Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tori Crowther
Facials: most of us know them, and many of us love them. At POPSUGAR, we're always looking for the most innovative treatments to step up our skincare game, and I just found my new favourite. When the opportunity arose to have an appointment with celebrity facialist Michaella Bolder, I jumped at the chance. Aside from having extensive knowledge of facials, she had one big selling point: her specialty is an inside-of-the-mouth facial. Yes, it sounds gross, but I promise it's not, and the results were impressive.
Bolder felt that the general day-to-day facial wasn't doing enough, so after researching and training in various Japanese techniques, she found adding this mouth massage to her lineup of facial offerings to be a success. In my opinion, there are two types of facials: a "relaxing" facial and a "get sh*t done" facial. I was yet to come across one treatment that could do both, until now. Bolder's treatment combined facial techniques that manipulate muscle and stimulate lymphatic drainage, effective products, and the relaxation of massage.
Better yet, this facial technique is Meghan Markle-approved. The duchess once quoted that it "literally massages your face from inside your mouth! Insane, right?" My rationale: if it's good enough for her, it's damn well good enough for me.
If you're still thinking "what the?!" to a facial on the inside of your mouth, keep reading and I'll give you all the reasons it's one of the best facials I've ever had.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tori Crowther
Before getting into the details, you're probably wondering if it's awkward as hell. I mean, someone is feeling and massaging the inside of your mouth, so it's going to be awkward to an extent, but it's not as weird as it sounds . . . or looks. If I were in a stuffy clinic with an unfriendly facialist, it might have been an unpleasant experience. But Bolder made the experience relaxing, and she was so full of knowledge, I was at ease the entire time. I got used to the feeling very quickly; I could easily have dropped off to sleep.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tori Crowther
As for the benefits, Bolder explained, "We have small muscle pockets inside the mouth that we cannot reach from the outside, therefore gently manipulating the muscle directly from the inside allows me to restore the muscle's position using its original memory."
She applies a small amount of pressure to give a lifting and tightening effect, as well as replacing the muscle to where it is supposed to be before muscle depletion, which can result in unwanted jowls. The facial didn't hurt in the slightest, but like any good massage, you can feel the muscle being worked and tension melting away. It felt the teeniest bit tender the next day, which Bolder said was to be expected, but it wasn't noticeably uncomfortable.
2 / 4
The Results Are Immediate
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tori Crowther
This was immediately postfacial, and I want to stress that my head was not tipped upside down. I was lying down as normal. The results are instant; I thought I'd had a facelift after looking in the mirror. Not only did my face look more sculpted, but it also felt lighter and the tension had definitely melted away. I was incredibly relaxed, and it also helped my headaches over the course of the next week, which was a huge bonus.
Also, in case you're wondering (as many of my friends asked after posting this photo on Instagram), I'm using Benefit's Badgal Bang Mascara.
3 / 4
Goodbye Redness, Hello New Sculpted Face
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tori Crowther
After two days, the redness on my skin had noticeably calmed down, and my face definitely felt more plump and sculpted. The following week, I had a glowing, relaxed but lifted-looking face. It's definitely a facial I'd get for a special occasion. Bolder explained that the more you have the facials, the quicker and longer the results last due to muscle memory. Consider me a big fan of inside-of-the-mouth facials.
