Why you should “facial massage”?

Did you know that facial massage delivers you way more than a “feel-good” instant?

Facial massage,on top of having relaxing benefits, it can even help you from preventing fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin!

Many celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston are known to do facial massaging regularly! One of the secrets to their glowing skin😊

 

 

What is Facial Massage:

Facial Massage, in very simplified terms, is like body massage but for your face. It requires movements, depending on the type of massage, such as tapping, gentle stroking, pinching, and kneading. These movements aim your face muscles to relax and relieve tension, reduce puffiness, prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

 

 

 

Different types of facial massage exist:

-Tanaka Massage: Tanaka Massage works with the lymphatic drainage, invented by a Japanese make-up artist, Yukuko Tanaka. This helps giving a natural contour to the face.

-Knuckle Massage: As the name suggests, it consists of massaging with knuckles, which helps toning up the muscles.

-Shiatsu Massage:  Shiatsu is a traditional Japanese massage therapy which means “finger pressure”. It works with Qi (=the body’s energy flow), using acupressure to open blockages in the muscles, and bring balance to the body.

-Swedish Massage: Swedish massage is one of the most common type of massage, it is also called the “classic massage”. It aims relaxation while being softer than deep tissue massage. The Swedish Massage works primarily on the uppermost layers of the muscles.

-Hot and Cold Stone Massage: This technique involves placing heated volcanic basalt stones and cold marble stones on the skin. These stones help the body to release deep tissue and relieve stress.

-Cupping Massage: special suction cups are used in this technique in order to stimulate the muscles. The suction process increases blood flow, relieve muscle tension and promote cell repair.

-Tapping Massage: which consists of tapping gently and symmetrically different zones of the face in order to stimulate blood flow (thus promoting collagen production).

 

 

 

Benefits of facial massage:

The short math behind? When we massage our skin, it promotes oxygen and blood flow into it. This results in a glowing skin, with reduced puffiness, brighter skin tone and increase collagen production (preventing fine lines and wrinkles)

 

• Anti-aging benefits

Did you know that from about the age of 17, we tend to lose our collagen gradually? We can help our skin to produce more of collagen by doing face massage/exercising.

Massaging relaxes your face muscles by smoothing tension-filled expressions we make every day.

Moreover, facial massage improves collagen production. How? The movement of facial massage sends blood and oxygen to the skin. When oxygen is sent tot the skin, it helps increasing collagen production and cell growth which results in a youthful skin (by preventing apparition of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin).

 

This small 2017 study, demonstrates the effectiveness of facial massage.

The study’s participants used a facial massage device and cream on their face for 8 weeks. They concluded that the cream’s effect was enhanced used with facial massage leading to improvements on the texture of the skin and especially in wrinkles and skin sagging

 

 

• Prevents muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle tissue which is mainly caused by lack of physical activity and movement.

When muscles start slowly to atrophy, it can lead to:

– eye lids, chin, jowls, and cheeks dropping

– loss of face’s natural volume

However, facial massage helps the skin preventing from muscle atrophy and its symptoms.

 

 

• Improve Scar appearance

When you massage the scar tissue and its surrounding, it boosts blood flow there, and helps with the healing phase.

According to this 2014 research, massaging helps improving the appearance of raised scars from burns while reducing pain and itchy skin.

 

 

• Better product absorption

Facial massage is known to boost skincare efficacy. Apply your favorite oil while massaging your skin with upward, lifting motions. This can help your product to absorb better into your skin.

 

 

• Helps releasing toxins out (FALSE!)

Myth or True? : Massage Therapy release toxins?

Massage therapy may not flush out toxins directly, but it helps in the process. How?

Massage therapy improves the blood flow circulation (as well as exercising does), which helps the body tissues to receive fair amount of nutrition.

When the body receives fair amount of nutrition, venous return is improved. When venous return* is improved, it optimizes the toxin removal process.

 

(Veins are known to carry away toxins produced by the cells, as they transport blood back up to our hearts).

 

• Relaxation 😊

If you ever had a massage, either by a Professional or own your own, you should know about the relaxing feeling it gives afterwards.

Indeed, Massage therapy not only relieves muscle tension but also emotional tensions. This amazing therapy helps you relax and feel-good.

 

 

 

Which carrier oil to choose?

There are many different types of carrier oils so how can you elaborate a technique to choose one?

If you have one that work wonderful for you, go for it. If not, you can choose one according to your skin type or problem.

 

-> If you are prone to allergies, be careful. (ex: sweet almond oil)

-> Always patch test before any use of oil (at least 24h before)

 

All skin types + normal skin	sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil
Dry skin	sweet almond oil, rosehip seed oil (only at night), avocado oil
Oily Skin	jojoba oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil
Mature Skin	argan oil, rosehip seed oil (only at night), jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, tamanu oil, avocado oil.
Acne-Prone Skin	jojoba oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, sesame oil.
Sensitive Skin	jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, rosehip seed oil (only at night), avocado oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil

 

 

 

How to do a Self-Massage at home?

-Clean your hands and face properly.

– Use a serum/carrier oil/ to help your fingers glide over your skin without damaging it

There are plenty of techniques, but let me describe you one of them,

The Tanaka Massage?

Tanaka Massage is elaborated by a Japanese make-up artist Yukuko Tanaka, focusing on the lymphatic drainage, aiming a younger and firmer looking skin.

 

 

 

Things you should know before facial massaging:

– Be careful not to have any “wrinkle” formation while massaging. When you massage your face, there shouldn’t be any line or wrinkle appearing.

– Warm your favorite formula in your hands; warming the product into your palms and fingers first will help the skin to absorb the product better, prevent from dragging the skin, thus make it slip easily while massaging.

– Make sure your nails are free from any rough edges

 

 

 

 

Side effects to facial massage?

+ Do not massage inflamed acne. If you apply pressure on active breakouts, it may increase inflammation and spread bacteria. This can lead to more breakouts.

+ Even though massaging is considered pretty safe, ask your doctor first. Make sure you do not have any health concerns, such as circulation problems, blood clots, recent scar tissues, bruising, recent broken bone, undiagnosed lumps and bumps, or even kidney issues.

+Facial massage is not recommended if you have any botox or fillers, as it can cause things to move around while massaging.

+ be careful to do the right movements or it can backfire and can cause you uneven wrinkles.

+ As a direct side effect, redness can appear, but to prevent it use enough amount of carrier oil while massaging

+ Wash your hands and face properly before massaging, to prevent any formation of breakouts.

+ Be aware the product you are using while massaging, always patch test new products it before putting it on your face directly.

+However, if you apply these steps carefully, face massaging is basically known to have any side effects.