Everyone knows that a full body massage has amazing effects on your mind and body – but what about a facial massage? Is it just a relaxing part of every facial treatment, or does a facial massage have benefits all of its own?

Massage gives your facial muscles a workout

You know that your body needs to be regularly exercised to keep the muscles supple, but what about your facial muscles? Yes, they also need a fitness regime, and no, opening your mouth to add food doesn’t count as a workout. Regular exercise in the form of a facial massage will help tone those muscles and keep your face looking younger for longer.

Any kind of massage helps to relieve tension

If you’re feeling stressed, the muscles on your face can tense up in the same way as your shoulders hunch and your neck aches. On top of the stress, this can also lead to wrinkles, so you need to counteract it before the tension takes hold and starts to show on your face. Regular massage relieves the build-up of tension in facial muscles. If your skin is oily and prone to acne, a ten minute facial massage will be perfect (you don’t want to stimulate too much oil production) but for normal to dry skin up to 20 minutes is ideal. It’s very relaxing, too, which is just what you need when you’re stressed out.

It increases circulation

When you’ve hurt your back or shoulder, a massage is an ideal way to get the blood circulation going, and it promotes healing too. The same applies to a facial massage. Your face muscles need looking after and will appreciate a decent massage even if you haven’t overdone it in the same way you might do with your sore calf muscles or shoulders. Having a good massage on your face will help to increase the blood and oxygen flow to skin and muscles, plumping everything up and giving you a younger, more radiant glow.

It gives you a natural facelift

Massage increases the blood flow and oxygen to the area, rejuvenating your whole face. It follows that having regular facial massages can naturally (and very pleasurably) provide you with a youthful expression of the face. Oxygen is known to be a natural form of anti-aging skin care, and better blood flow has the effect of also increasing collagen production, giving you a natural and healthy glow.

It will help your skincare products sink into your skin

When you spend money on good quality skincare treatments, it’s always good to know that they are having an effect. You can increase the effects of your home skincare preparations too, with a little help from a good massage.

The increase blood flow improves skin texture, so carry on the good work at home whenever you carry out your daily cleansing routines. Just cleanse your skin as normal, and then apply a serum and moisturizer with a gentle tapping motion. The massaging action really does help skincare products absorb more easily into your skin.

What more do you need to invest in a relaxing, anti-aging facial massage?

You’ll look younger!

Depending on the condition of your skin, your age, skin care goals , regular facial treatments—that incorporate some form of muscle stimulation through massage—work in combination with daily skin care to improve the overall appearance of your skin: anywhere from once a month (for normal to dry skin) to every two weeks (for combination or acne-prone skin) is recommended.