Have you tried facial massage before?

One of my absolute pleasures in life is receiving a scalp massage, well to be precise, it doesn’t even have to be a massage, just as long as there are fingers and scalp involved I’m in heaven. Maybe it’s the feeling of nails scratching my noggin that I find deeply relaxing, or perhaps it’s the mere energy of love I take from the person delivering the massage - whatever the reason, I’m in heaven EVERY time a hand is placed on my head and caresses my curly locks!

Soooo, an interesting development over recent months is my discovery of facial massage. Oh yeah, I have only recently discovered how entirely delightful this pastime is too! Given the right level of firmness administered from a knowing hand, not only is a facial massage also blissful, but done with considered motion, a facial massage can also be transformative to skin health and appearance; here’s why:

1. Facial massage is a highly effective way to conduct lymphatic drainage and in doing so remove toxins from the face which assists in reducing puffiness particularly under the eyes.
2. Firm circular motions on the face increases blood flow which can noticeably assist in the healing of any skin ailments. 
3. Working in oils via massage can help to break down scar tissue over time and thus fade scars to improve self confidence.
4. Facial massage can transport one to a deeply relaxed state particularly around bed time, making for a deeper more restorative rest with greater healing benefits

As far as techniques go, there are plenty of great demonstrations available in you-tube should you wish to explore however here’s a very quick step by step guide that works beautifully and is self-administered:

First I start with a steamy shower, making sure I exfoliate - by the way if you haven’t discovered our Exfoliating Cream yet, it’s the perfect product to gently remove dead skin cell build up, clear congestion and brighten the skin. Exfoliating is important to the massaging process because it allows for a more seamless application and deeper penetration of facial oils.

Once I’ve stepped out of the shower, I towel dry my face then reach for my oil of choice - in most cases, this is either our Soothe Oil which is a delightfully gentle oil combining deeply restorative organic hemp, lavender to relax and black cumin to calm and heal, or my absolute favourite, our stunning Age-Defying Oil which has the most silky formula combining organic Camellia, Neroli and Bakuchiol, which is a natural alternative to retinol backed by clinical data supporting it’s incredible qualities (read more about this wonder ingredient in our blog here).

I then pump at least double the amount of oil that I would typically use in my evening routine into my cupped fingers, between my pointer and middle finger, then carefully spreading the oil over my face targeting my orbital bone/upper cheek area. Then I gently sweep the oil from my nose to my temple in a repetitive motion, ensuring I don’t work the oil too close to my eyes. With every fifth stroke I firmly move my whole hand down towards my outer neck, which is the critical step in toxin drainage. I aim to keep the entire process going for about one minute, longer if I can.

Next I target my forehead, using circular motions to firmly massage my fine lines until the oil is absorbed. Finally I focus on my jawline using the crook in my hand between my thumb and pointer finger, starting from the centre of my chin and sweeping outward.

The entire process takes approximately 2-3min, but makes all the difference to how my skin rests and repairs, I aim to do this process at least twice weekly too, which is quite manageable.

And for my pro tip? If you’re someone who, like me, wakes up with a facial crease from side or tummy sleeping, to spend time massaging these creases each day can truly turn back time on them. Simply use a good few drops of your facial oil directly on the crease each morning to beautifully smooth it out, using firm pressure for 1-2 minutes. Works like a charm!