4 Facial Massage Techniques to Try at Home

 

There are so many benefits to a facial massage. The best part? You can do it yourself in the comfort of your own home.

Whether you have 5 minutes to spare, or an entire hour dedicated to your self-care, giving yourself a facial massage is an easy (and relaxing) way to release tension, increase blood flow to the muscles, and give your complexion a healthy glow.

How to start:

1. Start with a clean base. Remove all make up and cleanse the skin. Then, ensure your hands are clean to avoid transferring bacteria back to your face.

2. Choose a good carrier oil. You need a small amount of the product to help your fingers move smoother across your face. You never want to be pulling or dragging your skin!

3. Use gentle, but firm pressure. Apply enough pressure to move the muscles beneath the skin, but don’t go too hard. Use consistent pressure for the best result.

 

Technique #1

Place your hands on either side of your face, starting at the chin. Using your palms and fingertips, slowly stroke up the sides of the face, up to the forehead, and glide back down again. Put emphasis on the movement while going up the face, then ease off the pressure. Repeat this step 3-6 times, or for 20-30 seconds.

Technique #2

Start with your fingertips together, at the middle of your forehead. Press firmly, and glide out to the sides of the forehead. Once you reach the end, lift the fingers off and start the motion again at the middle of the forehead. Imagine your fingers are smoothing out the forehead. Repeat this 3-6 times, or for 20-30 seconds.

Technique #3

Place your fingertips at the sides of your eyes. Stroke around the bony edge of your eye socket. Work upwards, over the eyebrows, then down the centre of the nose, under the eyes, and return back to the starting position. This movement helps improve eyestrain. Repeat this 3-6 times, or for 20-30 seconds.

Technique #4

Start close to the nose, placing your hands on the inner side of each cheek. Using small circular motions, make your way out towards your ears. Once you reach the area under the ear, keep massaging that area, and then slowly massage back toward the nose. This movement is designed to tone your hardworking cheek muscles. Repeat this sequence 3-6 times, or for 20-30 seconds.




Remember: the heat created through the warmth of your hands, combined with the activation of the facial muscles, makes your skin more responsible to product absorption. Therefore, the effectiveness of your oil can reach the deeper layers of the skin more easily, so you can enjoy all of its dermal benefits.

Because the motions in facial massage improve product absorption, helping to increase the penetration of the active ingredients in the carrier oil – it’s so much more beneficial to use a skin-loving ingredient (like emu oil) that does more than just help lubricate the skin.

The carrier oil you use during your facial massage is just as important as getting the technique right.