Guide to Facial Massage: Benefits & Step-By-Step Techniques
What first comes to mind when you think about getting a quick, healthy glow while treating scars and preventing wrinkles? Is it expensive serums? A complex, 10-step Korean skincare routine?
Those are certainly great options, but there’s an even better one that’s simple and free to DIY: facial massages! We’ll guide you through what a facial massage is, its benefits, and how to do it at home, so you can have radiant skin in minutes.
What is a Facial Massage?
Facial massage has gained popularity in the United States and Europe in recent years thanks to endorsements from gorgeous celebrities like Meghan Markle and Cate Blanchett. However, it’s been a staple of Asian beauty routines for hundreds of years.
Facial massage is the practice of gently rubbing and kneading the face using specific motions to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. It’s similar to a traditional body massage, but it’s done with light pressure due to the sensitive nature of the face.
It’s a deeply relaxing procedure with benefits ranging from glowing skin and more defined contours to lymphatic drainage and headache management. You can perform a facial massage on yourself or have a professional do it for a more thorough and relaxing treatment.
When Should You Do Facial Massage?
You’ll see the best results from facial massages if you do them at least twice a week, though you can do them daily if you prefer. The best time to do a facial massage is when you’re applying a product to your face, such as your a.m. moisturizer or a night serum. Using a product first ensures your fingers or massage tool will glide over your skin smoothly.
Whether you choose to do your facial massage in the morning or evening, each option has its own benefits.
- A morning facial massage can reduce any puffiness you may develop overnight. It will stimulate your circulation so you start your day with luminous skin. A morning facial massage is also a great way to set a calm, positive tone for the day.
- An evening facial massage is excellent for relieving any tension you may be holding in your facial muscles, which will help prevent future fine lines and wrinkles. Introduce facial massage as part of your bedtime routine, and you may even find that you fall asleep more easily.
Facial Massage Benefits
There are many reasons your skin will thank you for introducing facial massage into your skincare routine. Some benefits you will see right away, such as a youthful, glowing complexion and decreased puffiness. Others, such as scar management and tighter skin, will be revealed over time with a consistent facial massage routine.
Benefits of a facial massage include:
- Glowing, rejuvenated skin thanks to improved circulation
- Lymphatic drainage that can reduce puffiness
- Reduced appearance of raised scars as the tissues loosen up
- Tighter skin and facial muscles
- A more sculpted appearance around the jawline and cheekbones
- Reduced sinus symptoms such as congestion and headache
- More relaxed facial muscles that can prevent future wrinkles
Disadvantages of Facial Massage
While most people experience few side effects when properly performing facial massages, there are a couple of potential downsides that it’s important to note. People with very sensitive skin may experience some redness and irritation with certain facial massage tools, and active breakouts may be too tender for many facial massage methods.
Geneo facials are a great option for sensitive skin, as our hands-free massage method is gentle enough even for active breakouts.
How to Do a Facial Massage Step-by-Step
Now that you know the many benefits of facial massage, it’s time to learn how to do it! This section will provide step-by-step directions on how to perform an effective facial massage to improve your skin’s health and appearance.
Before we dive into the facial massage steps, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Always wash your face and hands before beginning.
- Start your facial massage by applying a product such as a moisturizer, facial oil, or serum. Your fingers must be able to glide over your skin without any pulling.
- You can perform these steps using your hands or a facial massage tool such as a gua sha stone, jade roller, or vibrating massager.
- Repeat each step about five times before moving to the next.
Follow the facial massage steps below to revitalize your skin and ease facial tension.
- Forehead: Place the knuckles of your index fingers on your forehead between your eyebrows. Stroke up toward your hairline and then out toward your temples.
- Eyes: Place your knuckles on either side of the bridge of your nose level with your eyes. In an upward, arcing motion, stroke your fingers under your brow bone. When you reach the outer corners of your eyes, continue the movement under your eyes. (Imagine you’re drawing an oval shape around your eyes).
- Cheeks: With your knuckles on your cheekbones near your nose, stoke up and out. Move your hands down a little and repeat the motion on the underside of your cheekbones.
- Mouth: Make peace signs with both hands. Place them on either side of your mouth, with your index fingers above your upper lip and your middle fingers below your bottom lip. Slide your fingers outward toward your ears.
- Chin: Place your knuckles on the center of your chin at the jawline. Stroke them upward toward your ears.
- Neck: With your knuckles on either side of your jaw, perform a sweeping motion that starts under your ears and goes down along your neck. Reverse the move and repeat.
Treat Yourself to a Spa Facial Massage with Geneo
Whether you enjoy facial massage at home or as a spa experience, you’ll see the immediate benefits of a healthy glow and smoother looking skin, as well as a wide range of accumulative benefits such as more defined facial contours and fewer wrinkles.
During a Geneo facial treatment, a relaxing hands-free massage sculpts the face, delivering instant reduction of redness and puffiness while infusing Geneo’s active ingredients even deeper into the skin.
Ready to treat yourself to a luxurious spa facial massage? Find a Geneo provider near you today!
And if you’re a spa owner or professional and want to offer Geneo facial treatments to your clients, click here to learn more about becoming a Geneo provider today.
6 Full Body Spa Treatment Facials to Try in 2022
Facials are what most people think about when it comes to skincare, but there are plenty of full body spa treatment options that can help you relax while treating site-specific skin issues. We’ll introduce you to six facial-style spa treatments for your whole body so you can have radiant skin from head to toe!
6 Full Body Spa Treatment Options to Try
Let’s look at four full body spa treatments that can help combat everything from “bacne” to ingrown hairs. We’ll explain what each treatment involves, why your skin will love it, and which Geneo facial treatment we recommend for each area.
1. Back Facial
In 2020, back treatments rose in popularity in response to social distancing. It provided a way for people to get a much-needed relaxing spa treatment without the risk of prolonged face-to-face interactions. The popularity of back facials continues because they give some TLC to an area that’s often ignored during home beauty treatments.
What Is a Back Facial?
A back facial begins with a gentle steaming to open your pores and ease you into a state of relaxation. Next, your esthetician will cleanse and exfoliate the skin on your back to remove dirt, dead skin cells, and other skin-clogging impurities. If you have back acne, your treatment will include extractions to help relieve your breakouts. As the final step, your practitioner will apply moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and refreshed.
Benefits of a Back Facial
There are many benefits to getting a back facial:
- Deeply cleanses and moisturizes a hard-to-reach (and often neglected) area
- Relieves current “bacne” and prevents future breakouts
- Helps you de-stress and enjoy a moment of self-care
- Lets you look your best in a swimsuit or backless outfit
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Back?
The back has a lot of oil glands, making it prone to “bacne” and hormonal skin issues. Clear up your back with this detoxifying treatment that uses bamboo charcoal to detoxify and remove skin-dulling impurities. It also improves texture and appearance without the downtime that comes with dermabrasion and other harsh exfoliation treatments, and it includes an all-natural balancing serum to provide deep hydration for long-lasting results.
2. Butt Facial
Dancers and other performers were some of the first people to line up for butt facials. It’s understandable — if thousands of people are going to see your butt in a revealing costume, you want it to look good! The trend eventually gained popularity with non-performers thanks to “belfies,” or butt selfies, on Instagram. A butt facial ensures the skin on your bum looks so good, people will think you’ve photoshopped it.
What Is a Butt Facial?
Like the back, the butt is often neglected when it comes to home skincare routines. That means it’s rarely exfoliated, and many people develop folliculitis, an inflammation of the hair follicle that can create pimple-like bumps on your bum. A butt facial treats this and other skin issues by steaming, cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, extracting, and masking.
Benefits of a Butt Facial
A butt facial comes with many benefits:
- Gives a healthy glow to your backside that will help you rock your swimsuit with confidence
- Reduces the appearance of butt pimples or inflamed skin follicles
- Helps even out hyperpigmentation
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Butt?
This treatment uses powerful active ingredients like red algae and retinyl palmitate to deeply hydrate and improve the texture of your skin. It also increases skin firmness and elasticity, making it an all-around great treatment for your backside.
3. Bikini Facial
Bikini facials have been around for several years and continue to be popular, especially during swimsuit season. The bikini area is often troubled by ingrown hairs from shaving or waxing, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, or even blackheads. These issues can cause people to become self-conscious when it’s time to hit the beach or go on a date. Everyone wants their skin to look its best, no matter where it is.
What Is a Bikini Facial?
A bikini facial uses steam, cleansers, peels, and moisturizers, just like a regular facial. It can also include extractions if you have ingrown hairs, though you might ask to skip this step if you have a low pain tolerance. (It’s a sensitive area, after all!) The products used during a bikini facial usually aim to exfoliate and brighten the skin using gentle enzymes and cleansers.
Benefits of a Bikini Facial
Enjoy these benefits of a bikini facial:
- Removes ingrown hairs and can help prevent future issues
- Evens out skin tone
- Unclogs pores that can lead to bumps
- Removes dead skin cells and impurities so your skin glows
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Bikini Area?
Full of skin brightening ingredients, this treatment reduces hyperpigmentation and evens out skin texture for a smoother look. It gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, and it includes anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe redness and irritation from shaving or waxing.
4. Décolleté Facial (or Chest Facial)
The décolleté or chest area is often overlooked in skincare routines and treatments, but it’s one of the first areas of your body to start showing signs of aging. Décolleté facials or chest facials have increased in popularity in recent years as people have begun including this delicate area in their regular facial skin care routines.
What is a Décolleté Facial?
A décolleté facial or chest facial covers the neck and upper chest area, and is very similar to a regular facial. It often includes gentle massage in addition to steam, cleansers, and moisturizers, in order to help prevent wrinkles and promote lymphatic drainage.
Benefits of a Décolleté Facial
There are many benefits to a décolleté facial:
- Deeply cleanses and moisturizes an often-neglected area
- Helps prevent and reduce signs of aging in an area with very delicate skin
- Nourishes skin and promotes skin cell turnover for skin that glows
- Promotes lymphatic drainage
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Decollete?
Your chest and décolleté get a lot of sun exposure nearly all year. This detoxifying facial treatment fights free radicals, rids your skin of toxins and reduces the appearance of UV damage with active ingredients like green tea extract and marula oil.
5. Arm Facial and Leg Facial
Arms and legs are often neglected when it comes to spa treatments, but your limbs deserve some extra TLC, too. The skin on your legs and arms has fewer oil glands than the skin on other parts of your body, so this area is often prone to dryness. A facial treatment provides deep cleansing and moisturization for your limbs, and helps you look your best in any outfit.
What are Arm Facials and Leg Facials?
An arm facial or leg facial works just like any other facial treatment, and includes steam, cleansers, moisturizers, and extractions. If you experience strawberry skin, ingrown hairs, or clogged pores from shaving or chafing, an arm facial and leg facial can help treat those unsightly irritations.
Benefits of an Arm and Leg Facial
Getting a facial treatment for your arms and legs comes with many benefits:
- Moisturizes and nourishes skin that is often prone to dryness
- Removes ingrown hairs and treats “strawberry skin” caused by shaving and clogged pores
- Evens out skin tone
- Removes dead skin cells and impurities so your skin glows
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Arms and Legs?
Your arms and legs have fewer oil glands, so they often suffer from dryness. Our Hydrate Facial improves moisture retention and revitalizes dry, dull skin. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients promote cellular renewal to keep your skin looking and feeling refreshed.
6. Full Body Facial + Full Body Exfoliation Spa Treatment
Sometimes you just need a fresh start. You can get a full body spa treatment that provides deep exfoliation to every inch of skin, removing dead skin cells and giving you a glowing complexion from head to toe.
What Is a Full Body Facial?
A full body facial treatment works just like a facial treatment for any other body part, but includes everything from your back, neck and decollete, arms, legs, butt, bikini, and anywhere else you would like a facial treatment.
You can also choose to have just certain areas treated, including a decollete facial, arm facial, or leg facial; or opt for a head-to-toe facial treatment.
Benefits of a Full Body Facial
There are many benefits to getting a full body facial:
- Deeply cleanses and moisturizes your skin from head to toe
- Relieves current blemishes and helps prevent future breakouts
- Oxygenates all your skin from the inside out
- Lets you look your best in any outfit or swimsuit
What Is a Full Body Facial Exfoliation Treatment?
At your full body facial exfoliation treatment, you’ll start by getting undressed. Your esthetician will apply the exfoliant in stages, and you’ll have a towel so you can cover up areas that aren’t being treated. Using either a mildly abrasive scrub or an exfoliating serum, the esthetician will rub the product into your skin to remove the barrier of dead skin cells. You’ll then rinse off and a moisturizer will be applied to hydrate your skin.
Which Geneo Treatment Works Best for Your Whole Body?
While any Geneo facial treatment will work well on your entire body, getting a full body facial treatment is a great opportunity to boost your skin’s hydration. The Geneo Hydrate Facial enhances moisture retention, strengthens the skin barrier, and improves skin metabolism–all of which are great for every part of your body.
Benefits of a Full Body Facial Exfoliation Treatment
Full body exfoliation comes with many benefits:
- Provides deep relaxation as your specialist gently massages the product into your skin
- Increases blood flow and gives you glowing skin from top to bottom
- Offers much-needed exfoliation to areas that are hard to reach on your own
- Creates a smooth foundation for a spray tan which helps it last longer
Can Geneo Treatments Provide Full Body Facial Exfoliation?
Yes! All Geneo Body Treatments include three stages: Exfoliation, Oxygenation, and Nourishment.
Here is what to expect in each stage of a Geneo facial treatment:
- Exfoliation:
- Natural ingredients in the Geneo OxyPod react with the Geneo Primer Gel for gentle, non-invasive exfoliation and trigger the oxygenation process within the skin.
- Oxygenation:
- Geneo’s oxygenation process triggers the body’s natural, physiological process of producing oxygen to increase oxygen levels internally within skin.
- Oxygen is carried to the surface of the skin where the heightened levels of oxygen prep the skin to absorb nutrients throughout the rest of the facial treatment.
- Nourishment:
- A blend of active ingredients is infused into your newly oxygenated and exfoliated skin during our ultrasound and neo-massage processes, allowing for maximum skin nourishment and hydration.
Ready to Look and Feel Your Best All-Over?
Though facial skin tends to get the most attention, all the skin on your body works the same way and needs regular care to keep it healthy. Whether you’re concerned about your back or your bikini line, full body spa treatments are available to help you cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and treat any area.
Geneo facial treatments provide gentle, targeted treatment using 100% natural ingredients, and each treatment can be customized to your skin’s unique needs with the power of our Geneo OxyPods.
Ready for a head-to-toe glow? Click here to find a Geneo provider near you.