Massaging the face has so many benefits ranging from improved circulation, anti-aging, de-puffing, lymphatic drainage, and more. I am sure most of you don’t have time to give yourself a full-on facial massage that you would receive in a relaxing facial treatment, but there are some of the ways you can incorporate facial massage into your daily skincare routine at home.

Why Facial Massage is Important

Massage has been a therapeutic technique used for thousands of years. Just as we get massages to loosen tense muscles, relieve aches, and reduce stress (at least we should), it is also extremely beneficial to massage the face as well. A huge part of my role as an esthetician is being conscious of what is going on underneath the skin as well as on top. Massage is a wonderful way to be mindful of all components of the skin. As we live our daily lives the muscles in our face become tight and sometimes even tense just like the muscles in our body. This can not only cause headaches and discomfort but wrinkles as well.

Massaging the skin allows those muscles to loosen therefore relieving the skin of the wrinkle forming constriction. If you are not massaging your face on regular basis lymph (blood flow) can become stagnant and cause our skin to hold onto unnecessary toxins, by effectively massaging the skin you can promote healthy lymphatic drainage in the face. This also gets rid of extra fluid or bloating within the skin and allows for increased blood circulation, which can provide the skin with fresh blood, nutrients, and a healthy glow. Facial massage also stimulates collagen production which is yet another anti-aging benefit. 

Massage while Cleansing

I find that one of the easiest ways to incorporate massage into your daily skincare routine is to thoroughly massage the skin while you cleanse your face. I recommend doing a double cleanse, which will give you a good amount of time to incorporate massage techniques. I personally like to massage during my cleansing step because there is more slip, which makes it easier and more comfortable to glide across the surface of the skin. Not only will you reap all the benefits of massage but you will also be getting a more thorough cleanse. 1-2 minutes per cleanse is an adequate amount to properly cleanse and massage the skin.

When it comes to massaging the face you want to work in upward and circular motions, to ensure you are not pulling down on the skin, gravity is already doing that for us. You want to be sure to reach all areas and crevices of the face and focus in places that are tense or areas of concern. For example, on the forehead you can take both pointer fingers and massage in a zig-zag motion both vertically and then horizontally, this loosens the muscles and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after the regular massage.

Don’t forget to cleanse and massage your neck and décolleté as well. When you get to your neck you can take your knuckles along the jawline and down the sides of the neck which will direct the lymph drainage towards your lymph nodes and reduce toxins. 

Massage While Applying Serums and Moisturizers

If you want to incorporate more massage into your skincare routine you can gently massage your serums and moisturizer into the skin after cleansing and toning. Intentionally massaging your products into your skin, as well as using tapping and patting motions which allows your products to better absorb and penetrate into the skin. You will want to massage each product into the skin for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. I have had questions from clients on whether it is as beneficial to massage products into the skin if you have acne-prone skin and the answer is yes. Massage can actually help and rid the skin of breakout-causing toxins.

However, more than 10 minutes of massage can be too much stimulation and can cause acne, for acne-prone individuals. Many skincare professionals recommend massaging the skin with oil. Although this can be beneficial and soothing for some skin types, many oils are pore-clogging and if your skin is prone to acne I would avoid this and simply incorporate massage into your current skincare application. The under-eye area can benefit greatly from massage, as it can reduce dark circles, puffiness and reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. You can apply your serums and moisturizers in this area or eye cream, working gently with the ring fingers. 

Utilize Massaging Tools

If you want to take your facial massage one step further you can incorporate a massaging skincare tool or device. There are so many new massaging tools and devices on the market today it can be hard to choose one. The great thing is, massage is wonderful for almost every skin type and condition, meaning any massaging tool you choose will be beneficial. Some of your options include facial rollers and gua sha stones (jade, rose quartz, etc.) which tend to be more affordable.

With any of these tools, you can use them after cleansing or after you have applied all finishing products on the skin, as an additional massage technique. You can go more high tech and opt for a device that vibrates, providing a more intense tissue massage.

You may find yourself spending 5-10 minutes longer on your skin in the morning and evening but I promise it is so worth it! There are endless resources online and on YouTube that can demonstrate varying massage techniques for you. Adding massage techniques into your daily skincare regimen is a fantastic way to boost your skincare game and has endless benefits for both your skin’s health and appearance.