Face Slapping: What Is It, And Does It Make Your Skincare Work Better?
What's the most effective way to get your skincare to work? Some might argue it's gently massaging the product into your cheeks. Others might say it's the skin slugging technique, which has you sandwiching your actives between your moisturizers. According to TikTok, however, it's slapping yourself in the face. Seriously.
Across the platform, people have been sharing clips of themselves during their beauty routines, and they've been literally slapping (albeit gently) it into their skin. One face-slapping video from @xomelissatovar received more than 133,000 views. Another video, this time from TikToker @_jadync, has over 330,000 views and reads in the caption, "Me slapping my face with [an] oil not knowing what it does but I see every celebrity [has] this done in their facials." But, of course, before you make any changes to your skincare routine, you should absolutely know what you're really doing. Which is why we're here to talk face slapping (also known as the pat and slap).
So, face slapping is exactly what it sounds like. It usually involves literally slapping beauty products, like toners, serums, or moisturizers, into your face. But don't think we're talking one of those super dramatic movie slaps — because that would get painful real fast. Instead, think more like a forceful tap on the skin. Whether you've heard of the technique yet or not though, it's popular in Korea and has been for quite a few years now. In fact, Times of India claimed some people in Korea can slap themselves upwards of 50 times a day, believing it to have skincare benefits. So we're taking a look at these supposed perks — or not.
Face slapping has some expert fans
Amongst those singing the praises of face slapping? The founder and medical director of Belo Medical Group, Dr. Vicki Belo. In a TikTok video, she claimed that she's been trying the technique for 25 years after having it recommended to her by The Obagi Skin Health Institute's Dr. Zein Obagi. She claimed that she was told by Dr. Obagi that slapping the face could thicken the collagen in the face, increase blood circulation in the area, and even increase nutrients in the skin.
There isn't just one way to use this method though. Other people use the technique before applying a skincare product. "I use it after cleansing versus a towel as I find that it leaves skin plumped and a perfect canvas for applying skincare," Christine Chang, the co-founder of "Shark Tank" product Glow Recipe, explained to Marie Claire. "It helps with micro-circulation, keeping the skin firmed and toned," she claimed.
However, Dr. Elena Jiménez, a plastic and esthetic surgeon and medical director, seemed to suggest that the technique maybe doesn't have quite so many visible results. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have any at all. "The only thing that face slapping does is to increase blood flow to the subdermal tissue, as a result of the trauma," she said.
But not everyone is convinced
Not everyone is so into the face slapping idea, though. When it comes to the idea it may help products to soak into the skin better, Sonia Ferreiro, a cosmetologist and biotechnologist, claimed that's just a myth. "Products don't penetrate more just because of how they are applied, but because of their ingredients which penetrate the different layers of skin. Slapping the skin doesn't necessarily improve the absorption of products," she explained to Glamour. Ferreiro also noted the idea can actually take product away from your face, as it ends up being absorbed by the hand instead.
Consuelo Mohedano, training director of Shiseido's prestige division, also noted the few benefits of face slapping probably aren't worth potentially hurting yourself to get. "Slapping can damage the blood capillaries and even the muscles," she told Marie Claire, noting there are other ways to get the same results. Instead, Mohedano recommended trying gua sha and/or face rollers. "They don't run the risk of damaging the skin structures, and above all, are pleasant to use," she shared.
If you do still fancy giving this technique a go though to see for yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you don't cause an injury or damage the skin. Rachel Brown, Guinot's director of education, suggested to Well + Good, "The movement should not be uncomfortable or painful, and only light tapping is needed around the delicate area of the eyes." So be careful out there.