A facial massage stimulates the different pressure points to work out the facial muscles. It helps promote lymphatic drainage, reduce puffiness, minimize signs of aging, and keep the skin firm. You may use lotions, oils to provide the required slip and use facial rollers, gua sha tools, or just your fingers to follow the movements across your face. So, without further ado, scroll down and check out the steps.
How To Do A Facial Massage At Home – Step By Step Guide
Before you start, do the following:
Clean your face with a mild cleanser. Your skin should be clean before you start massaging. Choose a good facial oil. For dry skin, pick almond, marula, or argan oil. For oily skin, pick jojoba or grapeseed oil. For acne-prone skin, pick rosehip seed oil. For sensitive skin, pick aloe vera or moringa oil. If you do not want to use oil, you may go for a good quality moisturizer/cream for face massage. Make sure to wash your hands properly.
If you do not wish to use your fingers, you can also use a face roller (or jade roller) for massaging your face. Once you have applied the facial oil or cream, follow these steps.
Step 1: Massage Your Forehead
Place your knuckles on your forehead, right between your eyebrows. Gently move them up, towards the hairline, and then sideways towards your temples. Do this in a scraping motion. Repeat this movement five times.
Step 2: Massage The Eye Area
Place the tips of your middle and index fingers on your temples. Glide the fingers under your eye area, towards the nose bridge. Continue gliding it over the eyebrows and then come back again under the eye area, following an oval path. Repeat this five times.
Step 3: Massage The Cheeks
Place your knuckles on your cheeks, near the nose bridge. Swipe it gently across your cheeks, towards the ears. Repeat the movement five times.
Step 4: Massage The Mouth Area
Make a “V” sign with your index and middle fingers (both hands). Place the fingers on your mouth area in a way that the index finger is above the upper lip and the middle finger is below the lower lip. Gently press and pull the fingers towards your ears. Repeat five times.
Step 5: Massage The Chin Area
Place your knuckles on your chin in a way that the jawline rests between the knuckles. Gently pull the knuckles upward, along the jawline, toward your ears. Repeat this five times.
Step 6: Massage The Neck
Place the knuckles right under the chin. Pull them downwards gently towards the collarbone. Keep repeating the movements by moving the knuckles along the jawline and pulling them down to the collarbone.. Do this five times.
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Step 7: Massage The Entire Outline Of Your Face
Place the knuckles between your eyebrows. Move it upward, along the hairline, towards the temples. Bring it down the side of your face, including your jawline.
Once you are done with these steps, place your palms on your face and gently press while taking a deep breath. This will help you relax. This is a very basic yet effective facial massage technique. These steps are easy to follow. Facial massage has numerous other benefits as well.
Benefits Of Facial Massage
1. Helps Reduce Stress
A study found that 45 minutes of facial massage could reduce psychological stress by activating the sympathetic nervous system (a part of the autonomous nervous system that directs the “fight or flight” response of your body). The massage technique helps reduce anxiety and elevates your mood (2).
2. Helps Improve Blood Flow
A study found that massaging the face for just 5 minutes with facial massage rollers improved blood circulation in the facial skin. It found that massaging regularly for 5 weeks could dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow (3).
3. May Have Anti-Aging Benefits
Studies found that massaging regularly could induce changes in skin structure (4), (5). It was shown to alter the facial expression muscles and intra-facial tissues (5). The researchers found evidence for the efficacy of facial massage. The improvement in skin structure may help keep the skin smooth and also minimize the appearance of fine lines (4). To learn more benefits of massages and facials, click here. Facial massages are extremely comforting. Here are some additional tips that can help you make it further relaxing for yourself.
Facial Massages – Tips To Follow
When should you do a facial massage? If you know the right technique, you can easily do a facial massage at home. Facial massage offers an array of benefits: it reduces puffiness, minimizes the signs of aging, and promotes lymphatic drainage. In addition, it reduces stress and improves blood flow. Following tips like using a massage tool, using anti-aging creams, exfoliating before massaging, and massaging in the evenings for effective absorption of skin care products helps increase the effectiveness of a facial massage. Try doing a facial massage at home by following the procedure mentioned above. Do facial massages at night. This will help your skin absorb the nutrients from the products and heal it over the course of the night. How often should you do a facial massage? You can massage your face every day. You can follow it with a regular skincare routine at night. This takes not more than 5-10 minutes. However, you may indulge in elaborate facial massage sessions once a week. Can I use olive oil for a facial massage? Yes, you can use it. Olive oil is suitable for all skin types. Does facial massage have side effects? In some cases, a facial massage may lead to short-term side effects such as edema (swelling) and erythema (redness). Possible long-term and delayed side effects of facial massage include dermatitis and acneiform eruption (6). Should I wash my face after a facial massage? It largely depends on what you are using for your facial massage and which step in your skincare routine you are doing it at. If you are only using a facial oil suited for your skin type, you do not need to wash your face. However, if you are using a face pack, then you may need to wash it off. What is the difference between a face massage and a facial? A facial is an entire set of steps that usually includes a face massage with nourishing products. On the other hand, a face massage involves the stimulation of pressure points on the face and neck and usually does not include other steps in the skincare routine. Can face massage change face shape? No, a facial massage cannot change the shape or structure of the face. It can only help tone the muscles mildly.
