The best facial massage techniques to get you glowing, inside and out

Ask any skin expert and they’ll agree about the benefits of facial massage. There are gadgets and gizmos that promise to zap away wrinkles and blast pigmentation, but hands-on massage remains the cornerstone of most treatments thanks to its multiple benefits.

Not only does massage stimulate lymphatic drainage to help de-puff skin while bringing oxygenated blood to the surface, but there’s also a wellbeing benefit thanks to the stress-relieving power of touch. ‘Facial massage isn’t just about treating the outer surface of the skin – it soothes the entire body by sending reassuring messages to calm the nervous system,’ says Anastasia Achilleos, a leading global facialist known among her A-list clients for a holistic, inner/outer approach.

‘You don’t have to overhaul your life to fit it in – the benefits of massage are cumulative so even one minute a day, morning and night, is 14 minutes a week that you wouldn’t otherwise have done. If you’re prepping a couple of months in advance for a big event, the key is to start slowly, such as promising to massage in your cleanser and serum for an extra minute each night.’

Think of facial massage as part of the ongoing maintenance of your skin, rather than a one-off treat. ‘You can’t do it once in a while and expect to be “cured”,’ Achilleos says. The good news is, you also don’t have to invest in expensive equipment to get results, although there are less expensive options such as jade rollers to help you massage in product. ‘The beauty of self-massage is it’s free, versatile and you can take it anywhere. You can use pretty much anything you have at home, from all the creams and oils in your bathroom, to coconut oil and even avocado.’ If you decide not to invest in a dedicated facial oil, Achilleos recommends spending a little extra time massaging in your cleanser and skincare. ‘How you apply your face cream is almost as important as what’s inside it.’ 

You don’t need the deft digits of Achilleos to get professional-looking results. ‘People often ask me how they know if they’re doing it right and I always say that the amount of pressure is guided by what feels comfortable to you,’ she explains. ‘You’ll immediately get lots of feedback from your skin: how red or pink it goes from the circulation being boosted; whether you see a reduction in puffiness; or any movement that elicits one of those “ahh” moments.’

Achilleos recommends starting by giving your hands a shake and massaging your fingers and knuckles. ‘People often forget about their hands, but as they’re the parts doing the massage, it’s important to release any tension here first,’ she says. ‘There are many types of massage technique, from effleurage, which is a continuous flow of upward stroking movements using the palms, to petrissage movements, which knead and pinch the underlying muscles. However you don’t need to get too bogged down in techniques – the most important thing is that it feels good. And don’t neglect areas such as the chest and sternum, as they can hold a lot of emotional tension.’

For a simple, skin-stimulating, wellbeing-activating massage routine, Achilleos recommends putting face cream or oil on the palms of your hands and rubbing them together before pressing them flat to your chest. Move them up towards the hairline and back down towards the breastplate in one continuous stroke.

‘This gentle movement over your face is a wonderful starting point for massage,’ Achilleos says. ‘From here you could add in circular movements around the eyes, starting in the inner corners and working your fingers up and around before pinching and releasing along the brow bone. Most people experience some kind of puffiness or signs of fatigue around the eyes so this is a nice one to do when you wake up. Remember to add in enough “slip” with your products so that you don’t drag the delicate skin.’

According to Achilleos, other areas of concern that are often neglected are the neck and jawline. ‘Both hold a lot of tension and, thanks to two decades obsessing over technology, I see so many clients who have chronic neck and jaw aches as well as increased ageing and jowling.’ She recommends using your bent index and middle fingers to sweep along the jawline before tilting your head to one side in order to stretch out the large muscle in your neck. Use long strokes to help de-stress and reset. ‘It’s all about helping your body’s systems to work at their optimum levels,’ Achilleos adds.