Fight the Effects of Aging With Facial Massage Therapy

Your face is very similar to the rest of your body, but when most people consider massage therapy to improve their health and relaxation, they don't include facial massages in their plan. Facial massage therapy helps relieve tension and provide relaxation just as other techniques do to the rest of your body. You need to replenish energy to your face, just as you do to your body and massage therapy on the face accomplishes that by increasing your circulation. When you sleep, less blood flows to the face, which leaves your skin looking puffy and pale in the morning. A massage is the perfect solution to jump-start your blood flow and return your face to its healthy glow.

Facial massage therapy - if done on a regular basis - is touted by many for its effectiveness in reversing the effects of aging by tightening and lifting the muscles in your face, resulting in more youthful looking skin. It also helps to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles associated with aging, making it even more popular. Massage therapy for the face also helps to exfoliate the skin by removing the dead skin cells and dirt that give your face a dull appearance.

Facial massage sessions typically last no longer than 20 minutes. If it is administered for longer than that, the muscles can be stretched instead of tightened. Irritation can occur in people with sensitive skin, so your massage therapist will carefully inspect your face prior to beginning your massage in order to determine the proper pressure and technique to use. The use of massage oils or lotions helps to lubricate the face and reduce friction from the massage procedure, so your therapist will also need to determine whether your skin has the tendency to be oily or dry.

Massage therapy for the face is not only known for its circulatory and anti-aging benefits... it also moisturizes the skin, improves your skin's tone and texture, and lessens any redness or sensitivity you may be experiencing. Anyone who suffers from breakouts and blemishes can find relief with regular facial massage therapy as well.

When beginning your facial massage session, your therapist will scrub and cleanse the skin (which is called exfoliation) to insure a completely clean surface, free of makeup and contaminants. He/she will then continue the session by applying massage creams or lotions to reduce friction during the actual massage. When thoroughly lubricated, your therapist will complete your facial massage by the use of gentle, soothing strokes on various areas of your face to achieve the most benefit.

Let's talk about the various benefits that are provided by the different areas of the face during your facial massage.

• Reduction of the appearance of horizontal wrinkles and lines: forehead and nose.

• Unclogging of pores and reduction of blemishes: nostrils.

• Prevention of wrinkles and sagging muscles: mouth and cheeks.

• Reduction the appearance of bags under your eyes: the area around the eyes.

• Prevention of sagging skin and increased muscle tone: chin and neck

• Massaging to stimulate other body parts: ears.

So remember... whenever you feel a certain amount of stress from everyday life or your body starts to ache, and you feel like you could use a good massage, think about your face. Just like in your body, stress and fatigue can show up in your face; the best remedy is a facial massage to take the stress out of your face and make you feel like a brand new person.