How To Relax and Unwind With an At-Home Face Massage

- Dead skin removal
- Improved blood circulation
- Fine line and wrinkle reduction
- An even skin tone
- Reduced skin congestion
- Nutrients and antioxidants
- Dry skin hydration
- Premature ageing prevention
- Decreased puffiness and under-eye dark circles
- Skin preparation for seasonal and weather changes

We understand that not everybody has the time, capacity, or equipment available for a facial massage every week. To make things more realistic and achievable, we’d recommend setting some time aside for yourself every three weeks or so.

Skin cells are incredibly powerful things. Did you know that, depending on your age, they have the ability to renew themselves every 28 days? With this in mind, it’s important that you time your massage with the natural rhythm of the body. This will help you see lasting effects and results, making the most out of your facial massage time.

For us, an effective facial massage oil is lightweight and ultimately — hydrating. The whole purpose of facial oil is to deeply moisturise the skin, improve its barrier function, and deliver targeted nutrients to the skin cells. 

With this in mind, our Cleansing Balms make an excellent choice as they are made up of nourishing oils that absorb quickly, offering a luxurious massaging experience. We’d recommend using a Cleansing Balm if you have extra time to spare, allowing you to feel the balm transform into a silky massage oil through the warmth of your fingertips.

Our facial oils are also suitable for a face message, especially if you’re looking for a less time-consuming option. We’d especially recommend our Pro-Collagen Marine Oil — an ultra-lightweight concoction, infused with a trio of seaweeds, designed to minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles. However, don’t forget that our Pro-Collagen range can be suited to many different skin types, offering a whole host of benefits including hydration and nourishment — all enhanced by a welcome radiant glow.

It’s natural to not know where to start with a facial massage. The facial area has many contours, dips, and pressure points, so it’s important to tailor your massage movements specifically to these areas.

There are four main parts of an effective facial massage, so let’s go through each phase and which movements you should use.

After a holiday, your skin might need a bit of extra help to shed lingering dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion. We recommend using a delicate exfoliator like our Gentle Rose Exfoliator, which combines micro-spherical jojoba beads with hydrating rose.

Reiki Wave

Hold your hands in front of your face and concentrate on your breathing pattern. Gently wave your hands towards you to inhale the aromatics of the oil, and apply in sweeping motion.

Mindful Focus

With the first and second (middle and index) finger, circle between the eyebrows on what is called the ‘third eye’. This can promote relaxation, relieve headaches, and enhance mindful concentration.

Shoulder Reflex Release

With your finger, apply pressure at the innermost point of each eyebrow.

Tonsillar and Supra Clavicular Node

To stimulate the tonsillar lymph nodes for stress relief and lymphatic drainage, shape your thumb and index finger into 'L' shapes on both hands. Place these behind your ear lobes, aligning with your jaw. Gently pump and massage this area three times to stimulate the nodes.

Then, without moving your fingers from their positions, smoothly stroke downwards towards the inside of your collar bones to encourage lymph drainage. Repeat this sequence on both sides of your neck for balanced relief.

Chisel Jawline

Grip your jaw with the first finger and thumb, and proceed to drain in the same direction along the jaw — starting at the chin. Do this three times on one side, and then switch to the other side.

Drain Jawline

Using the fingertips, drain from the chin under the jawbone all the way up to the ears.

Hook, Lift, Drain

With your hands in a fist, hook the knuckle of the first finger at the corner of your nose, lifting over the cheekbone. Finish this movement by placing your thumbs under the jaw and proceed by draining to your ears.

Lip Drain

Position your first and second fingers — like open scissors — on either side of the lips and drain upwards towards the ears.

Knuckling Cheeks

Using your knuckles in a lifting circular motion, massage the cheeks. Work your way upwards under the cheekbones and out towards the ears.

TMJ (Temporomandibular joint)

Massage with deep circular pressure over your masseter (biting point) with both middle fingers. You’ll find this point just below your cheekbones, where your jaw meets in a bite.

Eye Strain Release

With the third (ring) finger, massage over your temples in a figure of 8 three times. Sweep under the eyes, up the sides of the nose and apply four lifting pressures under the brow bone, working outwards over reflex points — occipital, eye, eustachian tube and outer ear. Finish at your temples with a figure of 8 three times.

Eyebrow Lift

Position the first and second fingers, open like scissors, on either side of the brow bone (just like you did with the lip drain movement) and squeeze and lift. Work outwards until you’ve done this three times.

Sinus T-Bar

Using both middle fingers, lift up from between the eyebrows and drain outwards above the eyebrows. Direct the pressure towards your temples.

Forehead Lift

Position all of your fingertips above the eyebrows and push upwards firmly towards the hairline.

Feather-Light Stoke

With an alternating third (ring) finger, stroke gently through the centre of the forehead, guiding your finger between the eyebrows to the hairline.

Prayer Forehead

Place your hands together, with the heel of your hands on your forehead. Interlock your fingers and mould across the forehead toward the temples. Feel free to finish off the routine with a hot beverage, cold water, or an extra meditation for you to feel the full effects of this relaxing ritual.

Now you know the movements needed to make your facial massage as effective as possible, why not turn it into a whole skincare routine?

This massage routine utilises many of our most-loved skincare products, offering you the chance to immerse yourself in a relaxing practice whenever you need it.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser

For your first cleanse, experience the ultimate cleansing experience with our award-winning icon. Our cleansing balms melt into a luxurious oil when gently massaged into the skin, before transforming into a hydrating milk on contact with water. The unique formula effortlessly removes long-wear makeup, daily grime and surface pollutants, and deep cleanses and softens as a facial mask. Warm an almond-sized amount of one balm between your palms and begin your facial massage. Massage over your face, neck and décolleté with light circular massage movements.

For your second cleanse, use the Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser. This luxurious gel cleanser helps energise the skin for optimum performance. Supercharged with minerals such as magnesium, zinc and copper and a trio of acids, this advanced formula leaves the complexion looking beautifully revived and rejuvenated.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator

Exfoliation clears pathways within the skin by lifting off dead skin cells on the surface, unblocking pores and brightening the complexion. Exfoliation also stimulates the production of new skin cells, renewing your skin with every application. Simply apply and remove with a cloth.

Apply a quick, revitalising spritz of your Soothing Apricot Toner. Spray a couple of pumps onto a cotton pad and gently sweep across your face.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Marine Moisture Essence

The first treatment step is to apply an essence. Think of our Pro-Collagen Marine Moisture Essence as your miracle beauty water. It gives an instant hydration boost, and prepares the skin for the next treatment products by acting as the first layer of hydration.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum

Rejuvenate, firm and renew. A cutting-edge blend of alfalfa and stevia extracts enhances the skin’s natural rejuvenation process to promote a refreshed, more youthful-looking complexion.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Marine Oil

This is where our old friend comes back into the routine. Add 2-4 drops from the pipette into the palm of your hand, taking a moment to inhale the exquisite aromatics, pressing into the face and neck in upward strokes. Then, proceed with the massage movements that you’ve learnt. Feel free to add a few more drops if you feel like your skin requires it.

Products needed: Pro-Collagen Marine Cream with SPF 30 for the day, and Pro-Collagen Night Cream Moisturiser for the night.

During the daytime, use an SPF-infused moisturiser to hydrate and protect the skin against UV, from outside pollutants and free radicals. At night, apply a nourishing formula to replenish and repair the skin whilst you sleep. Warm a pea-sized amount between the palms and gently smooth over the face, neck and décolleté in upward strokes.

Treat your skin to the care it deserves. Whether you only have time for a facial massage once every few months or like clockwork every three weeks, what matters most is that your skin is receiving nourishment and attention. Fancy a spa getaway instead? Find your nearest ELEMIS spa and let one of our professionals take the lead.

Let your skin know you appreciate it with the help of ELEMIS skincare.