I know how to do facials. I have well-formed opinions on collagen masks and laser treatments. I planned a trip to Seoul, in part, so I could visit A famous spa known for its advanced skincare techniques and K-drama celebrity clientele. So when I saw a TikTok video describing a local Los Angeles treatment as “Gua Sha with steroids“, I could not resist.
The $108 service is offered at JY Beauty in San Gabriel. Owner Yajing Lu opened the shop in 2021 after working in local salons for six years. Before launching her own business, Lu traveled to China for inspiration and incorporated ideas like Bojin, a traditional Chinese technique that stimulates facial muscles, into her spa’s offerings. On the menu, it’s listed as “facial tendon,” which, as Lu explained to me through a translator, is a direct translation from Chinese.
Lu said facial contouring firms and lifts the skin. It can also reduce the appearance of pores and minimize wrinkles like marionette lines, which run from the nose to the mouth. Overall, she said, it reduces signs of aging.
All of this is pretty close to what facial sculpting, another beauty trend that promises smoother-looking skin, at least temporarily, promises. But Bojin goes beyond facial sculpting and draws on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices that focus on manipulating the body's energy pathways.
Various facial products used by JY Beauty, where Bojin facial treatments are on the specials menu.
Yajing Lu massages the author as a nourishing facial mask is applied to her face during a Bojin Facial at JY Beauty.
In traditional Chinese medicine, these pathways, known as meridians, are believed to channel qi, or life energy, throughout the body, according to Dr. Elizabeth Ko, clinical assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and medical director of the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative.
“A central belief in traditional Chinese medicine is that blockages in the meridians lead to health imbalances, such as illness or pain,” Ko said. “Similar to acupuncture, which uses fine needles, Bojin is a method of unblocking stuck qi using a pointed tool made of stone or horn.”
Bojin uses the same tool as gua sha, another traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses a flat, smooth-edged scraper, usually made of jade or stone. Gua sha allows for targeted massage to release tension along the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia of the face and neck so that qi can flow properly through the meridians, thereby restoring balance. Bojin could allow for more targeted and precise treatment, improving circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage, according to Yu.
“The benefit of skin care lies in skin clarity and health, and Bojin is a tool that could offer some benefit when combined with a comprehensive facial treatment in the expert hands of a trained aesthetician,” Ko said, adding that its risks are low beyond a slight pain from the pointed tool used.
Beyond those benefits, Yu says she's seen the treatment reduce dark circles around the eyes and brighten the skin of many clients. There's been a surge in interest on TikTok since “gua sha on steroids” appeared. video from Jing Zhang, a Los Angeles-based beauty influencer who posted that she had gotten the facial in January, which has garnered more than 2.6 million views, attracting new customers who Yu says often request the “TikTok facial.”
“More people are aware of Bojin and love it,” Yu said of the video.
All of JY Beauty's 90-minute facials include the usual facial steps, such as cleansing, extracting, and moisturizing. There is also a lymphatic facial massage section, which includes the chest, neck, and shoulders.
Frames decorate the entrance of JY Beauty.
Yajing Lu gives the author a lymphatic detoxification facial and shoulder massage.
Yajing Lu applies a nourishing facial mask to the author's face during a Bojin facial treatment.
The treatment began with me putting on a robe that wrapped around me just below my armpits, leaving my shoulders and upper chest exposed. I then laid down in a cozy room, where Yu quickly cleaned my face. She set up a steam machine to keep me hydrated and help open my pores.
Yu then performed a facial lymphatic massage on me with her fingers, a process that focused not only on obvious areas like my jaw muscles, but also on surprisingly tense areas, like under my eyebrows. The process made it clear that I’ve been woefully neglecting these parts of my face. She applied gentle pressure slowly down my face toward the lymph nodes in my neck and down into my chest. In addition to feeling wonderful, I had to keep swallowing, which can be a sign that lymphatic drainage is occurring, according to Yu.
To perform the Bojin part of the facial, she took out two gua sha tools and ran them over my face and neck. This part was quite gentle, but it still felt like part of the massage, and despite Ko's warning, I didn't feel any pain.
Next came my least favorite part of any facial: extraction, or the process of clearing out clogged pores by expelling blackheads and whiteheads. This part always feels like the beginning of a Saw movie, but maybe because the massage relaxed me, this extraction wasn't all that painful.
Next, a hydrating serum was applied. Yu pulled out a serum-boosting device, something I recognized from other facials, to boost the effectiveness of the serum. It was a nice refreshing experience after the extraction.
Yajing Lu makes extractions on the author's face.
The author receives red-light treatment. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
After that, Yu covered my eyes with some blankets before placing a panel of red lights around my face. A red light treatment can treat wrinkles, acne, scars, and most importantly for me at the moment, redness. While the light was being applied to my face, Yu scrubbed and moisturized my hands before putting them in warm gloves, a process that made me feel like I was on a beach somewhere, sleeping in the sun.
JY Beauty also offers 30-minute Bojin treatments for eyes and head that can be added to a facial. Yu demonstrated for a few minutes what the additional treatment would feel like on the head. While it wasn't painful at all, I was left wanting a good scratch on my head, but maybe it just gives me less tension.
The finale was a cold clay face mask, thick enough to make me feel like a cake with frosting on it. While it dried, Yu rubbed my legs. The mask came off in one piece.
The author after receiving a JY Beauty Bojin Facial Treatment.
Finally, Yu applied some sunscreen on my face and finished the facial with a quick pat on the back. It was half facial, half massage, and all relaxation.
After the facial, I asked Lu about my blockages. She pointed to my eyes, implying that I might need an additional eye treatment next time. This is totally fair: I can feel my eyes hurting even as I write this article.
I will definitely be trying this again. With my skin hydrated and my Qi unblocked, my skin was glowing. I'm not sure I can go back to traditional facials or massages now that I've experienced this hybrid paradise.
