Cosmetic Acupuncture: Where Beauty Meets Balance | The Skinny Confidential

You may have met Brooke from The Road in this blog post, and we’re so lucky to have her back to talk all about cosmetic acupuncture today.

The Road is one of Lauryn’s favorite spas to rest, rejuvenate and get real results. As the founder and owner of The Road and The Desert Cannary, Brooke is one of the most interesting people Lauryn has ever met. Her studio is the most zen place and her hands are pure magic. On top of all that her energy is both calming and amazing, and she is a wealth of knowledge.

Let’s welcome Brooke back to the blog to tell us all about what you can expect from a cosmetic acupuncture session with her.

+++

Cosmetic acupuncture continues to gain popularity as a powerful, holistic approach to facial rejuvenation. More and more women today are navigating the tension between embracing their natural aging process and exploring options like lasers, Botox, or fillers. But have you considered acupuncture as a mindful alternative—one that supports both your skin and your overall wellbeing? After all, it’s all connected!

What Is Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Acupuncture with a focus on facial rejuvenation (or cosmetic acupuncture) is founded in the holistic practice of treating the whole through Chinese medicine — what happens with the skin and its tissues and structures is a part of your whole health — so we treat the system accordingly with acupuncture, herbs, nutrition and lifestyle tools. In a nutshell, I place tiny needles in key areas of the face, head, and body, based on your own health and needs. But there’s a lot more to it!

I spent many years in the skincare industry—first as an esthetician, then as a global educator for a holistic spa brand. My journey into skincare began with a personal mission: learning how to care for my own skin after years spent in the sun as a fly-fishing guide and instructor. That lifestyle accelerated aging, damaged my skin’s elastin, caused deep dehydration (trans-epidermal water loss), and led to the early signs of discoloration—all in my 30s. 

Through careful rehabilitation with my newfound knowledge, I was able to mitigate many of those signs of aging. I realize part of that success was due to my younger age at the time, the resilience of youth. As I continued studies along this path, I felt something was missing. When dealing with chronic health issues, or emotional imbalances like anxiety, depression, or digestive distress, and hormone issues, I found that the topical approach didn’t always suffice.

I had already been receiving acupuncture regularly because of how it made me feel—curing stress-induced insomnia and improving my overall energy. After stepping away from a high-pressure career to navigate my own health challenges, I decided I wanted to study Chinese medicine. I knew from the beginning that I would eventually pursue the cosmetic applications, extending my studies well beyond the standard four-year master’s program.

Today, I find so much joy in treating my patients—watching not only their skin and facial goals come to life but also witnessing deep, transformative shifts in their overall health and well-being.

A Philosophy Rooted in Wholeness

My approach to beauty is grounded in the belief that our most youthful self isn’t about entirely erasing or freezing dynamic features (like your unique expressions) — it’s about restoring vitality. Youthfulness, in my view, looks like skin that’s resilient, lifted, and glowing—with a healthy vibrant barrier, bright eyes, and clarity. Wrinkle-free skin that is fragile, has inflammation, puffiness or loss of tone and vibrancy is not an absolute win for me.

At the heart of my philosophy is a fundamental tenet of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

“Where there is flow, there is no dis-ease.”

Facial rejuvenation, then, isn’t just skin-deep. It reflects the harmony of the entire body. That’s why I look beyond the face—to your digestion, energy, sleep, hormones, stress, emotions, and more—to assess the root causes of skin concerns and address them through the TCM modalities. 

What a Session Feels Like

In my peaceful, feng shui-inspired studio, healing begins as soon as you arrive and start to decompress. The space is intentionally curated with soft textures, healing-frequency background music, a hint of bespoke local incense, and a cozy treatment table that clients say they look forward to days in advance. iykyk!  

Each session starts with acupuncture that helps recalibrate internal imbalances based on assesments, including tongue and pulse diagnosis. From there, I work from the décolletage upward, using a variety of tissue-specific techniques: skin, lymphatic, fascia, and muscle all receive focused attention.

As I progress, I often share my insights—like a tight platysma band contributing to pulling the facial features downward, or masseter tension creating asymmetry or deeper nasal labial folds. I might assesses discoloration linked to specific organ systems, or guide lymphatic flow to reduce puffiness and support your own gua sha practice. We might even explore emotions you’re struggling with and how they show up in the face. 

I also try to dispel common myths while working with your features – did you know you can change the habits that got you here (squinting, frowning), you can reverse more signs of aging than you think, you can transmute old stuck emotions; your more youthful self might just need a little recalibration to uncover and maintain. 

After tissue work comes a curated cleanse and skincare, followed by the cosmetic acupuncture needles themselves. These aren’t just for aesthetics—each point is multitasking. A needle that lifts might also calm anxiety or improve focus. Others target collagen production, stimulate digestion, release tension, or enhance blood flow for a healthy glow. 

To deepen the effect, red light therapy might be added to stimulate ATP and mitochondria, support collagen, reduce fine lines, and even encourage hair growth.

Deep Reset & Cellular Recharge

You’ll then rest for 20–30 minutes moving into a deeply restorative state, usually taking an ‘acu-nap’. Some clients describe sensations of energy shifts, digestive awakening (rest and digest), or a floating calm. First-timers might notice unique sensations as they relax—especially if their energy has been running on caffeine and adrenaline. Over time, the body remembers this feeling of zen, making each return visit more impactful.

The session ends with a boost of ‘intelligent microcurrent’ — working with biofeedback of your unique health cell frequency to deliver the exact charge they need to be optimized. This has the added bonus of further brightening the skin, toning facial muscles (especially helpful post-Botox to avoid atrophy), minimizing pore size, and enhancing hydration. It is also helpful for relaxing tight jaw muscles. 

The result? Immediate glow, sculpted and lifted features, and visible relief from inflammation. Over time, many find they no longer feel the need for other interventions. When the nervous system is soothed and flow is restored, the face reflects this balance—bright and youthful. 

A Whole-Body Perspective

I usually guide patients to explore deeper lifestyle patterns to ensure lasting and more effective outcomes:

+ Mouth taping and tongue posture where appropriate

+ Breathing habits and sleep hygiene

+ Stress resilience and emotional balance

+ Body mobility, fascia re-tuning

+ Digestion support, regulated cycles 

I collaborate with my trusted team of experts and collaborate within my practice to support you through herbal medicine, myofascial release and movement, craniosacral therapy, lymphatic massage, and more—all tailored to your unique needs.

How Long Do Results Last?

It varies, but most people see immediate lasting improvement, and results build over time with regular care. Monthly maintenance is ideal for many, though some can go longer with good home care. I try to provide unique skills to help you —gua sha tips, facial massage, and habit awareness to extend the benefits. I hope to list more virtual classes soon to help you understand how to work with various tissues of your own face. 

What Should You Book?

I require starting with a First Appointment, which includes a full TCM assessment and comprehensive treatment. From there, I’ll guide you to the most effective treatments based on your goals.

Popular treatments include:

Facial Sculpting – including buccal massage, fascia, and lymph work

Qi Beauty – a matrix of gold-covered magnets for recalibrating aging skin

Cosmetic Acupuncture – personalized and considers whole health

Microneedling with exosomes – a high-performance skin reset 

Skincare Spotlight

I’m so proud of my highly curated results-driven skincare brands, with influences of traditional medicine combined with modern science. The selection I provide is based on my own research of the brands (rather than following what someone else carries) – all ranges at The Road are founder formulated and owned, and I trust their integrity.

In Austin?

When in Austin or visiting, book your first appointment at The Road through www.thisistheroad.com. I typically book out six weeks in advance, so plan ahead! Once you’re in, it’s easier to find a rhythm that works. My colleagues at The Desert Canary are also available for additional support and healing therapies. See my colleague Kaita at The Listening Movement for full body fascia as well. 

+++

If you’re going to be in the Austin area, you have to book with Brooke. As she said, she books up 6 weeks in advance so plan accordingly. And you might even run into Lauryn there!

Have you done cosmetic acupuncture? Tell us all the benefits you’ve seen from it below.

x, The Skinny Confidential team.

+ Check out these manifestation practices for beginners.

++ Learn what foods can help your body detox.