Thursday, February 9, 2012

Facial massage is more than relaxing!

Facials are rejuvenating and it may seem like we're not doing much but relaxing you, but the massage is actually doing more for you than just relaxing you. There are a few motives when massaging the face.

We want to unclog your pores, relax the muscles to delay wrinkle formation, and tone the muscles with an upward outward stroke movement that works against gravity. Although it does feel good, it also relieves headache, unclogs your sinuses, and gets the knots out of your neck. For those who are my clients, I personally spoil you with a foot rub! 

Facial massage simulates circulation in the skin and brings the color and clarity back by circulating blood flow to your capillaries so they can exchange nourishment to your skin cells. It also stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin. Capillaries are the smallest of a body's blood vessels. They are parts of the microcirculation and enable the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste chemical substances between blood and surrounding tissues. Ever heard of expression lines? This is due to smiling, frowning, crinkling in between your eyebrows, looking serious and thinking really hard. A good facial along with exfoliating can help improve (but not completely remove) the appearance of expression lines.

A foot massage to close out your facial massage can relax the whole body and mind. It can take the weight of the world away in just a good 5-10 minutes. It relaxes other organs with certain pressure points in the foot. Needless to say, I'm an aesthetician not a massage therapist, so I'm not preforming reflexology on the feet in the treatment room. But you can imagine how a few minutes of attention to your feet can rejuvenate the mind and body.

Here's a tip on how you can rejuvenate your skin in between your facial appointments:

In the morning in the shower use a few drops of jojoba oil and gently massage your face using circular movements for about 5 minutes. Then wash your face with your cleanser, rinse, and apply a moisturizer. You can find jojoba oil at the New Leaf Market in Tallahassee or elsewhere at health food stores.

Massaging your face will make your skin glow. You'll notice smaller looking pores, clarity, pinker, and healthier looking skin. Ever wonder why about a month after you've have a facial your skin starts to look grey and or dull? It's because the facial removes dead skin cells and stimulates blood flow and jumpstarts the skin to function once again. It's like an energy drink boost except, in this case, it's an oxygen boost to the skin. Just a five minute pick me up facial massage in the shower will get you through till your next facial appointment. 

Remember the skin's main functions? It provides protection, heat regulation, water resistance, and sensation through your nerves. Imagine for a minute what the positive effects of receiving a facial massage communicates to your brain. Facials are more than a just treat: they communicate a sense of self-care and worth to your skin.

-Amber

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