As someone especially prone to puffiness, I'm no stranger to the art of face massage. I‘ve spent years relying on the ancient beauty ritual, using a combination of facial tools and ice to bring down flare-ups.
But this summer, all that changed. After a long flight to Paris, I landed with the worst plane ride-induced puffy face I’ve ever experienced. As I vigorously scraped my face with a gua sha in the bathroom mirror, the idea hit me. Up until then, I'd only massaged my face in response to particularly bad episodes of puff. What if I did it everyday as a preventative measure instead?
Feeling inspired—and probably pretty jet-lagged—I set out on my summertime experiment to perform a full-on face massage everyday. The “experiment” ended up becoming much more than that, and now, nearly five months later, I can't imagine a reality in which I don't do my daily routine, massage and all. My entire skin care regimen feels incomplete without it.
It turns out, my hunch was correct: experts say daily face face massages can lead to transformative results . “As with any workout, consistency is key,” Inge Theron, skin care specialist and founder of FACEGYM, tells Glamour. “Even just a few minutes a day can really help you see big results.”
Such was the case for me. I started to see results immediately: Just a few weeks into my new massage regimen, my face puffiness decreased almost entirely. My jaw, cheeks, and neck looked much more toned, and my features started to look more pronounced.
What I was not expecting, however, was for my actual skin to look better too. My rosacea-induced redness had started to clear, and somehow, my previously regular cystic acne had almost completely gone away. Skin care also seemed to absorb better into my skin, while makeup looked better too: That said, my skin is now so lustrous, I'm using less face makeup than ever before.
According to Theron, these results are expected: regular face massage doesn't just decrease swelling and puffiness—it can improve your over all skin health too. “With facial massage, we can boost our natural skin functions, increasing circulation, boosting the lymphatic system, assisting detoxification which is key to the health of our skin and even releasing tension in our muscles”," she explains. “This all results in firmer, toned muscles, enhanced contours and a lifted radiant complexion."
Healthy, glowy, cloud skin is back in full effect.
What's more, she adds, is that massage repetition also helps to boost blood flow and oxygenate the tissues feeding the skin with the nutrients it needs.
That's also why my skin started to look so much more radiant, and I found myself using less and less face makeup as a result. “Doing facial massage before applying makeup means you can kiss goodbye to highlighter because of the gorgeous glow you’re going to get,” Theron says. “Some massage moves in particular, such as our signature whipping technique, really help to stimulate blood circulation. This brings oxygen to the skin, which increases natural radiance for a brighter-looking complexion.”
It doesn't hurt that my products were absorbing more effectively too, which is likely also responsible for my newfound glow. “The gentle manipulation allows the products to penetrate more effectively and deliver their beneficial ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin,” Theron says of face massage.
Another benefit? Regular face massage can help boost collagen production, which Theron and many skin care experts believe to be the bedrock of healthy skin. "Collagen plays a crucial role in skin strength and elasticity, with stores depleting as we age, so facial massage really does work wonders for a plump, youthful glow," she says, adding that over recent years, "more and more studies continue to prove that massage helps promote collagen production.”
That's because collagen comes from a type of cell called a fibroblast, which is responsible for producing connective tissue and making collagen. "For fibroblasts to do so effectively and to work at their optimal level, they need to be under tension, or skin tensegrity,” Theron continues. "If you’re active and consistent with your facial massage, you’ll be helping to manipulate and stretch out the fibroblasts, effectively waking them back up and stimulating them to get back to work on the production of collagen.”
Clearly, there are countless benefits to daily face massage—and I personally have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Since I don't believe in gate-keeping, I asked Theron everything you need to know about starting your own face massage regimen too.
Face massage: Morning or night?
I personally massage my face every morning, just after completing my skin care routine and before applying makeup and SPF. That said, you can do it whenever it makes sense for you. “If you’re a morning person then adding a few minutes into your routine can help to boost your energy and start your day off on the right track,” Theron says. “Alternatively, adding into your evening routine can make for a relaxing end to the day, a moment of self-care for you to unwind and de-stress before bed."
You can also incorporate different moves at different times of the day, she says. “For example, in your morning routine, moves such as knuckling and whipping will wake up the system and kickstart your circulation,” Theron continues. "However, in the evening adding more of the softer sweeping and draining moves will help to release tension and work on the lymphatic system to depuff and decongest to assist your skin reset overnight.”
Face massage serum and oil
As for how to actually massage your face properly? First, apply face serum or oil before you start massaging.
“Whenever you’re doing any facial massage it’s important to remember to use an oil or serum first to create slip and glide on the skin so you’re not dragging or pulling,” says Theron. “My favorites are FACEGYM's Face Coach Lifting Face Oil and Youth Reformer Vitamin C Oil-in- Serum. Not only are they both perfect for workouts but they offer additional benefits for the skin too, such as hydration and improving the appearance of expression lines and wrinkles.”
Face massage tools
Next, find a tool that works for you. I'm partial to my gua sha, but like to change it up depending on my mood, often opting for the sculpting bar I stole from my grandmother or jade roller instead.
Theron recommends the gua sha as the ideal face massage starter tool, though. “If you’re looking to enhance your contours and add facial definition, it's a must-have," she says. "It’s the ultimate at-home contouring tool to carve out the perfect cheekbones and a super-sculpted appearance. With six unique edges all designed to target a different area of the face, this really is your all-in-one tool, it helps you define your contours, release facial tension, depuff and drain water retention and much more. My top tip is to keep it in the fridge overnight, then use it in the morning for additional cooling and soothing benefits.”
It's not as gross as you might think.
Face massage technique
Finally, there's technique. If you're unsure where to start, the Face Gym website offers expert training guides online that walk through how to use their products and relevant facial massage moves. Until then however, here are Theron's three favorite face massage moves.
Cheek whipping
“For toning and tightening your cheek muscles, increasing circulation and bringing oxygen to the skin: Start by taking two fingers and support your skin with the opposite hand by holding your skin tight at the chin,” says Theron. “Take your index and middle finger, and with a medium pressure and start whipping around the cheek area in an upwards direction covering your whole cheek area. Take it slow in the beginning and find your rhythm. Start with 30 seconds, work your way up to a minute on each side.”
Jawline hooks
“This is a great move for enhancing the jaw and boosting the lymphatic system,” Theron says. “Create a V-shape hook with your thumb and index finger and place at the centre of the chin with your thumb underneath. Move the V along each side of the jawline, working slowly to contour and ease any tension. Use medium pressure and repeat for eight.”
V eye lifts
“This is one of my favorite moves for opening and lifting the eyes. For eye-raising results, literally,” Theronn says. “Place two fingers on each side of the bridge of the nose up to the start of the eyebrow. Apply a little pressure and lift under the eyebrow then split the fingers into a V-shape and let them glide out to the sides, still applying a little pressure. Repeat three times. Now for the under eyes. Use a little less pressure to not drag the skin. Place two fingers at the inner corner of the eye, split your fingers into a V-shape and let them glide out to the sides. Finishing with a little lift and pressure at the temples. Repeat three times.”
Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.
This article was originally published on GLAMOUR US.
