Effleurage Facial Massage Techniques: What? Why? When? How?
With aging, we see many changes in our faces like wrinkles, dark spots, dullness, dryness, or breakage.
But do you exactly know why all this happens?
Our skin naturally sheds and regrows continuously to replace worn-out skin cells with new and healthy cells.
As we age our skin loses the capability of shedding and regeneration, making us look older. Alongside this, our skin also loses its elasticity contributing to the fact the production of elastin protein diminishes in our bodies over time.
This is a permanent process associated with aging and you can not stop it anyhow.
However, you can slow down the process, by manually helping your skin shed and regrow through facial massages.
Yes!
Effleurage Facial Massage can make you look three times younger by protecting your face against the deleterious negative aging phenomenon.
Here you’ll know how you can massage your face using the effleurage technique, the benefits your get, and when you need an expert’s help.
What Are the Benefits of Effleurage in Facial Massage?
Effleurage facial massage technique has plenty of benefits. Let’s have a look at each one of these in detail. Some of them might surprise you.
- The facial effleurage technique can help you look younger as it reduces wrinkle formations, increases your skin’s elasticity, and gives you glowing skin.
- It improves the circulation to your skin in the face and neck, so that your skin looks fresher and remains healthy throughout.
- The effleurage technique also has a sweeping effect on your face. It scraps off all your dead skin.
- It also stimulates your skin to generate newer and healthier cells because of the fresh blood supply.
- Effleuarge stretches the pores in your face and squeezes the dirt out of these pores which is an important step for acne prevention.
- You can use the effleurage technique on your face to relieve sinus pressure.
- It prevents your skin from sagging or loosening.
- The effleurage massage technique also encourages your skin to absorb the cream, oil, or any skin product that you apply.
- Effleurage also relaxes and tones your facial muscles and has an impact on your psychological health.
Effleurage Facial Massage – DIY (Do It Yourself)
The best part about effleurage facial massage is that,
You Can Do It Yourself!
It’s that easy.
All you need to do is follow some simple steps and hygiene precautions to get a youthful glow on your face.
Prepare yourself:
Before starting to apply the effleurage technique on your face you need to wash your hands with soap and then wash your face with a cleansing face wash to remove all the dirt from the surface of your skin.
If you don’t follow this step, you can clog your pores with the dirt and germs already present on your face leading to infection or acne.
Procedure:
- Place your thumbs firmly on your jawbone, and your other four fingers over the jawline.
- Apply firm pressure with your fingertips at the center of your jawline, and slowly drag your fingers outwards and upwards up to your ears.
- Then press firmly at your upper jaw and cheeks and slowly drag your fingers outwards.
- Repeat the process at every point on your face going upwards and outwards until you reach your forehead.
- Make sure you repeat the process 3 to 4 times in the same area.
- Then lightly pinch your entire face starting from the jawline and going to the forehead for 1 minute.
- Now place your fingertips on the front and sides of your neck, and slowly drag down to the level of your collar bones on both sides.
- Repeat 5 to 8 times.
- In the end, drag your fingers across your collarbones downwards and outwards till the shoulder tips and chest.
- Do this for 3 minutes.
Pro Tips:
Apply a serum or face oil to let your fingertips drag smoothly over your skin.
Practice deep breathing simultaneously with the effleurage for more relaxation.
Keep the pressure from your finger even at every point to avoid any scratching or friction.
What Other Techniques are Used for Facial Massage?
Although effleurage is a major part of facial massage, it is not the only technique for your face. Some other massage techniques for facial massage include,
- Petrissage
- Tapotement
- Vibration
- Friction
When Not to Do Effleurage on The Face?
Effleuarge facial massage generally has no side effects for normal healthy individuals. Some people might not be suitable candidates for this treatment.
We do not recommend effleurage facial massage if,
- you have an open wound on your face or neck.
- you are diagnosed with an active or malignant tumor in your neck, chest, or anywhere close to your face.
- you have a low platelet count or say you have the tendency to bleed excessively from a minor cut.
- you have a skin infection
- you have a highly sensitive skin
All of the above conditions are the absolute contraindication for effleurage. Some other conditions like having a skin graft, a recent facial surgery, or taking anticoagulant medications are the relative contraindications.
This means that you can avail of facial massages with these conditions, but you have to take extra precautionary measures.
How Often Should You Apply Effleurage to The Face?
It is best to gently massage your face every day for 2 to 3 minutes. The effleurage technique does no harm if applies regularly.
If you are not massaging regularly then it is best to do it twice a week at home and get one professional massage session every month.
Final Thoughts:
Effleurage is a light technique good for everyday facial massage as it comes with plenty of physiological and psychological benefits including improved circulation, lymphatic drainage, dead skin removal, muscle relaxation, toning, pain reduction, and many more.
It is easy to do and you can apply it at home while keeping in mind the contraindications and specific conditions that require professional help.
