Spa+Clinic Team Amid your high-tech device services, products and treatment protocols to treat skin, the hands-on touch takes the client experience to a sublime new dimension. Vanessa Megan* explains.
If you’ve ever had a facial you’ll know that the massage is one of the best parts. Who knew that eyebrows held such tension? That the jaw could feel so much more relaxed after a few minutes under the magic fingers of a therapist?
In physiological terms, the manipulation of skin and muscles has two major effects.
Firstly, it increases circulation of blood and lymph. Secondly, soft tissues (muscle, connective tissue, ligaments and tendons) are relaxed and returned to their normal resting state, which can release tightened or pinched nerves and promote healing in damaged areas.
Medical studies have suggested that not only do people feel short term pleasure (and sometimes a little pain), but massage can promote long term muscle relaxation which results in reduced pain, improved moods and far better sleep.
As the face is full of nerves and pressure points, it makes sense that a facial massage would not only feel good, it would help to relax the entire head and body and also be good for the skin. In fact it does even more than that.
Facial massage, according to a study by the User Science Institute improves mood and lowers anxiety levels.
Gentle massage reduces headaches associated with the tight muscles across the forehead and brow and especially those around a jaw that has been clenched in stress.
It can also help relieve allergy and sinus symptoms. Gentle massage around the nose and eyes can improve puffiness and drainage.
The lymphatic vessels are also stimulated during this massage and, as we have several lymph nodes around the chin, jawline and neck, a facial massage can get the lymph flowing freely and toxins can more quickly be eliminated.
Then there are the visible benefits. Stimulating the skin and muscles of the face brings blood flow to the area and with that oxygen, which is anti-ageing skincare from within. More blood also stimulates more collagen production.
One great example is the traditional Japanese Tanaka massage, which places special emphasis of lymphatic drainage and so is very effective at reducing puffiness.
Make sure you maximise the skincare benefits of clients’ massage.
In our treatment room (and of course for home use/self-massage) we recommend Vanessa Megan Nature’s Elixir Face Oil (N.E.O), an intensely nourishing, skin strengthening certified organic facial oil that is known to help assist in replenishing, restoring and promoting skin cell growth.
This in turn may help to assist in reducing pigmentation and blemishes.
N.E.O’s certified organic base oils are high in vitamins A, E, P, and K – a multivitamin shot for skin!
The blend of certified organic essential oils in N.E.O are known to assist in evening out skin tone, lifting sagging skin and minimising pore size.
- Vanessa Megan Gray is the founder and director of Vanessa Megan Certified Organic Skincare company. Vanessa Megan products were born from Vanessa’s best friend’s phrase: “You should never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat”.
