If you’ve never tried these facial massage techniques before, you need to learn some simple strokes before you begin. Massage is a special form of touch that works specifically to increase blood flow to muscles, easing away toxins, and releasing tension. If you’ve practiced yoga for some time, you’ve heard of the Galvanic Skin Response. Massage stimulates this natural occurance and the outcome is an increase in cell reproduction.
In order to perform the facial massage techniques in this article, you’ll need some lubricating ingredients to use on your skin in order to prevent scratches and possible tearing of the skin.
First, you’ll need to start with a base, or carrier oil. It's amazing how different ingredients can help you target very specific problems. Depending on what type of skin you have or what effect you want to achieve, the carrier oil could be any one of the following:
- Apricot Kernel Oil: Light and nourishing, and excellent for dry or mature skin (over age 35)
- Camellia Oil: The most versatile and can be used for any skin type.
- Grape Seed Oil: Non greasy, and does a terrific job of prepping the skin for massage.
- Jojoba Oil: A golden, liquid wax, and another type suitable for most skin.
- Sweet Almond Oil: Nourishes dry and damaged skin. Not one for allergy-prone individuals.
- Then you’ll need to add one or more essential oils:
- Geranium: Balances and hydrates oily and combination skin types.
- Grapefruit: Tones and detoxifies all skin types.
- Lavender: Tones combination, oily and acne-prone skin. Also good for sensitive skin.
- Orange blossom: Hydrates and nourishes dry, mature and sun-damaged skin.
- Rose: Cools and soothes minor irritations and is good for all skin types.
- Rosewood: Soothes and nourishes dry and mature skin.
- Sandalwood: Cools and hydrates dry and mature skins.
- Tea tree: Cleans and disinfects all skin types, but is especially beneficialy to skin prone to breakouts and blackheads.
A Note About Safety
Essential oils are used in very weak dilutions on the face, so that blends are safe for most skin types. Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight for at least twelve hours after applying any blends contain cirtus oils. Store your oil mixture in a cool, ark place, up to six months at room temperature, and up to one year when refrigerated.
Also note that in with these facial massage techniques, you need to get used to targeting small muscles and using precise movements to get the best results.
The Facial Massage Techniques
1. Stroking Up From The Chin
Start with your hands on either side of your face; with your palms and fingertips, stroke slowly up the sides of the face and up to the forehead, then glide back down again lightly. Keep the pressure constant but not firm. Repeat three times. The emphasis in this movement is pressure up the face, and then easing off.
2. Stroking Out Over The Forehead
Place your fingertips together in the middle of your forehead, press firmly, and glide out to the sides. Lift the fingers off, returning to the startig position. Repeat three times. This movement smooths out the forehead.
3. Stroking Around The Eyes
Using only a minimal amount of oil to ease the movement, place your fingertips at the sides of your eyes and s troke around the bony edge of the eye socket. Work up over the eyebrows, down the center of the nose, under the eyes, and back to the starting position. Repeat three times. This movement helps to improve eyestrain and the oil lubricates the skin in the orbital eye area.
4. Stroking Under The Cheekbones
Starting close to the nose, with your hands on the inner side of each cheek, make small circular pressure motions all the way out toward your ears. Give special attention to the area just under the ear (the location of the temporo-mandibular joint), then massage back toward the nose. Repeat this sequence three times. This movement tones the cheek muscles, which work very hard making facial expressions every day.
Tips
- Cleanse your face first, and be sure to remove any traces of makeup.
- Make sure your nails are smooth and free from any rough edges.
- For best results, perform this simple massage routine every day; skipping one day per week for rest.
- After your massage, use any oil you have left and work it into your skin for added conditioning and nourishing benefits.
- You can use a facial massage as a beginning step of a home facial treatment .
Enjoy your healthy skin and comment below if you have questions or remarks!
