Begin your Facial
Massage in calm
and quiet surroundings. Dim the lights and add soft, relaxing music, if
you can. Apply massage medium to face and fingertips -- you will need good
slip to give a great massage. Apply more as needed. Faces are sensitive
places with a good deal of vascular activity -- which is why we blush so
easily. Use soft strokes. If you massage too deeply, you may cause the
skin to bruise or swell.
Use your index, middle and
ring fingers to ensure light pressure. Get into a rhythm - slow and
steady. This is called effleurage. Slow down your pace as your
massage proceeds. Massage in an upward motion whenever possible. This
helps delay the force of gravity.
1) Forehead - Starting at
the forehead by the eyebrows and using your three massage fingers, gently
move across the forehead with small circular motions. Repeat 5 times.
2) Nose - Beginning at the
inner hollow of the eye, massage downward with your index finger, along
the sides of your nose. Repeat 4 times.
3) Eyes - Exercise caution
in this area. The skin around your eyes is extremely delicate and thinner
than the rest of your face. Using your index finger above the eyebrow and
middle finger below the eye, massage in a gentle sweeping motion from the
inner eye area to the outer area, toward the temples. Repeat 3 times. To
relieve any pressure or tension from sinuses or stress, gently place your
ring finger in the hollow of your eye, next to your nose. Press in gently
and release 5 times.
4) Mouth and Chin - using
your index and middle fingers and starting at the chin, gently massage in
a circular and upward motion around the mouth and lips. Bring the massage
motion to the top of the mouth, under the nostrils. Repeat 5 times.
5) Chin - fatty deposits
can add up here. Starting where the right jaw meets the ear, gently grasp
the skin between your index and middle fingers and walk them the length of
the jaw in a scissor-like motion. Massage back to the starting point using
a circular motion. Repeat 5 times.
6) Cheeks to Temples -
Starting at the chin and moving upward across the cheeks to the temples,
massage in a light manner using the middle and index fingers only. When
you reach the temples, massage in a circular motion three times. Repeat
entire sequence 5 times. Make sure you massage temples at the place where
the bone ends and a small hollow exists.
7) Neck and Décolletage -
Begin at the back of the neck and massage upwards toward the head using
small circular motions. Repeat 5 times. Coming around to the front of the
neck and using the three massage fingers, massage the neck starting at the
collarbone and work your way upwards toward the chin. Repeat 4 times.
8) Ears - Massage in a
spiral motion - upward - using thumb and index fingers. Repeat 4 times. To
finish, slide thumbs from back of ears to jaw line. This will release
pressure along the jaw line.
