From the pursuit of glass skin to global intrigue around snail mucin, Korean beauty has always been a step ahead of the algorithm, shaping not only trends but entire categories of skincare. Yet while K-beauty is celebrated for its futuristic formulations and recent innovations, arguably its true backbone lies in the ingredients, routines and techniques that have been tried and tested for decades. Long before viral cult staples became a ‘thing’, Korean skincare was rooted in an ethos of balance and holistic care, principles that continue to influence modern routines.
Among these longstanding techniques is Golki, a traditional facial massage method that has endured quietly in the background of Korean beauty culture. Translating to ‘bone energy’, Golki is a form of massage that focuses on improving circulation, promoting lymphatic drainage, stimulating the body’s healing process and having a natural lifting effect.
In the words of Iris Maglanoc, “Golki is a South Korean bone-setting technique designed to create a more symmetrical face by subtly shifting the facial bones within their natural mobility.”
Having placed second in the 2024 World Face Matrix Competition - an event where beauty experts go head-to-head to transform a model’s face in five minutes using methods like Golki - Iris is a master of techniques, from Golki and Seikei massage to myofascial release and mesotherapy.
When I ask why Iris chose to learn Golki, she explains that it stood out to her “because of its structural impact on facial shape and symmetry.” Yet before she had even laid a hand on my face, Iris spent 30 minutes working through my back.
Within seconds of arriving for my appointment, she was using a Japanese body driver tool by Corefit to work out deep tension in my back that has built up through the years as a result of poor posture. The inventor of this tool trained Iris a year ago, with her telling me that she aims to learn at least three new techniques a year to add to her wealth of knowledge.
After working her magic on one side, my shoulder was sitting lower and more relaxed, my neck seemed longer and my brows were lifted. If you’re not convinced, you only need to look at my mid point photo to see the difference between my shoulders alone.
“You can’t set bones without everything else being in place,” Iris explains, with the Golki portion of my bespoke facial being at the very end of our session and just one element of her tailored approach.
“The muscles, ligaments, back, shoulders, and neck are all interconnected with the structures of the face. When there’s chronic tension, everything is pulled down and out of balance. By releasing that tension and improving circulation, the face is free to lift, balance, and realign,” Iris explains.
- How does Golki work?
- Are Golki results permanent or do you need multiple sessions?
- Is there an ideal candidate for Golki?
- What are the limits of what Golki can and can’t do?
- My Golki before and afters
How does Golki work?
Golki is a non-invasive Korean ‘bone setting’ massage that aims to sculpt and balance the face by working with the body's natural movements. Applying pressure to bones and deep tissues to release tension, stimulate circulation and promote lymphatic drainage, these actions help reduce puffiness and create a more lifted appearance.
Ultimately, Golki is about enhancing alignment within natural limits rather than forcibly repositioning anything. Though the technique can't alter a person's bone structure, many note visible changes after a session, from released facial tension to more defined features.
Are Golki results permanent or do you need multiple sessions?
According to Iris, “There are immediate, visible changes after a single session, but to make results more permanent, it needs to be cumulative. The more consistently a client comes, the more defined and long-term the changes in facial shape and symmetry become."
That said, Iris is very clear that there's no one size fits all approach for everyone.
“Everyone has a different face, it depends on bone structure and what results they want to achieve. You don't need a facial every month. People have totally different lifestyles - it's just about maintenance."
Is there an ideal candidate for Golki?
“In reality, almost everyone can benefit. Most people have some degree of postural imbalance and stored tension from the lower back to the shoulders and neck, which affects how the face sits,” Iris explains.
That said, Golki is especially helpful for people who are concerned with:
- Facial asymmetry
- Softening features
- The way posture and stress appears in the face
What are the limits of what Golki can and can’t do?
Golki can shift the bones of the face within their natural movement range, which is already pretty significant. However, as with anything, it's not a miracle reshape. While Golki can refine, balance and lift, results naturally depend on a number of factors including lifestyle, posture and how regularly you're having a treatment.
My Golki before and afters
With the caveat that the Iris Magnaloc method incorporates much more than Golki alone, even in real-time as I was getting my treatment I could see parts of my body shift, from the release in my shoulders to the way my brows seemed to settle into a more balanced position.
As Iris explains, “facial harmony to me is when someone feels confident from every angle and they don’t have to hide one side as their “good side”. It’s a combination of visible balance of brows, jaw and shoulder but also released tension and improved circulation.”
When I stepped out of her studio, I genuinely felt more sculpted and lifted. In my before-and-after photos I feel the difference is most noticeable around my jawline, where she had taken particular care to focus her work, effortlessly easing my stiffness from bruxism.
Overall, my body felt notably less tense and I personally saw visible changes during and after the appointment. While I’ve accepted that I’m unlikely to ever reach Kate Moss levels of symmetry - and truly, I'm at peace with that - I left my session feeling lighter, more aligned, and, perhaps most importantly, more confident in my own skin.
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