English version | Ask an expert: how to do a face massage at home

Before realizing the importance of self-care, we had already discovered the power that is in our hands. Portuguese facialist Inês Rebelo talks to Vogue about the benefits of a facial massage and explain the steps for an effective self-massage in just 15 minutes.

What are the main benefits of a facial massage?

Facial massage is one of the best techniques to improve certain needs of our skin. Through a process called hyperemia, an increase in blood flow, massage increases the oxygen supply to skin cells, stimulating cellular metabolism. The skin is more hydrated, luminous and toned, with an increase in the natural production of collagen and elastin. At the same time, we manage to stimulate the lymphatic circulation, reducing edema, puffiness and dark circles.

Should the massage be done on dry skin? And what kind of products should we use?

We can do some dry movements, digital pressure, for example, but, in most movements, we should use a dry oil, suitable for each type or skin condition. It is an easier product to work with, without leaving the skin excessively oily! One should avoid facial massage on skin with active inflammatory drugs such as acne, rosacea, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, and, in general, when we have infections, fevers, sores, herpes, for example, cancer patients undergoing treatment or other types of pathologies to be assessed. 

For how long? 

A facial massage should never exceed 15 minutes. 

What's your opinion on utensils like gua sha, facial rollers and other massage tools?

My opinion is that all tools and techniques are valid, but do not do the same as our hands, do not work the skin and muscle how the hands can do it. It can have, for those who really like to use this type of tools, a more playful aspect. 

How can we do a facial self-massage at home?

We must first start the massage with some movements of digital pressure to relieve accumulated tensions. With your middle finger, gently pressalong the "line" that connects the corner of the mouth to the wing of the nose, repeating three times for each side. Do the same between the inner corner of the eye and the outer corner, underneath, following the orbicular line. Then, with your palms, perform smooth sliding movements, always from the center of the face outwards and from below upwards, working with the muscle. First neckline and neck, then neck, line from the mandible, cheekbones, passing finally to the supraciliary and frontal zone. We must “pull” the upper area of ​​the forehead, which connects to the scalp. In this phase we work the skin until it is “warm” and slightly pink. Lastly, to work in the areas of greatest flaccidity, we can resort to the movements of clamping, using the tips of the index and thumb fingers to give a slight “pinches” in the mandibular line, nasogenian grooves and cheekbones. For those who suffer from puffiness and dark circles, with the middle finger, we again make a movement sliding with light pressure simultaneously, from the inside out, in the upper and lower eyelids, repeating three times on each side.