How to Give a Dry Facial Massage

Many people are surprised by the amount of tension and stress they carry in their face, which is often only made apparent after a facial massage. If you have asked a therapist to avoid the facial area in the past because of fears of the build-up of massage oil, never fear. In a few simple steps you can learn to give a relaxing facial massage without the use of oil.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use the pads of your fingers to gently stroke the face, beginning at the bottom edge of the jaw, working your way up to the forehead. After completing a few strokes, massage with your thumbs from the top of the nose, across the forehead to the temples. Repeat this motion a few times, gradually moving closer towards the hairline.

2. Continue the facial massage at the temples. With the pads of your first two fingers, make circular motions while applying very light pressure. Move your hands down to the ears and gently rub the lobes, pulling very slightly.

3. Place the pads of your thumbs on either side of the nose, just below the cheekbones and slowly move towards the edges of the face. Keep your thumbs along the bottom of the cheekbones, moving out to the mandibular joint near the ear.

4. Move down to the chin, massaging the face with small circles, beginning at the chin and moving your way along the jaw bone. After a few passes, gently pinch your way along the jaw bone using your thumbs and index fingers. Again, begin at the jaw and work your way up near the ears.

5. Massage the neck with long gentle strokes, beginning at the collar bone and ending at the jawline. If you like, you can work the back of the neck as part of your facial massage.

6. Complete the facial massage with gentle strokes along the forehead and across the scalp to the back of the neck.