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In addition to feeling great, facial massage is a fast and simple way to improve circulation to the face, enhancing the skin's color and texture. Facial massage is also helpful for relieving stress, easing headaches, inducing relaxation and clearing sinus congestion. Professional facial massages are often expensive, but you can give someone a simple facial massage at home in just 10 minutes. A facial massage should not last longer than 20 minutes, according to Massage Therapy 101. Lengthy massages are more likely to stretch the facial muscles and irritate delicate facial tissue.
Find a calm, quiet location in which to give the facial massage. Turn off the phone, dim the lights and have the recipient sit in a comfortable chair or rest on a table or bed.
Clean the face using cleansing pads or mild soap and water. This will remove any dirt, oil and makeup to prevent skin irritation. Check the skin for signs of open sores, irritated acne, eczema, psoriasis or other skin conditions that may become irritated during massage. Do not give a facial massage on broken or irritated skin.
Apply hypoallergenic massage cream or lotion to the tips of your fingers to allow your fingers to slide smoothly over the skin on the face. Using lotion or another lubricant will reduce friction and skin irritation and increase the benefits of the facial massage. It is not necessary to use expensive oils designed for massage. In most cases, standard vegetable oil is sufficient.
Use only your ring and middle fingers to prevent applying too much pressure during the massage. Your strokes must be slow and gentle, and your overall movement should be upward, toward the hairline.
Begin at the top of the face, on the forehead, and use your fingers to massage the brow and temples using wide, circular motions. Place your fingers near the center of the forehead and move them outward, toward the temples. Gently massage the temples to ease tension and alleviate headaches.
Press down in the hollow areas beneath the eyebrows, and then slowly slide your fingers from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eyes. Repeat this motion two to three times.
Slide your fingers down the sides of the nose, applying gentle pressure. Repeat this motion three to five times to improve circulation to the area and ease sinus congestion.
Work your way outward to the cheekbones, massaging from the center of the face to the ears. Use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure in a circular motion. Massage the jawline and earlobes.
Massage the scalp using your fingertips. Alternate wide circular motions with more narrow movements.
Remove any lotion, cream or oil from the skin using cleansing pads or dampened cotton pads.
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