How to Give a Facial Massage

Visiting the spa or salon for a facial is a real treat but it is often costly and somewhat time consuming. The benefits can't be denied though, and range from improved complexion to sinus pressure relief. You can obtain many of the same benefits at home by learning to give a facial massage to yourself or enlisting the help of another.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bowl of hot water or facial steamer
• <br>Towels
• <br>Facial moisturizer
• <br>Facial cleanser
• <br>Facial toner

1. Start with a clean face. This is also a good time to remove dead skin cells which trap dirt and make for unsightly dry spots and a splotchy complexion. Use a cleanser scrub with alpha-hydroxy to serve double duty as a skin cleanser and mild exfoliater. Also, at this time, put your hair up away from your face.

2. Open the pores to allow the magic of a facial massage to work. If you do not own a facial steamer you can apply wet warm towels to the face or use a bowl filled with steaming water. Place your face about 8 to 12 inches from the hot water and cover your head and the bowl with a towel to trap the heat. Steam heat the face for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Apply acne treatment as needed prior to giving a facial massage. If you have neglected your skin or are acne-prone, you may see an increase in breakouts initially. With continued good skin care acne should decrease. Avoid using a toner at this stage, however, as you want the pores to remain open during the facial massage.

4. Lie down with the head slightly elevated. Place hand-warmed moisturizer on the skin liberally using about a half-dollar-sized amount on the cheeks, forehead and chin. A slippery facial moisturizer or night cream works best for a facial massage to minimize tugging at the skin's surface.

5. 

   Use your two middle fingers to distribute the moisturizer and begin the facial massage process. With a light touch, work upward from the chin, and from the center of the nose outward to the sides--as if painting on cat whiskers. Then work upward across the forehead. Massage with slow, light, fluid motions and try to maintain contact with the skin with at least one hand at a time to improve relaxation.

6. Massage the face working from the chin upwards and from the center of the face outwards to the ear, using half-dollar size circular strokes. When an end point is reached return your fingers close to the previous starting position. Avoid massaging downwards and in the eye area.

7. Massage the forehead by starting above the nose and working outwards to the sides or hairline. Further work on tension areas with the thumbs: between the eyebrows, above the brow arch and the temple to relieve tension and address pressure points. Use a little more pressure in these areas, massaging slowly and more deeply in the same direction for about 1 to 2 minutes.

8. 
   Sinus massage areas

   Incorporate sinus pressure relief into a facial massage by first squeezing the bridge of the nose with the thumb and index finger. Short finger nails are required here. After 15 seconds, and without releasing the fingers, work the area by pressing up towards the brow bone several times. Next re-grip the bridge area and simultaneously pull and massage outward away from the face. Small circular rotations can be applied here and along the sinus areas at the sides of the nose and above the cheekbone.

9. Finish the facial with a regular application of cleanser, toner, acne treatment, and moisturizer or rinse off the facial massage lotion and apply a facial mask followed by the same skincare regimen.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the eyes with cool eye pads or cooled cucumber slices.
• Avoid facial massage on heavy breakout areas or inflamed, reddened skin.

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