A Mouthful

The first time a facialist sticks her hands in your mouth, it can be quite a shock. But I’m a big believer that the practice—known as the buccal technique—does in fact increase circulation to the skin. The key, of course, is being in the right hands, and Kristina Holey’s hands are so right, I practically fell asleep while she treated me. After spending the past year training in Paris with buccal pioneer Joëlle Ciocco, Holey has landed in New York, where she offers pop-up sessions at shops like Maryam Nassir Zadeh. “Skincare should feel good and natural,” says the California native, who favors botanical brands like In Fiore and might even dab your cheeks with aloe fresh from the leaf. “It should be based on what’s going on in your body, and integrated holistically into your lifestyle.” I’ve followed her advice in that department. The oral manipulations, however, I will leave to the professional.