Facial Massage: The Key to Anti-Ageing?

A full body massage can be the perfect way to de-stress, unwind and relax. But did you know that facial massage “ that we can all do at home “ is an anti-ageing technique that you are going to want to include in your skincare routine!

According to research carried out by Northwestern University, Illinois, exercising the muscles in your face for 30-minutes, made participants look as much as three years younger. We are definitely on board!We are firm (see what we did there?) believers in facial massage for its anti-ageing benefits as well as the ability to relieve sinus pressure, lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness. So we've compiled a list of recommended facial massage techniques for you to try at home.

Facial Massage Techniques

Dr Katerina Steventon, is a skincare expert with a PhD in skin science and the creator of 4 Anti-Ageing Serum. This scientific serum contains carefully selected plant based healing and clinically proven active ingredients.The combination of organic plant oils has been specifically selected to increase the penetration of high concentrations of active ingredients deep into the skin. In tandem with the recommended facial massage techniques, 4 Anti-Ageing Serum helps to prevent and repair the premature signs of ageing.

Mindful Relaxing Facial Massage by Dr Katerina Steventon

Warm Up

Place your hands together as in prayer. Close your eyes and slow down your breathing. Breathe deeply, three times in and out. Dissolve the stress of the past day. When massaging, focus on the place where your fingertips touch the skin. Warm up your palms by rubbing them gently together. Smooth two drops of 4 Anti-Ageing Serum all over your face.

Soothe

Press your thumbs on the pressure points at the inner corners of your eyes, right underneath your eyebrows. Place your index and middle fingers at your hairline above your thumbs. Press gently. Slide both fingers slowly down towards the top of your eyebrows. Feel every inch of your forehead. Finish with a light pinch of your eyebrows. Perform three sets of six repetitions.

Release Tension

With your thumbs underneath and index and middle fingers above, retrace your eyebrows. Finish at the temples. Perform three sets of six repetitions.

Relax Eyes

Cup your eyes with palms and breathe deeply. Release and sweep your forehead flat towards your temples. Perform one set of six repetitions.

Lymph Drainage I

Place your hands tougher as in prayer and breathe. Now, place hands each side of your nose, palms on the chin and finger tips at your inner eye corners. With hands flat, sweep gently outwards towards your ears. Feel every inch of your face. Rest on your ear lobes. Perform three sets of six repetitions.

Lymph Drainage II

Make a V with your index and middle finger. Place them at the front and back of your ears. Slide up and down, massaging the area in front, behind and beneath your ears. Continue to relax and breathe deeply. Perform three sets of six repetitions.To finish, place your hands together in prayer once more. Breathe slowly and deeply to relax.

A-List Facialist, Nichola Joss

Next up is A-list facialist, Nichola Joss who is also an ambassador for Lumity, available to buy at Face the Future. Joss, whose impressive client list boasts the likes of Meghan Markle, Scarlett Johansson, Gisele Bundchen and Gwyneth Paltrow, is a big fan of Lumity Facial Oil “ more on that later “ and has shared some of her recommended facial massage techniques.

Morning “ to awaken and revive skin

Dispense a few drops of your chosen facial oil into the palm of your hands, swipe hands together to disperse the oil and gently press the oil onto the face, down the neck and across the chest.Use the back of your index and middle fingers to sweep along the jawline from the chin out towards the ears.Using the same two fingers, placed under your cheekbones this time, push upwards opening the fingers into a 'V' shape as you move the middle fingers up the sides of your nose and your index fingers towards your temples. This helps to relieve tension built up during the night.Next is the eye area, place your index finger between your temples and the outer edge of your eyebrows, this helps to support the outer eye area. Then take your middle finger and sweep it under the eyes, along the orbital bone and back to the temples. Repeat this a few times, sweeping back and forth to stimulate lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness around the eyes.Take the middle finger up to the bridge of the nose and apply some pressure as you take the finger along the eyebrows. You should now take this movement full circle around the eyes, gently sweeping under the eye along the orbital bone, up to the bridge of the nose and finally applying pressure across the eyebrows.Next, using four fingers, sweep from the top of the eyebrows towards the hairline. Finish your morning facial massage by using any remaining oil to sweep the palms of the hands across your face and neck using upwards & outwards movements.

Evening “ to relax, de-stress and help you sleep

As this is an evening treatment, you can use slightly more oil “ remember not too much, though “ you want to be able to feel the massage movements, if you use to much oil, your hands will just slip all over your face! Aim for 6-7 drops.As with the morning technique, swipe hands together to disperse the oil and press the oil onto the face, down the neck and across the chest.This time, you can use slightly more pressure as you sweep the oil, starting in the centre of the face, working outwards and upwards. Take the oil down the neck, massaging in small circular movements as you move across towards the shoulders.Use two or three fingers to work deep, applying pressure along the orbital bone, the jawbone and under the cheekbones. Place your thumbs under the jawbone and your index and middle fingers just above on the upper jaw and drag outwards, starting at the chin and moving out towards the ears.These massage techniques should be done every morning and evening in order to see the best results “ believe us, you won't regret it!

Some of our favourite oils for facial massage

4 Anti-Ageing Serum Jojoba seed oil - Provides excellent moisturising and soothing properties.Echium oil - A plant derived, rich source of omega 3, 6 & 9 essential fatty acids.Camellia oil - A highly restorative and rejuvenating effect on the skin. It is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.Rose hip fruit oil - Replenishes skin moisture by creating a protective barrier to help prevent dehydration. Traditionally used to treat skin conditions such as dermatitis, sunburn, scarring and repairing mature and photo-aged skin.Lumity Facial OilFollowing the success of Lumity Supplements for optimum health and skin nourishment from the inside. Now, Lumity Oil takes care of skin from the outside with a potent and nourishing blend of 32 natural ingredients. Only the purest, natural plant oils and extracts go in to Lumity Facial Oil, with no toxic or synthetic ingredients.VERSO Super Facial Oil VERSO Super Facial Oil contains Verso's patented Retinol 8 Complex, a stabilised Vitamin A complex that is eight times more effective than standard Retinol but with half the irritation.This penetrating and nourishing facial oil, with concentrated Retinol 8 complex, contains healthy and rich sunflower and canola oils that hydrate and moisturise skin. These oils reduce inflammatory tendencies to the skin caused by everyday life and UV exposure, as well as prevent the skin from drying out.Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip OilIndependent clinical studies have shown that certified organic rosehip oil works to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles. This oil delivers intense nourishment and repair for optimal skin health. Trilogy's expertly blended product uses only the finest quality oil with a minimum of 80% content of omegas 3, 6 and 9.Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Oil Ultra lightweight and fast absorbing, this hydrating oil nourishes and soothes dry and dehydrated skin with long lasting results. Vitamin C, Moringa, Sea Buckthorn and Grapeseed Oil work to brighten and revitalise the appearance of dull, ageing skin, as well as providing antioxidant protection. The use of BV-OSC helps to accelerate collagen production up to 50% better than traditional Vitamin C, helping to create firmer and more youthful looking skin.