Active Face - Massaging for Longevity

Facial Massage: An Necessary Part of Skin Care

Your face has muscles too. Keeping them active, keeps them younger and releasing tension in those muscles can relieve wrinkles, keep skin firmer and tighter. Facial massage is a very popular Western beauty treatment to slow down the aging process and achieve younger-looking, healthier skin and longevity. It is also used to relieve stress, migraine headache, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and sinus congestion.

Facial massage is prevalent in Eastern therapies where it is part of a full-body treatment in which pressure points on the face and neck are stimulated in order to release blockages in the flow of “qi”, or vital energy.

Regardless of geographical region, facial massage is a

necessary part of cosmetic skin care. It promotes 
improved circulation of blood and normalizes metabolism. It also helps stimulate the expulsion of toxins, thus facial massage helps skin breathe by preventing blood stagnation, strengthens muscle tissue and 
preserves skin from getting flabby and flaccid.

Massage Technique:

• Take some cold water from the bowl, and apply it to your face as well. You could start from the neck.
• Lift your chin up and massage your neck using upward strokes. 

Then massage the area just under your chin, using firm strokes.
• Start from the center, move your hands under your jaw, outwards to the ear. Do this around 20 times or more, depending on your timing, and then using small upward strokes, work the entire under-chin area from side to side. 

• Massage the rest of your face; along the jaw line, under cheekbones, spine of nose, and around nostrils using upward and outward strokes, as well as circular motions.
• Make sure to reapplying water and cream as necessary to maintain viscosity.
• Circle your eyes, pressing down on the temples. 


• You can also use upward and outward strokes on your forehead.
• Use quick, sharp slapping strokes on your cheeks. 'Slap' yourself for at least 2-3 minutes. 

This will get your circulation pumping.
  

Remember to maintain upward and outward strokes throughout your massage. Never stretch or pull skin. Use a facial massage cream for best results. Always be sure to massage the skin on your face in an upward direction, as the constant struggle is to fight gravity. 
Once the facial massage is completed, wash your face with cool water.

Remember that smiling is the best exercise to maintain that fresh faced feeling after your massage!