Facial Massage

Just like any other form of massage, facial massage relieves tension, promotes relaxation and restores energy to your face and body by increasing circulation. When you first wake up in the morning you may notice that your skin looks puffier and paler than it did the night before. This is because during sleep, circulation is decreased in the body - which means there is less blood flow to the face. Facial massage is a great way to get the blood flowing again and to achieve a healthy glow. Regular facial massages also work to tighten and lift the facial muscles, giving the skin a more youthful appearance. It's no wonder it has been called an anti-aging treatment!

Massage therapy is an ancient form of healing. It has been suggested that regular facial massages can keep the skin looking young, smoother, firmer and more beautiful. Massage accomplishes this by releasing tension, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increasing circulation, tightening facial muscles, normalizing the moisture balance, reducing impurities and toxins, and increasing radiance.

Facial massages can be completed at home or are treatments offered at spas by massage therapists. To begin a facial massage, the first step is to cleans the face thoroughly and remove any makeup. A good cleansing and scrubbing will exfoliate the skin, removing any dead skin cells on the face. Usually the therapist will then apply a small amount of massage lotion, moisturizer, or massage oil to the face which will be absorbed into the skin during the massage. This is important because the oil provides a slippery surface for the massage so that the fingers do not pull or stretch the skin.

Generally, pure vegetable oil or nut oil is good for facial massages. Pure vegetable oils provide great moisture to the skin and have long-lasting effects because they are absorbed by the skin more slowly without clogging pores. Different skin types will require different types of oils. Skin that is very dry will benefit the most from vegetable oils that are rich in saturated fatty acids. These are thicker oils that are absorbed more slowly and maintain moisture longer. Oily skin types need oils that contain polyunsaturated fats which are thinner oils and are quickly absorbed by the skin. Sometimes oils may not be needed at all if a client has extremely oily skin.

A typical facial massage session doesn’t usually last longer than 20 minutes. Massage that lasts too long or too often may actually stretch or lengthen the facial muscles. Special care must be taken as well for people with sensitive skin. Sensitive skin is more easily damaged or irritated so the therapist must be careful not to exert too much pressure during the massage.

The therapist uses gentle touch to massage the face. Pressure should never be exerted, especially on the neck area. The therapist works to increase circulation and reduce tension in the face by softly working the different areas of the face. The forehead and nose are targeted to reduce the appearance of horizontal lines. The nostrils are massaged to unclog pores and prevent blemishes. The mouth and cheeks are rubbed to help prevent wrinkles and sagging of the facial muscles. The area around the eyes is massaged to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and heavy bags under the eyes. The chin and neck are targeted to promote muscle tone and prevent sagging skin. This is good for preventing the dreaded double chin. Finally, the ears are gently massaging and pulled because they have pressure points that stimulate other areas of the body. The movement of the fingers is always done in an upward motion, which when done regularly, facial massage will keep your skin looking tight and youthful.