If you’ve ever left a treatment feeling, “Wow — my skin looks amazing,” here’s a little secret: a good facial massage is one of the simplest ways to get that glow. A proper facial massage eases tension, improves circulation, gives an instant lift, and helps your skincare products absorb better. Read on to learn the benefits and how to do a facial massage at home.
What Is Facial Massage?
Facial massage has roots in many cultures, including China, Mexico, Hungary and Sweden, and it has changed a lot over time. According to Eminence Organics trainer Brian Goodwin, therapeutic massage began about 4,500 years ago and later developed into techniques like facial lifting, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and Swedish-style methods. Facial massage applies body-massage techniques to the face muscles to reduce tension (which can cause fine lines and wrinkles) and boost blood and lymph flow to refresh the skin. Below we’ll cover the benefits and teach you some techniques you can do at home.
Benefits of Facial Massage Techniques
As Brian points out, the real effect of massage comes from working beneath the surface of the skin. Think of the skin like a house: a roof (epidermis), a frame (dermis), and a foundation (subcutaneous tissue, fat and muscle). Skin issues don’t stop at the surface — they reach the foundation. By applying focused pressure to the facial muscles, you treat the skin from the foundation upward, which can create stronger, longer-lasting results.
In short, facial massage can:
– Increase blood circulation
– Activate the lymphatic system
– Lift and plump the skin
– Improve product absorption
Here’s a closer look at each benefit.
Increases Blood Circulation
A 2018 study found that a five-minute facial massage increases blood flow for up to 10 minutes. More blood brings more oxygen and nutrients, which helps the skin function better. The immediate effect is a healthy glow as blood comes to the surface. Over time, improved circulation supports collagen and elastin production, leading to a firmer, more resilient complexion.
Activates the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system helps clear waste and toxins from tissues, including the skin. Modern lifestyles can slow lymph flow, causing fluid buildup and puffiness. Lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage that moves lymph fluids toward the nodes under the ears and along the neck, helping reduce swelling and “de-puff” the face.
Lifts & Plumps Skin
We carry tension in our faces—brows, lips, jaws—and over time facial muscles lose tone, which can lead to jowls, sagging around the eyes, and an overall drooped look. Regular facial massage works like a non-surgical lift by toning the muscles under the skin. Like exercise for the body, the more you work these muscles, the firmer they become, which helps smooth lines and keep skin tight and lifted.
Improves Product Absorption
Massage warms the skin and activates facial muscles, making it easier for active ingredients to penetrate deeper layers. This improves the effectiveness of serums, oils, and other treatments, helping them reach the areas that need them most.
Facial Massage Steps: How To Give a Face Massage
Ready to try it? Follow these steps for a simple at-home facial massage.
1. Cleanse Hands & Face
Always start with clean skin and clean hands. Remove makeup and any dirt so you don’t push impurities back into your skin.
2. Warm Product in Hands
You need slip to avoid dragging the skin. Use a small amount of serum, oil, or concentrate so your fingers glide smoothly. Rub the product between your palms to warm it and spread it evenly. Try Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil, or use Stone Crop Cleansing Oil during cleansing for a combined step.
3. Use Gentle but Firm Pressure
Work the muscle, not just the skin. Apply purposeful pressure—enough to move the muscles beneath the skin but not so hard it hurts. Think firm yet gentle; this isn’t deep-tissue work.
4. Start by Massaging the Lymph Area
Begin with lymphatic drainage: use your fingertips to massage the nodes under your ears and along the sides of your neck in wide circles, sweeping from under the ears down toward the throat and back up along the jaw. This helps move trapped fluid and reduce puffiness.
5. Knead the Sides of Your Face
Use circular motions along your jawline and up over your cheekbones, pushing the skin up and outward (never down). Focus on areas where you carry tension, like the jaw, for two to three minutes.
6. Smooth Forehead Lines
Place your fingers between your brows and slowly slide them up across your forehead, gently pulling the skin up and outward. Move against the lines to help smooth them.
7. Take Extra Care Around the Eyes
Be very gentle here. Place fingers beside your nose and sweep upward toward the temples to reduce puffiness and lift the eye area.
8. Finish With Your Neck & Decolletage
Use light vertical strokes from your chest up the neck to the jawline. This reactivates lymph flow and smooths fine lines in this often-neglected area.
Additional Facial Exercises
Try face yoga to boost circulation and relieve tension. To relax your upper body, drop your shoulders. Use the tops of your knuckles to smooth from the middle of your forehead to your temples while breathing deeply, repeating four or five times. Tap the temples gently with three fingers to release tension.
Neck stretch: straighten your head, relax your shoulders, reach your hand across to the opposite side of your head, place your fingers there, and gently stretch for three seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Pucker lips exercise: pucker to the left and turn your head with your lips to a 45-degree angle, hold three seconds, then repeat on the right. Do five reps.
Eye massage: circle under and around the eyes and over the brow, pausing at the temples, five times. Or place your index finger on your upper lip and middle finger below your lower lip, then sweep up to the temple five times per side.
Forehead relaxation: sweep your fingertips up to the temples five times per side, place fingertips around the eyes and glide to the hairline, then bring fingers down the face and neck.
For more technique demos, check out the In The Mix video with lead trainer Natalie Pergar.
Should I Use Massage Tools?
Tools like jade rollers and gua sha are fine to use, but hands give you better control and allow you to target tense spots more precisely. One exception is the eye area— a cool jade roller or the stainless-steel rollerball on Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream works well for puffiness. Pop it in the fridge first for added relief.
How Do I Add Massage To My Skin Care Routine?
To see real results, be consistent. Aim for facial massage two to three times a week to boost circulation, reduce tension, and gradually lift and tone the skin. You can do it morning or night—many prefer before bed so the skin benefits while you rest.