If you're caught up on #WellnessTok, there's a strong chance you've seen videos of your favorite creators on the receiving end of a buccal massage. Tell-tale signs: teeth bared, cheeks pulled taught, and gloves hands probing the deepest corners of someone's jaws. And while this treatment looks like something ripped straight from an alien abduction film, it's actually one of the most hands-on and effective ways to pamper and contour the oft-forgotten facial muscles
There's a good reason buccal massage has gotten so popular, recruiting suspected fans like Princess Kate, Meghan Markle, and Jennifer Lopez: its benefits are many. From facial sculpting and tension release to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) relief and improved circulation, the intense technique—which involves massaging hard-to-reach muscles in the face from inside the mouth—is recommended by dermatologists and dentists alike. It's often incorporated into lymphatic drainage facials and massages, making it an extra level-up within already powerful self-care rituals.
