Step by Step Instructions for Facial Massage

Don't have the time or money required to get a regular facial massage at the spa? You're not alone! Snowdrift Farm has developed this multi-step home regimen that's just as good, if not better, than the expensive spa treatments.

First, you must prepare your facial massage oil. Here is our favorite fixed oil and essential oil blend for the face, neck and decolletege. Add, subtract or exchange ingredients, as you please.

4 ounces virgin coconut oil
1 ounce evening primrose oil
1 ounce rosehip seed oil
1/4 teaspoon carrot seed oil or sea buckthorn oil
2 - 3 drops rose oil or absolute
5 drops Vitamin E, Natural

Blend in a plastic HDPE squeeze bottle with a disc or snap cap for easy, no-touch dispensing.

Next, make sure your face is clean. You can also use a facial mask or cleansing grains with great success. Grains are especially good for increasing blood flow and sloughing off dead skin cells. Finish by using a mild cleanser.

Make sure you are in calm and quiet surroundings. Dim the lights and add soft, relaxing music, if you can. Apply massage medium to face and fingertips -- you will need good slip to give a great massage. Apply more as needed. Faces are sensitive places with a good deal of vascular activity -- which is why we blush so easily. Use soft strokes. If you massage too deeply, you may cause the skin to bruise or swell.

Use your index, middle and ring fingers to ensure light pressure. Get into a rhythym - slow and steady. This is called effleurage. Slow down your pace as your massage proceeds. Massage in an upward motion whenever possible. This helps delay the force of gravity.

1) Forehead - Starting at the forehead by the eyebrows and using your three massage fingers, gently move across the forehead with small circular motions. Repeat 5 times.

2) Nose - Beginning at the inner hollow of the eye, massage downward with your index finger, along the sides of your nose. Repeat 4 times.

3) Eyes - Exercise caution in this area. The skin around your eyes is extremely delicate and thinner than the rest of your face. Using your index finger above the eyebrow and middle finger below the eye, massage in a gentle sweeping motion from the inner eye area to the outer area, toward the temples. Repeat 3 times. To relieve any pressure or tension from sinuses or stress, gently place your ring finger in the hollow of your eye, next to your nose. Press in gently and release 5 times.

4) Mouth and Chin - using your index and middle fingers and starting at the chin, gently massage in a circular and upward motion around the mouth and lips. Bring the massage motion to the top of the mouth, under the nostrils. Repeat 5 times.

5) Chin - fatty deposits can add up here. Starting where the right jaw meets the ear, gently grasp the skin between your index and middle fingers and walk them the length of the jaw in a scissor-like motion. Massage back to the starting point using a circular motion. Repeat 5 times.

6) Cheeks to Temples - Starting at the chin and moving upward across the cheeks to the temples, massage in a light manner using the middle and index fingers only. When you reach the temples, massage in a circular motion three times. Repeat entire sequence 5 times. Make sure you massage temples at the place where the bone ends and a small hollow exists.

7) Neck and Decolletege - Begin at the back of the neck and massage upwards toward the head using small circular motions. Repeat 5 times. Coming around to the front of the neck and using the three massage fingers, massage the neck starting at the collarbone and work your way upwards toward the chin. Repeat 4 times.

8) Ears - Massage in a spiral motion - upward - using thumb and index fingers. Repeat 4 times. To finish, slide thumbs from back of ears to jaw line. This will release pressure along the jawline.