From Woman's World · Samantha Agate · · 1m
At-Home Facial Massage Skips Spa Bill
Facial massage at home cuts spa costs and eases stress via vagus nerve.
In brief
Facial massage at home cuts spa costs and eases stress via vagus nerve. At-home facial massage reduces stress and boosts vagus nerve activity without spa expenses. Originally reported by Woman's World.
Quick answers
- What is facial massage?
- Facial massage refers to rubbing and manipulation of the skin and muscles of the face.
- What is the key takeaway from At-Home Facial Massage Skips Spa Bill?
- At-home facial massage reduces stress and boosts vagus nerve activity without spa expenses.
What is facial massage?
Facial massage refers to rubbing and manipulation of the skin and muscles of the face.
“A facial massage "refers to rubbing and manipulation of the skin and muscles of the face," Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Prevention.”
Tools for home facial massage
Face rollers apply gentle pressure on the skin; vibrating massagers add deeper effects.
“Face rollers "come in varying sizes and material and apply gentle pressure on the skin," according to Ramya Garlapati, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist from Miami.”
Four facial massage techniques
Gua sha relieves muscle tension; lymphatic drainage reduces puffiness; buccal massage works inside and outside the mouth; acupressure uses finger points.
“Gua sha is "an East Asian massage technique that uses blunt objects to press and scrape all over the skin to relieve muscle tension and boost blood circulation," according to L’Oréal Paris.”
Vagus nerve benefits
Light massage promotes vagus nerve activity, reducing stress and improving circulation.
“Scientific research has finally caught up with old-world wisdom in realizing that we need to build resilience to stress, and that the signals to lower the effects of it are passed through a well-functioning vagus nerve.”
How often to do facial massage
Once or twice weekly improves skin blood flow and vascular response for most people.
“If you see benefits from facial massage, and I find this is most commonly seen in younger women up to late 40s, you can do it once or twice a week.”
Home facial massage steps
Start with clean skin, use light upward strokes, and repeat sections three to five times.
“Warm up with small circles behind the ears, then move down the sides of the neck toward the collarbones.”
Why facial massage works
Facial massage eases stress by boosting vagus nerve activity and improving circulation.
“Light to moderate massage can promote relaxation that supports vagus nerve activity.”
The takeaway
At-home facial massage reduces stress and boosts vagus nerve activity without spa expenses.
