I Just Tried the Buzzy Face-Lifting Treatment Insiders Are Raving About

Celebrities and beauty journalists tend to wax lyrical about the wonder of facials and facial massage when it comes to keeping their skin glowing, but I have to admit that I've never really been fussed about it. Whilst there is something truly blissful about having someone massage your face for the best part of an hour, I've always found that the skin-brightening effects of the more relaxing, spa-like facials tend to be short-lived. And as for the more intensive, medical-grade facials that include extractions, resurfacing peels, microneedling and LED therapy? They may have more long-term benefits, but as someone with acne-prone skin, I've often found the pre-treatment questioning about my breakouts and scarring to be more invasive than the procedure itself.

Suffice to say, I am by no means an expert on facials, but when I noticed that basically every beauty editor I follow was raving about FaceGym, my interest was piqued. Known as "workouts" rather than facials, the brand's studios can be found all over London, as well as in Manchester and Oxford, with treatments that aim to release tension, reduce puffiness and lift and sculpt the skin. Alongside some pretty impressive before-and-afters on social media, I was keen to find out whether the somewhat cult following that these workouts have garnered was worth the hype.

Ahead, I've got the full lowdown on everything you need to know about the FaceGym facial workouts and my honest first impression of the Signature Sculpt treatment.

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What Is a FaceGym Workout?

Promising a more contoured, toned and lifted complexion, FaceGym's facial workouts are about as far removed from a traditional facial as they come. You start by choosing either the Signature Sculpt, which uses a combination of facial massage and pro skincare tools (including a gua sha and a powerful electronic muscle stimulation device), or the Signature Hands, which is a hands-only lymphatic facial massage. You can then choose to personalise your workout further with more targeted treatment like nanoneedling, cupping, resurfacing peels, buccal massage or a hydrating cryo treatment (which I opted for).

"Our methodology starts on the foundations and structure of our face with the facial workout, then we work up introducing skincare and tools for a complete 360 approach," says FaceGym founder Inge Theron. "It’s all about combining muscles and skin therapy; the two go hand in hand. By boosting circulation in the tissue, you can help to improve fine lines such as crow’s feet, nasolabial lines, marionette lines and more, as this helps to naturally boost collagen production in the skin."

"When done regularly, the appearance of fine lines is improved, the skin becomes plumper and the overall look rejuvenated," she adds. "This, combined with an effective results-driven skincare regime, will deliver the results you want."

My FaceGym Signature Sculpt Review

Before we get into my review of the facial workout, let me fill you in on the current condition of my skin. Generally speaking, I've had minimal breakouts to deal with (but plenty of scarring and pigmentation left behind from old spots), and my overall complexion has been looking quite dull and tired lately. Plus, I've just turned 37 and am noticing that there's a definite loss of firmness and elasticity in my skin, which feels way less bouncy than it did a few years back. And, on top of that, I've noticed that I have an increasing amount of tension in my jaw and neck. (No surprises with the juggles of daily life.) The Signature Sculpt with Hydration Restoration aims to achieve my main three skincare goals: sculpting and contouring, deep hydration and tension release, to leave skin toned, glowing and revitalised. But does it actually work?

As soon as I arrived at the Coal Drops Yard branch of FaceGym, I was impressed by how bright, open and modern the studio felt. There were plenty of treatment areas, and I appreciated how efficient it all seemed. If you're looking for a facial that you can slot into your lunch break or between appointments at the weekend, then this is the place to go. There's no slipping into gowns or changing out of clothes; you simply hop into the treatment chair, where your trainer will cover your shoulders with a towel and pop a headband on you, and off you go. My lovely trainer (what FaceGym calls its facialists), Rianna, assessed my skin first (and confirmed my suspicions that it's getting dry), then talked me through every step of the facial before we got started.

After cleansing my skin, Rianna warmed up my facial muscles using the Face Ball (£28), which is kind of like a mini yoga ball for your face. It stretches out the muscles, gets the blood flowing and helps to ease tension, plus, it felt really good. My skin looked way more glowy even after this first step.

Next came the facial "cardio"—and probably my favourite part of the whole treatment. This is FaceGym's signature muscle manipulation technique, which is effectively an uber-fast, high-intensity massage. Honestly, I don't know how Rianna gets her hands to move so fast, but it was quite something to witness. The pressure was firm but not uncomfortable, and it felt really incredible along my jawline and on my neck, where I hold a lot of tension. Not only does the massage help to tone your face, but it also aids with lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness in the face.

The cardio continued with a little gua-sha action next. Rianna waxed lyrical about the FaceGym Multi-Sculpt (£50), and I can see why. Unlike a traditional gua sha, this one is made from medical-grade stainless steel, and it's best kept in the fridge for extra cooling benefits. I am a fan of facial massage tools, but often too lazy to use them regularly. However, Rianna talked me through how to use this one along my jawline, cheekbones, brow bones and forehead to ease away areas of tension, reduce puffiness and naturally contour the face. I'm sold.

Then it was time for the big guns—the FaceGym Pro Electrical Muscle Stimulation Device (£500). Rianna informed me that this new device is the most powerful on the market, and this is the key to getting that tight, sculpted look that makes those before-and-afters so impressive. Rianna applied the Powerlift EMS Activator Gel (£40) to my skin to prep it for the treatment and explained that she would start on a level 4, but it could go all the way up to a 10. (I asked if anybody had ever gone all the way up, and Rianna said that she had yet to have anyone in her chair that had!).

Honestly, it was a totally bizarre sensation. As Rianna moved the tool around my face, I could feel it stimulating muscles that I didn't even know I had. Certain areas, like my jawline, felt more intense than my cheeks, but I'd describe it as feeling like a light zapping sensation; kind of like lots of little, non-painful electric shocks. It took about 10 minutes in total (and I only went up to a level 5), but I could instantly see how much more defined and firm my skin looked. This would be a brilliant option before a big event. And whilst I only have my daughter's soft play party in the social calendar this week, you can bet that I'll be feeling extra confident in that ball pond.

Finally, the workout finished with the gel being removed with a hot cloth before it was time for the Hydration Restoration part of the treatment. Rianna pulled out something that looked like a sci-fi blaster, but I was informed was actually a Cool Lifting handheld device. She explained that it worked by delivering a pressured shot of frozen CO2, which would help to push the treatment booster of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide into my skin for an instant glow that would last for around a week. The machine itself was quite noisy, and Rianna explained that it might feel a little prickly as the CO2 blasted onto my skin, but I actually found that there was no discomfort at all with this treatment. It took around three minutes, and my skin was so bright and dewy afterwards. After another mini facial massage, moisturiser and SPF were applied, and I was ready to go.

I have to say that I really can see what the fuss is about when it comes to FaceGym's facial workouts. I was amazed at how the entire shape of my face seemed to have changed in the 45 minutes that I was in Rianna's chair. Not only did my jawline look more snatched, but my cheekbones were popping for the first time in years, and my skin just looked lifted, fresh and bright. It was one of those treatments where I couldn't wait to send photos into the group chat to rave about the results. If you want a facial treatment that delivers instant visible results, then the lift, tone and sculpted appearance that comes with one of these really can't be denied. Not only did my skin feel more plump and taut, I also feel like my skin tone looks way more even too.

How Often Should You Get a FaceGym Workout?

FaceGym recommends getting their workouts as regularly as possible, stating that one to four times per month is ideal. However, at £110 a pop for the Signature Sculpt (and additional costs with any other treatments that you might want to layer on top), it certainly isn't cheap. I was so impressed with the results that I can see myself forgoing some of my other favourite beauty treatments, like my manicure, to make this a monthly occurrence. However, I'd say it is also a great one to book in for if you have a special occasion where you really want skin to look toned, de-puffed and defined.

How to Do a FaceGym Workout at Home

I do think that the best results come with an in-person treatment as all of the FaceGym trainers are so brilliant and knowledgeable about facial massage and lymphatic drainage techniques. However, what I was really impressed with was the range of brilliant tools that FaceGym offers that you can actually use at home to achieve similar results. I'm off to buy my very own Face Ball so that my skin can enjoy some yoga-like stretching on a daily basis.

A Facialist's Verdict on FaceGym Facial Workouts

I thought it was only right to ask an expert what they think of the FaceGym facial and whether it is worth the visit, so I reached out to Grace Day, a Who What Wear UK beauty contributor and facialist, to get her thoughts.

"As with most facials, it totally depends on your skin concerns and goals as to whether the FaceGym facial is right for you," she says. "If you’re someone who has noticed a loss of volume in their face and wants to plump up their facial features, then a FaceGym facial is perfect, because it really helps to lift, stimulate and restore volume. For this reason, it can be a great treatment for more mature skin, as skin typically loses volume as we age. If you’re not concerned about adding volume, have quite petite facial features, or you actually want to remove volume from your face (e.g. puffiness), then I would probably recommend a more gentle lymphatic drainage massage to achieve this."

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