How would you like to massage away tension, smooth the skin and give your complexion a youthful, healthy glow, simply by using holistic facials and nourishing, natural products? This radiance-boosting facial massage includes aromatic essential oils and can become part of your nightly skincare routine, or a weekly indulgent treat for evenings when you have a little more time. Set the scene with your favourite relaxing music, diffuse some mood-enhancing oils and enjoy this wonderful, just-for-you, self-massage ritual.

Here are just some of the benefits of regular facial massage:

• Massage will help the skin to absorb all the active ingredients in the oils
• Massage stimulates drainage of the lymph system, helping to eliminate waste and reduce any signs of puffiness
• Massage helps boost circulation and brings fresh oxygen and nutrients to the cells for a brighter complexion
• Signs of stress, tension and premature ageing on the face and neck may be reduced over time

Start by choosing a carrier oil for your skin type:

• Normal skin: Sweet almond oil – moisturising and protecting
• Dry/mature skin: Avocado oil – nourishing and softening
• Oily skin: Jojoba oil – antibacterial and helps dissolve the sebum that clogs pores
• Combination skin: Grapeseed oil – light and easily absorbed
• Sensitive skin: Apricot kernel oil – calming and soothing

Note: Avoid nut-based oils if you are allergic to nuts.

Then add 1 drop of essential oil per 1tsp/5ml of carrier oil for an aromatic facial treatment:

• Normal skin: Lavender, jasmine or ylang ylang
• Dry/mature skin: Neroli, sandalwood or rose
• Oily skin: Cedarwood, lavender or geranium
• Combination skin: Geranium, lavender or neroli
• Sensitive skin: Roman chamomile, lavender, rose

Note: If you have sensitive skin or any particular skin concerns, it’s always best to do a patch test first.

Step-by-Step Natural Facial Massage

Tie your hair back, remove contact lenses and cleanse the skin. Rub a little oil between the palms of the hands, to warm it up. Relax, take a few deep breaths and begin your facial massage...

1. Begin at the neck and use both hands to apply a thin layer of oil evenly all over the face and neck in light sweeping strokes, gliding upwards and outwards. Take care not to get any oil into the eyes.
2. Next, using both hands, gently sweep up the neck using alternate strokes. Work from one side of the neck to the centre on both sides. Then, using the back of your hands, lightly tap the skin around the jaw-line and chin. Repeat several times.
3. Apply a little more oil if you need to and, starting at the chin and jaw, apply small circular movements with your fingertips, again working upwards and outwards, all over the face to the hairline. Focus on areas such as fine lines around the mouth and frown lines between the eyes. Try to work so that you can actually feel the muscles moving under the skin. Then use the fingertips to apply small circular movements tracing underneath the cheekbones up and out towards the ears.
4. Taking care not to get oil into the eyes, circle the eyes by starting just above the eyebrows and using your ring finger to gently trace down and around the eyes, drawing in towards the inner corners of the eyes then back up the bridge of the nose to the starting point. Circle the eye area three times. Then, use the index finger and thumb to gently ‘pinch’ across the eyebrows. Work outwards and repeat several times.
5. Using the fingertips, tap lightly across the forehead area for 30 seconds to stimulate the skin. Then, using alternate palms, make long smooth strokes upwards on the forehead towards the hairline. Repeat several times then, with the fingertips of both hands in the centre of the forehead, make small circles outwards to the temples several times.

Want a Little More?

• For added tension relief, you can extend the facial massage to include the neck area. Apply a little oil, then leaning slightly forwards, support your forehead with one hand. Starting at the base of the neck, make firm circular movements down the back of the neck with the other hand.
• If you have a little oil leftover after your facial massage, finish by applying it to the hair using ‘shampoo’ type movements to loosen the scalp. Leave on overnight to nourish the hair (take care to protect your bedding) and wash out in the morning.

Safety & Precautions

Many aromatherapy essential oils used in facial massage are contraindicated for use during pregnancy and for those with certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure and epilepsy so always check with a qualified practitioner if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

Click here for more information on our Aromatherapy Diploma Course.