Facial Massage

Facial Massage

FACIAL MASSAGE – WHAT IS IT?

The face, just like the feet hands and ears, is full of nerves and energy pressure points, so a Facial Massage is a beneficial, natural non-invasive form of non- surgical face lift massage therapy that gives a relaxing feeling, relieves tension, relax facial muscles, promotes good circulation of the blood to the face, which helps to rejuvenate and nourish the skin and gives the face rich glow and tone. This is why some people regard facial massage as an anti-aging weapon, because it helps reduce wrinkles and tightens facial muscles, reduces unsightly facial features associated to premature aging, normalizes the moisture balance of the skin, helps in reducing impurities and toxins, and increases the skin’s radiance.

WHY FACIAL MASSAGE IS IMPORTANT

It is normal that when we sleep, or even when we are restless and sleepless, the circulatory system functioning slows down, and as a result, the facial cells do not receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients, the face might then become puffy, swollen, dehydrated, pale, dull and sluggish looking. Demanding work schedules and stressful daily life activities and responsibilities also often cause tension build up in the face muscles, and lines form between the brows causing frown lines, sagging of the skin, and possibly wrinkles.
All this is due to the poor circulation of the blood, and poor supply of oxygen and nutrients to the face, and a facial massage is considered to be one of the oldest and more effectual way of improving blood circulation, getting rid of toxins, removing dead skin cells from the facial areas, reducing the puffiness, leaving the skin fresh and rejuvenated, resulting in a healthy glowing looking skin.
This is why a REGULAR facial Massage is important.

CONTRA INDICATIONS

At Bliss Fountain Holistic Therapies, the first appointment starts with a free consultation as the first step to any professional facial massage or any therapy. During this time, clients and therapist must discuss any health concerns they may have and should point out any infections or contraindicated conditions, and this protects both the client and the therapist. All the information is held in the strictest confidence. We also emphasise that the Facial massage therapy is not intended to replace any medical treatments, and it’s not a solution to any prevailing medical conditions.
If receiving medical treatment or experiencing some of the below listed contra indications or conditions (not an exhaustive list), and also if clients are in any doubt, prior to making a booking for the facial massage therapy clients are urged to get clarification and permission form their GP or doctor or medical specialist as a precaution

Some of the facial massage therapy contra indications include:

For health and safety reasons, contact lens should be removed prior to starting the massage.
Any condition that is already being treated by a GP or another complementary practitioner, and when taking prescribed medication, and acute skin infections such as herpes zoster virus which can transmit from one person to another & if spread from one location to the eye area, it might result in viral conjunctivitis.

Other contraindication conditions are:

  • Boils
  • Sores
  • Open Cuts
  • Skin Inflammation
  • Severe Acne
  • Psoriasis or eczema and this is because some skin conditions such as psoriasis or acne may be further irritated by a facial massage
  • Herpes
  • Cold sores around the lips
  • Ringworm and Shingles (herpes zoster) especially contagious if a person has not yet had chickenpox.

Excessive sun exposure can result in sunburn, which is actually a toxic reaction to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and might cause swelling, redness, irritation and pain, and massaging damaged skin might further hurt skin and may cause the skin to tear or bruise.

Eczema is a skin condition which is characterised by irritated, swollen and itchy skin, and this can cause skin to crack and weep, and overheating can worsen the condition, whilst scratching an outbreak may open damaged skin, making it more susceptible to infection. Facial massage might increase local skin temperature and might also further irritate an eczema outbreak. While massage can reduce stress, which helps those with eczema and generally lessens the incidence of flares, extra care should be taken to avoid active outbreaks on the face, thus, eczema is indeed a contraindication.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FACIAL MASSAGE

The Facial Massage different movements stretches and loosens muscles, stimulates blood flow, helps and increases metabolic waste removal, releases endorphins – which are the body’s natural painkillers, and the facial massage increases oxygen levels in the blood. While all of these are therapeutic and beneficial to the body, as well as the mind, Bliss Fountain Holistic Therapies recommends that facial massage should last not more than 20 minutes at a stretch in order to decrease the possibility of stretching the skin or lengthening facial muscles. Sensitive skin is always treated with extra care, and products for sensitive skin are used in order to prevent possible allergic reaction.
We always start by washing and sanitising our hands before applying the appropriate face cleanser, and an exfoliant or masque may also be used prior to the massage because an exfoliant is good for increasing the blood flow and sloughing off any dead skin cells, and this leaves the face clean and ready for a nourishing, blissful and moisturizing massage.

Because the face is very sensitive and highly vascular, especially the neck area, so if the pressure is too deep, then the facial skin might bruise or swell. Using the index, middle and ring fingers for the lightest pressure, we apply very gentle, gliding movements, or effleurage, with soft upward and outward motion strokes which gives the facial muscles a lift and counteracts gravity.

The blissful facial massage is done on the entire face – the forehead, nose, eyes, mouth, chin, cheeks, temples, neck, décolletage, ears, and we take extra caution around the eyes because the eye area skin in is extremely delicate and unusually thinner than other areas of the face. After completion of the massage, we remove the excess massage lotion or oil to leave the face well cleansed, nourished, blissfully pampered and relaxed.

BENEFITS OF FACIAL MASSAGE

There are so many benefits of regular facial massage as we mentioned above on the reasons why regular facial massages are important, & on what a facial massage is.

  • Facial massage improves blood circulation on the skin, (this helps in ridding the skin of impurities and toxins), blood distribution, and also helps in the production of skin nutrients and collagen which helps to improve skin elasticity.
  • It gives relief from stress, anxiety, sinus congestion, migraine headache, muscle tension, it helps in tautening facial muscles which has the effect of reducing fine lines and wrinkles, reducing puffiness whilst also increasing skin glow.

RECOMMENDATIONS & ADVICE

At Bliss Fountain Holistic Therapies, after a facial massage or any massages, we strongly recommend drinking water to help the body flush out toxins. Water is important because it makes up about 60 percent of the body, and it is used for a variety of important functions in the body. Water is life, and it helps the kidneys flush out waste products, and water also help in the crucial oxygen transport to the cells of the body – and this is crucial, so drink water please!
Other very important functions of water in our one and only body include:

  • Moistening tissues and protecting internal organs
  • Dissolving nutrients to be absorbed by the body
  • Lubricating joints and regulating body temperature

PLEASE DRINK WATER!!!