5 Reasons Why You Should Start Massaging Your Face
One of the biggest reasons I began to offer facial massages in my personal practice as an RMT, is that I absolutely LOVE to massage my face!
Not only does facial massage feel, so, so lovely and relaxing. It’s also a gentle, non invasive way to brighten, soften, nurture and connect to our faces in a positive way.
Here’s how…
My top 5 reasons why you should start massaging your face :)
1) By increasing circulation to the face through massage, you’re helping your facial tissues naturally heal + repair
Our circulatory system, is our bodies biggest + best tool to facilitate healing.
Everything we need to naturally heal + repair is in our blood streams. Oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, the list goes on! All these wonderful healing products are naturally fed to our facial tissues when we actively target massage.
When we massage our faces, the circulatory system receives a signal to feed all this yummy good stuff into our tissues, creating a better opportunity to repair, heal + strengthen.
2) Using natural face oils for massage can help moisturize + strengthen your faces natural skin barrier
Figuring out what works best for your skin is a journey.
With all the products out there and agenda’s of the beauty industry, it can cause a lot of confusion - not to mention cost! As much as a great product can get results, sometimes it’s the simple, natural things we use that can have just as much impact.
As someone who grew up in the wildy, mis-informed era of skin care in the 90’s. I was always taught to strip + dry my skin. From terrible acne washes to the ever popular St. Ives Apricot scrub that not only damaged my skin, but self-esteem to boot. I personally sought out more and more products to “fix” what chemical products started in the first place, weakening my natural skin barrier. Which in-turn made my face reactive, sensitive + flared up for most of my youth.
When face oils came on the scene, I was already well on my way to utilizing more gentle, natural products + approaches to skin + self-care in general.
I was still hesitant to put oils on my face, especially as I was continuing to deal with recurring hormonal acne, well throughout my 30’s. But once I did more research and became informed through helpful resources such as books like Caroline Hirons Skin Care, The Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide , aestheticians + small batch natural face oil company’s found at local gems like Sunja Body Link, Harlow Artelier + OM Organics, I started to dabble.
Not to say that face oils are for everyone, BUT they do contain lovely, naturally derived oils known to be gentle for sensitive skin. Helping to nurture, strengthen + moisturize our skins protective barrier through vitamins, antioxidants and essentail fatty acids. Which in turn, promotes healing.
Oils such as marula, rosehip, jojoba, squalene + argan can be game changers in helping repair + moisturize naturally. Personally, i’d stay away from face oils that are heavy on essential oils, as they are more likely to trigger a reaction in more sensitive skin types.
* as an disclaimer- be sure to check in with a professional aestheticians or a dermatologist if you have any concerns or questions about your skins sensitivities, specific conditions or potential reactions if you have concerns. This post is written based off my personal opinion + experience as a skin enthusiast + RMT using face oils personally and for my facial massage treatments.
3) Massaging your face can help fine lines + wrinkles appear slightly more relaxed + softened
As you continue to massage, you begin to feel a warming sensation as circulation increases. This will help naturally plump + lift tissues with oxygen + fresh blood flow as you continue to flush, knead and focus massage to areas of tension in and around the mouth, forehead, jaw + face.
Muscles of facial expression begin to relax + release as the facial oils moisturize + tissues begin to replenish, creating a subtle relaxation in the appearance of deep set + fine lines.
4) After a facial massage, your complexion appears to be slightly brighter
Once again, that circulation work does it’s magic and your facial tissues are continually fed with fresh oxygen, circulation + nutrients. Massage can have a slight exfoliative effect too.
Immediately after a massage you may appear to be a little flushed, especially from more rigorous massage work and using massage tools like gua sha. But a few minutes post massage, your complexion can appear subtly brighter from the increase in blood flow. Even more so when you make facial massage a consistent part of your daily skin routine!
5) Face massage creates an intentional, grounding, self-care ritual you have to look forward too
My facial massages are my me time.
Morning and night, I look forward to those few minutes put aside that help me relax + ground myslef into one of my favourite rituals.
I start by cleansing with a rich + hydrating oil balm to wash away the day. Then spritz a lovely, grounding toner that always makes me sigh + smile. I then apply my chosen, dreamy face oil blend, nourishing my skin and get my face prepped for massage. Then getting to work by kneading, lifting and flushing my facial muscles and tissues, using a gua sha tool for more extensive work and jaw release. It’s LOVELY.
The feeling of letting go tension + feeding my face with nutrients and circulation, always helps me feel more in my body. Intentionally + naturally putting love into my face + skin as a small but powerful act of self-care
_
Curious about facial massage? Let’s connect for a treatment session!
Check out more information on my facial massage offerings here or click the book now button at the top of the page.
Thanks for reading + enjoy your self-care journeys!
x Carrie
