her bespoke facial treatments that are the ultimate in holistic healing. A ‘facialist-acupuncturist’ to many in the public eye, including royals, she tailors her treatments according to skin ageing, plus hormonal, stress and sleep issues.
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Let’s Make-Up: the new beauty launches to have on your radar in September
Founder Ada Ooi has created this device to transform your serums into micrometre particles in order for them to be more easily absorbed into the skin and enhance their efficacy. It’s also portable and rechargeable via USB.
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Cupping therapy: is the alternative treatment good for sore muscles?
26 MAY 2021 Cupping therapy is a well-known alternative therapy – but is it actually good for you and your muscles? There’s a never-ending list of treatments you can try that promise to support your body and improve your workout performance. From the fact-based advice, such as eating enough protein and prioritising sleep, to the wackier trends (hello, IV drips), there’s something for everyone. Somewhere in the middle lies tissue therapies. You’ve probably tried – or at least heard of – some of these, such as sports massage and foam rolling. But have you ever considered using cupping to ease muscle tightness? It’s a slightly more extreme form of tissue therapy, thanks to the obvious bruises it leaves. If you’ve ever seen an Olympic swimmer with markings on their body as though as an octopus has got their suckers on them, you might know what we’re talking about. So, if it’s good enough for professional athletes, is it worth it for you too? WHAT IS CUPPING? “Cupping is a type of therapy originating from China that involves placing cups on the skin to create a suction,” says cupping therapist Ada Ooi. This is an ancient tradition that is often used in relation to ‘qi’, the bodies energy flow, but is also used as a form to support the physical body. “The practitioner creates a suction from a special pump to vacuum out the air once the cups are on your skin, or by heating the cup before placing it on your body. How long the cups stay on your skin depends on what is being treated. It could be a few minutes or could be up to half an hour,” says Ada. “For some treatments, ‘moving cupping’ can be used, where the cups are moved around the body to guide the flow of blood, but a lot of the time the cups remain static on the body.” WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CUPPING? “Cupping works by increasing blood flow to your fascia and muscles and stimulating the lymphatic system,” says Ada. “It can bring in oxygen and nutrients and guide immune cells into the particular area to loosen tension.” The idea is pretty much “out with the bad, in with the good”, explains Ada, as stimulating blood flow to the area can help with inflammation. It makes sense as a practice – the body naturally stimulates blood flow to injured areas (hence the redness, heat and swelling when you hurt yourself). Cupping is simply an extension of that, promoting natural healing benefits, but can also be “especially great for people who might have been suffering from chronic tension, to a point that their ‘knots’ are too hard or too sore to touch and break up adhesions that are blocking flow,” says Ada. Research has shown that cupping can help to ease pain and relax muscle tissue: a 2017 study from Illinois State University found that cupping eased IT band tension and improved hip mobility 24 hours after four stationary cups were placed along the area in question. But research is limited and there’s no official consensus as to whether or not the treatment works in practice as well as it does in theory. Cupping therapy: is it good for you? I’ve had cupping once – a somewhat unplanned event that was recommended during a sports therapy session I’d attended for my tight shoulders and back. The therapist explained that they were applying cups to encourage blood flow to the treated muscles after breaking down the knots using massage. This was to remove the waste products that are released both during exercise and massage, but also to encourage my body to heal the broken tissue. The cups felt warm when applied and a little uncomfortable when on (although the area was already pretty numb from the massage). I can’t say whether it was the massage or cupping that helped ease my tight shoulders. But, after getting over the initial muscle sensitivity that I find lasts up to 48 hours after tissue therapy, I definitely felt looser. The only problem was those huge bruises, which made me look as though I’d been abducted by aliens. They didn’t necessarily hurt for that long, but they did take a while to go down. “If your cupping marks are very angry, massaging something like arnica gel into the area can help promote healing and reduce discomfort,” advises Ada. “If you don’t feel any further discomfort, you can continue to use a heating pad or hot water bottle on the cupped areas to promote circulation and relax the muscles. Sometimes people feel tired or have the flu like symptoms after cupping – a temporary reaction by your immune system to the cellular waste that cupping helps to release. Listen to your body and rest if you need to.” So, is cupping worth it? Well it probably shouldn’t be your first port of call if you’re after a way of ridding muscle tension, but it can be a great option for those who are looking for alternative and complementary tissue therapies to ease stiff muscles. But let’s be honest: if you’re hoping to get out in a backless dress after lockdown, you could opt for a less bruise worthy treatments. Article written by Chloe Gray - STYLIST Read the article here
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001 Skincare London Winner at the Journal Business Awards
001 Skincare London were nominated and the winner in the category Culture Fusion at the Journal Business Awards
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Rooney Mara’s Facialist Shares Tips to Getting Glowing Skin at Home
It's no secret that everyone's daily routine looks a little different these days, but did you know that every little change can affect your skin? According to celebrity facialist Ada Ooi of 001 London Skincare, whose A-list clientele includes Rooney Mara and Ellie Goulding, lifestyle changes like increased stress, tweaking your diet and prolonged screen time can all irritate your skin and lead to concerns like dullness, breakouts and dryness.
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What You Need To Know About Cupping Therapy
22 JULY, 2021 First, what is cupping therapy? “Cupping uses similar principles to popular skin therapy gua sha – where a tool is used to bring inflammation or illness to the skin’s surface so pain can be relieved. It involves placing cups on the skin on certain parts of the body to create a suction, creating broken blood vessels just beneath the skin, which break up adhesions which might be creating tension or blockages.” Tell us more… “Cupping also stimulates the lymphatic network to get rid of excess fluids and promote waste management. One unique property of cupping is that it uses negative pressure. This means that without heavy-handed massage, cupping is able to release tension by separating the fascia from the muscle and lengthening the muscle fibre and connective tissue. This then creates space for essential elements necessary for healing while removing the build-up of toxins. Combined, this can effectively relieve muscle pain.” So, who’s it for? “Cupping works well for anyone with water retention, muscle tension or someone who needs a 'kick' to move circulation along. It's a treatment that is able to get under your skin to unknot, unblock and reboot. Cupping is especially good for people who suffer from chronic tension, to a point that their 'knots' are too hard or too sore to touch. It works by increasing blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed, which can in turn relieve muscle tension, which then improves overall blood flow and promotes cell repair.” What are some of the main benefits? “From a Western medicine point of view, cupping is able to draw fresh blood to a painful area and heighten its healing response. The simulated blood flow arouses cell metabolism and repair, resulting in the formation of new connective tissue. The suction softens tensed soft tissue by dissolving adhesions and helps release unhealthy torsion, normalising muscle position. It also drains excessive fluids and toxins while new blood stimulates the joints, lifts and lengthens fascia and reactivates entrapped nerves within our body. “In Chinese medicine, heightened blood circulation means ‘qi’ (the vital life force said to flow through the body) is able to move through the body more effectively, and during the process imbalances are pacified and reset, allowing for effective transport and transformations of nutrients and essences. As the cups move around the meridian network across the body, they are also able to stimulate and nourish the reflexive organ systems.” Cupping works well for anyone with water retention, muscle tension or someone who needs a 'kick' to move circulation along. Ada Ooi Beauty & Wellness Guru How does it work? “The practitioner will place the cups on your skin. Then – depending on the area that’s being treated – they will create a suction either from a special pump to vacuum out the air or heat the cup before placing it on your body. How long the cups stay on your skin depends on what is being treated, so this could be a few minutes or up to half an hour. “The negative pressure from the cup forces capillaries in injured or tense areas to hold stale blood and cellular debris and attract them to the surface. The circulatory and lymphatic drainage system will then process them to give space for oxygen, nutrients and new cells. “One way of cupping is to cup along your meridian network to stimulate internal organ systems, such as the liver and spleen meridian for both physical and mental waste management. In this case, instead of leaving the cup static, the 'moving cup' technique will be used, which involves gliding across the meridian network to invigorate and produce internal reflexive response, stimulating internal movements for moving qi or getting rid of toxins. “The cupping marks on your body indicate the level of blood, toxin accumulation or dampness accumulation in your body. The colour and pattern of the marks reflect the level of stagnation in that area. Everybody is different by nature, and will react differently to cupping, but as a general rule, the darker the colour, the more stagnation could be present.” Is the process the same for facial cupping? “Almost. Although they follow the same principle, the type of cup used is different for your face. They are usually a lot smaller and softer too. Facial cupping also doesn’t leave bruises, because the suction isn’t as strong, and the cups are constantly moving.” What’s the difference between dry and wet cupping? “The cups used can come in different materials and shapes and sizes. With wet cupping, your practitioner will gently prick your skin with a needle before or after applying the suction cups to draw out a small, controlled amount of blood to loosen any stagnation you have. Please ensure you approach a certified Chinese medicine practitioner for this, as wet cupping can easily become infected if not done in a hygienic environment and controlled manner. Dry cupping doesn't require any pin pricks.” We’ve got to admit, it looks painful… “Cupping really shouldn’t hurt, despite what the bruises might suggest. Sometimes you can feel tired and have flu-like symptoms after cupping, as the body can be overwhelmed by all the actions coming together. If this happens, listen to your body, as it is telling you to rest, keep warm and take a nap. You’re sure to wake up feeling light and relaxed. It's important to remember these flu-like symptoms are only a temporary reaction by your immune system to the cellular waste that cupping helps to release.” Cupping really shouldn’t hurt, despite what the bruises might suggest. Ada Ooi Beauty & Wellness Guru How quickly can you see results? “You’ll feel a warming sensation and relaxing benefits almost instantly, and this will last from days to weeks depending on your treatment. But like any other therapy methods, I encourage regular and consistent treatments for the body to learn its way to recovery and balance.” Are there any risks associated with it? “Risks mainly surround who the practitioner you choose to perform cupping is. It’s hugely important you visit a qualified professional, otherwise you can suffer from pain or infection, and over-cupping can lead to blisters.” And what’s the aftercare process? “Like with gua sha, it’s best to avoid showering at least two hours after body cupping, and keep yourself very warm to avoid any dampness, as this can turn into cold when entering the body when your blood vessels are wide open and active. If possible, take a shower before your cupping sessions. For facial cupping, since there is very limited ‘trauma’, contact with water is fine.” How can you get started? “Always do your research and find a qualified practitioner who will be able to properly assess what you and your body needs.” Ada offers both cupping therapy and gua sha tension release services in her London clinic. To find out more about her or to book an appointment, visit 001london.co.uk. BOOK THE CUPPING BODY TREATMENT with our Clinic Therapist DISCLAIMER: Features published by SheerLuxe are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme. Article by Heather Steele - SHEERLUXE Read the full story here
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Everything you need to know about cupping therapy. This traditional body treatment is an A-list favourite - but what really are the benefits?
Cupping therapy might be having a modern resurgence, fuelled by a host of A-list and athlete devotees - from Jennifer Aniston, Kaley Cuoco and Gwyneth Paltrow to Michael Phelps and Justin Bieber - but the treatment can actually be traced back to ancient Chinese, Middle Eastern and Egyptian cultures. Here, celebrity facialist, Traditional Chinese Medicine authority and founder of 001 Skin , Ada Ooi, breaks down the origins and benefits of this history-steeped therapy.
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