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Buccal facial: treatment Meghan Markle favours lands in Hong Kong. We try it out

  • Called “Pilates for the face” by some, the buccal facial became an overnight sensation after it was revealed Meghan Markle was a fan
  • Divia Harilela gave it a try at the Sense of Touch spa in Central and – one slight shock aside – was amazed at the difference she felt

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The buccal facial is a non-invasive workout for the facial muscles which improves blood circulation while creating a natural lifting effect on the face.

The word “workout” has been used to describe the buccal facial, but don’t let that put you off.

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For those who haven’t heard of it before, the treatment, which has been referred to as “Pilates for the face”, became an overnight sensation when it was revealed that the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is a big fan. As soon as I heard it was available in Hong Kong, I threw on my best pair of Lululemons and booked an appointment.

The facial is exclusive to Sense of Touch spas; I visited the branch in Hong Kong’s Central district. My therapist Rama led me upstairs to a quiet room on the top floor and handed me a container of mouth wash to use before the treatment. I was slightly confused but followed her instructions, before getting cosy under the blankets.

Rama gave me the lowdown on the infamous massage, which as it turns out is only practised by a handful of beauticians around the world. She described it as a non-invasive workout for the facial muscles which improves blood circulation while creating a natural lifting effect on the face. The treatment concentrates on the jaw area in particular – the word “buccal” refers to the area around the mouth and chin – where we hold tension and stress.

A treatment room at the Sense of Touch spa in Hong Kong’s Central district.
A treatment room at the Sense of Touch spa in Hong Kong’s Central district.
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After a thorough cleansing and toning, Rama applied a creamy exfoliating mask containing enzymes to help remove dead skin cells. I usually have sensitive skin, but the products were by an Italian brand called Comfort Zone which is free of nasties such as parabens and silicones, instead containing organic and naturally derived ingredients. The formulas were soothing yet not too heavy, and smelt divine.
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