Self-care rituals: facial massage

Deep relaxation and invigorated, firm skin – these are the benefits of a facial massage. Our natural beautician Sibylle tells you how it works. Here's everything you need to know about the different techniques, timing, preparation, and why your most important facial massage tool is your hands.

Photo by Park Street on Unsplash

Let go with the facial massage

A facial massage after a hard day or on a Sunday morning is my favorite self-care ritual. Switch off and do something good for your skin. Because during the massage you only concentrate on yourself. You can feel how your skin feels - dry, tired, neglected? – and how your facial muscles are doing. Pay particular attention to whether stress-prone areas, such as the point between the eyes or the jaw muscles, are relaxed or tense. The focus is now entirely on you and no longer on all the 1000 things that keep you busy. At this moment you don't have to worry about anything. During the massage you will notice how the tension drops. Your breath flows more naturally and you calm down.

When is the ideal time for a facial massage?

The perfect time for a facial massage is in the evening . So you can relax and switch off from the day. In addition, the skin can optimally absorb care through the gentle massage. This supports nightly regeneration.

Why is a facial massage so good?

Just a few minutes of facial massage provide several benefits:

• Your blood circulation is stimulated . The skin cells are supplied with fresh, oxygen-rich blood and better nutrients.
• The stressed facial muscles are also supplied with blood by the massage. This relieves tension, which leads to a relaxed facial expression.
• The massage creates a gentle peeling effect . Dead skin cells are removed and the skin gets a rosy, youthful complexion.
• If you apply a serum plus facial oil or balm beforehand (you should always do this), the products are massaged into the skin. It can optimally absorb the ingredients of your care products.
• Fresh tissue fluid is supplied to the skin cells during the massage. This makes her look plumper.
• The massage direction from the center of the face outwards to the ears and repeated strokes down the neck activates the lymphatic flow . In this way, the metabolic end products in the lymphatic fluid are better removed.
• The soothing effect has a positive effect on your complexion.

☝️ Below we come to the step-by-step instructions. In general, all strokes upwards have a "lifting effect" , while strokes from any point on the face to the ears and then down the neck to the collarbone stimulate the drainage of the lymph .

Massage tools: do you need gua sha stones or jade rollers?

There are various aids that are pleasant and have an additional energetic effect. Gem rollers and gua sha stones have their origins in traditional Chinese medicine . She has been using beauty rollers and stones of this kind for centuries for their positive effect on skin and body. Whether jade or rose quartz, every gemstone stands for a special, positive effect on body and soul. The Kansa Wand made of wood, copper and zinc , which originates from Ayurvedic medicine, is also suitable for relaxing facial massages.

But do you really need them? No. The hands are the most wonderful tools that everyone has at their disposal. Therefore, this is a guide for a massage with hands. The advantage: the numerous tactile receptors on the palms of the hands make them extremely sensitive. This allows you to adjust the pressure and shape individually to your skin, connective tissue and muscles.

Preparing for a facial massage

1. Clean your face with warm water and wash your hands thoroughly with a gentle natural soap.
2. Apply a large drop of FIVE Face Serum to face, neck, neck and décolleté. Then put enough FIVE facial oil on your hands with the pipette, briefly warm up the oil between your hands and distribute it again on the face, neck and décolleté. If you prefer to care for your face with the FIVE Shea Cream , then take some of it and let the balm melt between your hands before you spread it.
3. Now your skin is ready for the massage and your hands can glide gently over it .

How much pressure with the facial massage?

As it feels good for you! You can massage harder in the neck region and on the chewing muscles. In the eye area , please only use fine strokes and tapping, as the skin is particularly delicate here.

How many repetitions in the massage?

I recommend you repeat each step 5 to 10 times . The same applies here: Feel what feels good for you and which part needs more attention at the moment. For the eye area, I recommend doing 10 repetitions.

What else does the massage support?

• Do the facial massage in a room full of fresh air or outside if it's warm. So you can take in enough oxygen .
• Breathe deeply in and out . This increases the relaxation effect and oxygen uptake.
• Stay relaxed in the shoulder girdle .
• Perform all movements slowly, mindfully and lovingly.
• Drink lots of water ! With the massage you strengthen various bodily functions. With a large glass of water afterwards, you support the removal of released waste and toxins from the processed muscle and connective tissue.

Instructions: How to massage your face

Then you devote yourself to the individual parts of the face.

• Tightening of the chin area : Spread index and middle fingers. Place the middle finger above and the index finger below the edge of the jaw and stroke from the chin to the earlobe. Once there, run your fingertips below the earlobe to the collarbone and accompany the lymph back.
• Relaxed mimic muscles : Position the index fingers above your mouth and the middle fingers below your mouth and stroke outwards from the middle of the lips to the edge of the face. Right and left side alternately.
• Kiss-me-lips: lip pincher - pinch the lip area with both thumbs and forefingers and move from one corner of the mouth to the other.

• Lymphatic stimulation in the cheek area: curl the index fingers and place them to the left and right of the nostrils. Glide on both sides at the same time below the cheekbones slowly over the masticatory muscles up to the ears.
• Fine nose : Massage the entire nose with small rotations of the fingertips.
• Fresh eyes: You place both ring fingers next to the entrance of the nasolacrimal duct at the eyes and from there gently glide up to the base of the eyebrows. From there, sweep outwards above the eyebrows to the tip.
  Still using your ring fingers, tap or "tap" below the eye from the inner corner of the eye outwards over the cheekbones to the temples. Finally, run your middle and ring fingers below the ears to the collarbone. You will probably feel a swallowing reflex. This means that lymph is transported away.
• Relaxed Forehead : Curl your index fingers again and place them between your eyebrows. Pull both fingers horizontally outwards at the same time to smooth out any frown lines. Curl all fingers except thumbs and place both hands on forehead. Using both hands, massage the forehead muscles in generous rotations, going from one temple to the other. Stay on the temples themselves for a moment and circle there as well.

With these final strokes you increase the lifting effect and the lymphatic drainage :

• Alternately place your hands horizontally flat on your forehead and stroke your forehead upwards.
• Place one hand horizontally on the middle of the collarbones and alternately stroke the neck to the jawline with both hands.
• Place both hands vertically on cheeks , palms at jawline. Sweep up to the forehead.
• Place your index fingers on either side of your nose , thumbs under your chin. Line your face towards your ears with your index fingers.
• Now place your index fingers vertically in the middle of the forehead , stroke outwards towards the temples and then down to the collarbone.

And now: Drink a large glass of still water and smile at your reflection!

How do you feel after your first facial massage? You often feel a nice effect directly. Find your skin plumper and rosier, your muscles more relaxed. Additionally, if you treat yourself to a massage regularly , you will see long-term improvements.

So treat yourself to the caresses for your soul and your face,
your sibyl