For celebrity facialist Joomee Song, skincare is deeply personal. While growing up in Japan, she loved watching her grandmother Hiroko take care of her skin; even at age 86, her skin stayed bouncy and supple. It was then that her love for skincare was born. Now, Song has taken what she's learned from her upbringing in Japan and applied it to her signature method, KAIKA: a trademarked facial massage that addresses not just surface-level smoothing, but also muscle stiffness and poor blood flow. She treats her clients (Greta Lee, Lady Gaga, and Zendaya, to name a few) through a holistic lens, addressing the impact of stress on their skin through targeted massage and overall skin health. "Skin health begins with our minds," Song says. "The outside stressors that we are internalizing every day are causing us to age at a rate only second to the sun. Therefore, just as you need to protect yourself daily from the sun and other elements, you also need to find ways to release your mind from everyday stress and negative thoughts."
We caught up with the buzzy, celeb-loved esthetician after an event with Shisesido to hear more about her signature method, number-one skincare tip and how she gets her clients red carpet ready.
Shiseido
Let’s start with your signature touch—what’s the first thing your hands look for when they meet a client’s face?
"This is one of the most frequent questions I am asked. Each face is like a river and I direct the currents that make the water flow freely. When I lay my hands on a client’s face, my hands can feel where the current flows and where it’s obstructed. The obstructions relate to muscle stiffness, poor blood flow, scar tissue, even severe water retention. I follow the path, clearing rocks and debris that obstruct the river’s path."
You’ve worked with some of the most discerning faces in the industry. What’s one skin truth that holds across everyone, from supermodels to skincare newbies?
"Absolutely everyone can benefit from facial massage! Glowing skin begins with healthy blood flow and yet, increasing blood flow to the face is often overlooked as a skincare 'step.' More so than any product or tool, the daily moving of stagnant energy and releasing of tension can unequivocally change everything about your skin for the better. The best part is that there’s no downside to consistent facial massage and every person—at every age—can start seeing the benefits if they started today. All they need to do is be patient and consistent."
How do you balance science and intuition in your approach?
"In my view, they are one in the same and cannot be separated. There is no better way to forge this mind-body connection than with facial massage. In ancient Mongolia when warriors would come back from battle, before they could settle back into their homes and everyday lives, the women would massage their husband’s face to release any residual tension, negativity or evil thoughts they were still carrying with them. This practice is carried out in many different cultures through thousands of years but the idea remains the same; inner turmoil is the root of the body’s externalized stress responses. When I am massaging my clients, I feel their stress and work to release it. When that tension is released through massage, blood can flow more easily and unobstructed blood flow is the foundation of all skincare. Massage also stimulates fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen and other vital components to building plump, hydrated skin from the inside out."
Robin Black
How did you create KAIKA?
"Growing up in Japan, I found my passion for facial sculpting massage by watching my grandmother Hiroko. She owned a kimono factory in Kyoto and every night, she would sit in the same chair and remove her makeup with cold cream. She used Shiseido’s Deluxe Cream to massage her face every night for 10 minutes. No matter how crazy the day was for her, she never missed her beauty rituals—she would always take the time to nurture her face and skin with her hands. She passed at 86 years old, but I still remember how supple and beautiful her skin was even at that age. Those memories changed everything for me and my approach to skin.
I moved to the United States in my twenties and studied more than 30 European and Asian skincare methodologies, but I couldn’t help but notice how heavily American practices rely on devices and chemical treatments. Often, those more aggressive techniques compromise the skin’s health and natural immunity, which opens the door for long term sensitivities and damage. Even then, I believed my job as a professional esthetician was to make a client’s skin better than when they first came to me, and I felt that this approach to skincare didn’t meet my standards. I started digging deeper for answers, which brought me back to the beginning: watching my grandmother perform facial massage every night."
How can people start practicing your techniques?
"Think of yourself as being in a committed relationship with your skin. There are no shortcuts to a long lasting partnership, just as there are no real 'quick fixes' when it comes to caring for your skin. What is really required is time and commitment, which is why massage is so beneficial for long term skin health. When you massage, you are connecting with not only the skin you can see, but everything that lies beneath the surface. I enjoy massaging around my eyes using Shiseido’s Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream before I go to bed not only to release the tension, but also to diminish dark circles and puffiness. You can feel when something is different or off and work through that stress or strain. It’s never too late to repair and rebuild your relationship with your skin. Show up, be present, and take it one day at a time."
Without naming names (unless you want to!), do you have a favorite pre-event facial ritual you swear by for clients hitting red carpets or camera close-ups?
"I’m proud of all of my work for my clients, but some of my best work comes from those who have equally high standards. I was once asked to perform KAIKA, micro-current, RF, a light glycolic peel, and an oxygen treatment, all on the morning of the Oscars. Putting together that treatment plan last-minute required exacting, careful consideration, only to result in an iconic red carpet look.
For most of my clients, before red carpets or any major campaign photoshoots, I usually focus on improving blood flow and getting the skin to 'perform.' I tend to think of these events like the Olympics in that all of the real work has been done in previous training sessions. When I see clients the day before or day of, I will actually do less and simply tune up the muscles to make sure the skin is in the best shape it can possibly be. It’s hugely rewarding to witness the power holistic interventions can have. Whether it’s on their Instagram or a giant billboard, the results are indisputable."
What skincare products do you recommend someone use every day to achieve their best skin ever?
"I love Shiseido’s Future Solution LX collection. It’s a complete line that covers everything from cleansing to sun care—basically everything you need to address mature skin concerns. Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream is one of my essentials, powered by the ancient Enmei Herb to tighten, brighten and firm."
If someone only has five minutes in the morning, what should they actually be doing to their skin?
"Facial massage while applying your morning products. The key is consistency —even more so than the amount of time spent. Just a few minutes every day will help muscles function optimally and remember how to do so—it’s essentially muscle memory. I recommend that my clients do a daily massage for three to five minutes. Find a time in the shower or when you cleanse to reconnect and truly feel your face. I have DIY massage steps on my Instagram @joomee_song to get you started."
