Facialist Mariona Vilanova on Sculpting Facials, Lymphatic Drainage & Skincare Rituals, ANIMAFREQUENCY
Barcelona-born facialist Mariona Vilanova is one of those rare skincare experts whose touch feels almost medicinal - guided by intuition, anatomy and decades of deep study. Clients travel across continents for her sculpting facials, leaving her treatment bed visibly transformed: lifted cheekbones, softened jawlines and that elusive, lit-from-within glow. We caught up with Mariona at Alma Frequency to talk about her ritualistic approach, the tools she’s developed and why lymphatic drainage is the secret to radiant skin.
What drew you to facial work in the first place?
Touch has always fascinated me – the way it can communicate, heal and shift energy. I began studying aesthetics very young, but I always felt there was something missing in conventional skincare. When I started diving into facial anatomy, lymphatic pathways and massage-based techniques, everything clicked. The face isn’t just skin – it’s fascia, bone, emotion, history.
Your facial routine has become something of a cult secret. What does your own daily practice look like?
Mornings are about depuffing and energizing. I start with warm water, an oil cleanser and always my sculpting spoon – my own tool designed to mimic the precision of fingers, but with more glide. I trace the contours of the jaw, cheekbones, temples. Even just five minutes can completely change the tone of the face. At night, I go deeper: a double cleanse, mist, facial oil, and slow drainage movements with my hands or my gua sha stone. It’s less about perfection and more about connection.
“Skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.”
“Skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.”
You’ve developed your own line of tools – tell us about them.
I call them beauty jewels because they are handmade, they are carefully cared for throughout the process and they are created with the purpose of beautifying. I claim the dressing table to carry out the rituals that I have created for each one of them, a quiet corner to sit down and cultivate ritual self-care. Each tool is born from a need I felt in my own treatments. The Spoon came first – it allows for precision under the cheekbone and around the eyes. Then came the Wave Wand, which works more broadly to lift the forehead and sculpt the neck. I design them to follow the lymphatic pathways, which are key to clearing stagnation and bringing life back to the skin.
And the brushes – those are so unique. How do they work?
Yes, my facial brushes are a favourite. They’re hand-cut with ultra-fine bristles, soft enough for sensitive skin but structured enough to stimulate lymph flow. I use them dry, in gentle flicking movements from the centre of the face outward. They wake up the skin, encourage detoxification and prepare the surface to better absorb product. It’s like a reset button – especially if you’re tired, puffy or holding tension in the brow or jaw.
Why is lymphatic drainage and massage so essential?
The lymph system is like the body’s inner river – it carries away toxins, calms inflammation and supports immunity. When it’s sluggish, the face looks tired, puffy, dull. Through massage, we activate circulation, release tension and create space for radiance. I always say: skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.
What drew you to facial work in the first place?
Touch has always fascinated me – the way it can communicate, heal and shift energy. I began studying aesthetics very young, but I always felt there was something missing in conventional skincare. When I started diving into facial anatomy, lymphatic pathways and massage-based techniques, everything clicked. The face isn’t just skin – it’s fascia, bone, emotion, history.
Your facial routine has become something of a cult secret. What does your own daily practice look like?
Mornings are about depuffing and energizing. I start with warm water, an oil cleanser and always my sculpting spoon – my own tool designed to mimic the precision of fingers, but with more glide. I trace the contours of the jaw, cheekbones, temples. Even just five minutes can completely change the tone of the face. At night, I go deeper: a double cleanse, mist, facial oil, and slow drainage movements with my hands or my gua sha stone. It’s less about perfection and more about connection.
“Skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.”
“Skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.”
You’ve developed your own line of tools – tell us about them.
I call them beauty jewels because they are handmade, they are carefully cared for throughout the process and they are created with the purpose of beautifying. I claim the dressing table to carry out the rituals that I have created for each one of them, a quiet corner to sit down and cultivate ritual self-care. Each tool is born from a need I felt in my own treatments. The Spoon came first – it allows for precision under the cheekbone and around the eyes. Then came the Wave Wand, which works more broadly to lift the forehead and sculpt the neck. I design them to follow the lymphatic pathways, which are key to clearing stagnation and bringing life back to the skin.
And the brushes – those are so unique. How do they work?
Yes, my facial brushes are a favourite. They’re hand-cut with ultra-fine bristles, soft enough for sensitive skin but structured enough to stimulate lymph flow. I use them dry, in gentle flicking movements from the centre of the face outward. They wake up the skin, encourage detoxification and prepare the surface to better absorb product. It’s like a reset button – especially if you’re tired, puffy or holding tension in the brow or jaw.
Why is lymphatic drainage and massage so essential?
The lymph system is like the body’s inner river – it carries away toxins, calms inflammation and supports immunity. When it’s sluggish, the face looks tired, puffy, dull. Through massage, we activate circulation, release tension and create space for radiance. I always say: skincare is what you put on your face, but facial massage is what brings it to life.
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