Ready to apply some pressure? Here, WH brings you the tools at the sharp end of the trend
AT-HOME SKIN TECH
Did we mention it’s filtering into at-home tools, too? Charlotte Tilbury’s skin-tech device, the Cryo-Recovery Face Mask (£49), combines cryotherapy (using extreme cold on the skin) with ancient facial acupressure; the goal being to wake up tiredlooking skin. Applying ice to your dermis has long been touted for its effect on cellular ageing and boosting skin function. When it’s used alongside acupressure, you can expect your complexion to glow; in trials held over eight weeks, 84% of participants said their skin looked more radiant after using the mask. CurrentBody, meanwhile, is connecting the dots between sleep and skin. Using 2R Technology (which stands for resistance and relaxation), the Dr Harris Anti- Wrinkle Sleep Mask (£59.99) has been formulated with silicone dots to gently grip your face. This is thought to stimulate receptors in the skin, creating a relaxing effect while preventing the underlying muscles from contracting (the mechanism by which fine lines are formed).
EAR SEEDS
Seen those pretty gold studs infiltrating your Instagram feed recently? They might look straight off the Mejuri new arrivals page, but they’re actually ear seeds. ‘Based on auriculotherapy [a form of alternative medicine rooted in the idea that the ear is a micro system that reflects the entire body], ear seeds are small metal pellets or vaccaria seeds that are secured on the surface of the ear,’ says Bradden. ‘Rather than puncturing the skin with needles, ear seeds are placed over specific acupressure points.’ Drawing on the same principles as acupuncture and acupressure, the placement of the ear seeds differs based on the 200 different acupressure points located on your ears. Trending not just for their stylish aesthetic, ear seeds are purported to have the ability to temper your fight-orflight response. Though the clinical evidence is lacking – and caution is advised if you have sensitive skin – TCM experts believe them to be a powerful at-home tool for everything from stress and migraines to stomach aches and skin health. So much so that Bradden has added ear seeding to the treatments she offers in her clinic.
PRESSURE TREATMENTS
Once upon a time, the expectation from a facial was a megawatt glow to last the rest of the day. Not any more, though. You expect results-driven treatments – toning, lifting, sculpting, tension-relieving – and acupressure is proving to be one technique that ticks all the boxes. Newly o
