The Facial Massage

Use your ring and middle fingers to ensure soft, even pressure. Remember to work with light, gentle strokes. Massage slowly and rhythmically, matching your movements to your breathing. Slow down the pace as your massage progresses.


Step 1: Forehead - Tones muscles to prevent the formation of horizontal lines.

Starting at the center of forehead, gradually move fingers across the brow in 6 complete circular motions. Repeat 3 times. Finish by gently pressing the pressure points at the temples for 3 counts. To locate your pressure points, feel for slight depressions between the bones at the temples. Pressure applied should feel pleasant and invigorating, never painful.

Step 2: Nose - Prevents the formation of horizontal lines.

Slide fingers downward along the sides of your nose, starting from the inner hollow of the eye. Use left hand to massage the right side of the nose, and the right hand for the left side. Repeat 3 times on each side of nose.

Step 3: Nostrils - Helps unclog pores and prevent blackheads and blemishes.

Circle back and forth around nostrils, applying extra pressure during the upward stroke. Repeat 6 times.

Step 4: Mouth - Minimizes lines around mouth and sagging at lip corners.


Massage along the lower lip, moving outward and upward to lift the corners of the mouth. Release gently. Repeat 3 times.

Step 5: Cheeks - Helps prevent sagging.


Massage outward from the chin to the earlobe, in 6 circular motions, focusing on the jawline. Glide fingers to corners of the mouth and massage up to the middle of the ear. Glide again to the nostrils and massage to the temples. Glide back to chin and repeat all steps 3 times. Finish by pressing the pressure points at your temples.


Step 6: Eyes - Prevents the formation of wrinkles and sagging under eyes.

Makes eyes look less tired by minimizing dark circles and puffiness. First, press the pressure points just under the brow bone below the inner eyebrows and count to 3. Then glide fingers under brow, around and under the eyes, and back to the starting point in 6 counts. Repeat entire procedure 3 times, moving gently over the eyelid to press at temples on the final count.

Step 7: Neck - Prevents the formation of horizontal lines and sagging.


Helps ease tension and stiffness at the nape. Using the palms of your hands, massage your neck by gently stroking upward from the collar bone to the base of the chin. Alternate hands as you move from the center to either side with 6 strokes out, then 6 strokes back. Glide lightly at the center of the neck and increase pressure as you move outward.

Step 8: Chin - Tones muscles to prevent sagging.


Grasp your chin between your index and middle finger at the jaw, and gently slide your fingers across the length of your jaw, creating a scissor-like motion. Bend index finger and place it under the jaw. Use the side of the index finger and pad of the thumb, massage back to right ear. Repeat with left hand. Repeat entire procedure 6 times.

Step 9: Ears - Regulates the body's overall balance through stimulation of pressure points that send reflexes to other parts of the body.

Massage upward in spiral motions, using the thumb and index fingers, counting to 5. On the 6th count, slide your thumb down the jaw as close to the ear as possible, and back to the earlobe to stimulate the numerous pressure points in this area. Repeat 3 times.

Skin Type

There are three basic skin types, but you may find yours isn't exactly like any of those described here. Most skin is a mixture of these types and yours will be no exception. The basic skin types are dry, oily, and combination. Dark skins have a tendency towards greater extremes of dryness and oiliness than paler skins.

Oily skin
You can tell if your skin is oily because it usually has a shine to it. It may be prone to black heads and acne. Oily skin contains a lot of sebum which helps prevent the skin from drying out. However, oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin. It benefits from soap and water, so washing with a cleansing bar is an ideal way of caring for it. Use warm water to loosen the dirt, then use cold water to rinse. Use toners and astringents containing alcohol and always use a light, non-greasy liquid cleanser. Very oily skin needs no extra moisturizing at all while you are in your teens.

Dry skin
Dry skin looks dry, sometimes flakes, and often feels tight, especially if you have washed it with soap and water. Sometimes it is lacking some of the protective sebum and so it reacts to very hot and very cold weather by tightening up. One benefit of dry skin is that it is less likely to develop acne than oily skin, but it is easily chapped in a dry atmosphere. Always use mild, alcohol-free make up and toner, and a rich, creamy cleanser. Moisturize your face every day, including the throat and the skin around your eyes. When you wear makeup, use a moisturized foundation. You will need little or no powder. When you wash your face, use a liquid or a cleansing bar. Use warm water to lather and rinse it with cold.

Combination skin
Most of us have this kind of skin, with an oily center area or a T-zone across the forehead, nose, and chin, and areas of dryness on the cheeks, and around the eyes and neck. Ideally, you should have one product for the oily areas and one for the dry areas, but this is expensive and unnecessary unless the areas of dry and oily are very different. It's simpler to use a cleanser designed for combination skin. Use a skin cleanser for the central oily panel, diluted with water for the drier areas. The drier areas may or may not need moisturizing frequently. You may have to experiment a bit.

Good Looking Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the body and yet most of us don't do enough to maintain our skin’s health. Americans spend millions on body products every month, but are they buying the right ones? How much do you really know about what your skin needs, what type of skin you have, what kind of soaps and lotions are the best for your skin? What about those products that promise younger-looking, wrinkle-free skin, do they work?

One of your skin’s functions is to eliminate a portion of the body's waste products through sweating. If toxins escape through the skin they disrupt the skin's health integrity. This is one of the key factors behind many skin disorders including acne. The skin also "breathes". If the pores become clogged, the microbes that are involved in causing acne flourish.

Great looking skin is a wonderful thing to have because it's right there on your face, it's kind of hard to hide. The skin also protects our bodies from the outside world. Most of us don't think our skin is so great looking. Even if you were born with a perfect complexion, or one that is not so good, you should make an effort to take care of it correctly. When you are going through adolescence, your body is trying to adjust to changes in the hormone balance, and this affects your skin big time.

Acne Skin Care - Basic Skin Care Tips to Alleviate Acne Breakouts

If you suffer from acne, there are several skin care steps you can do to alleviate the outbreaks and help prevent future outbreaks. This article will give you information that will help you whether you are teenager or an adult suffering from acne.

One of the main daily routines to help with acne breakouts is washing your face or outbreak areas twice a day. It is vitally important to keep your skin clean. The way and the products you use to wash your face is also important.

Wash your face GENTLY at least twice a day and after any strenuous exercise that has caused perspiration. Do not SCRUB your face or skin. This actually can cause more harm than good and can even inflame your pimples.

Use a very mild soap like Neutrogena. Do not use anything that makes your skin feel overly dry. It is not necessary to use an astringent, yet if you do, only use it where your skin is very oily. If you visit a dermatologist, he/she should be able to recommend the best soap for your particular acne symptoms.

Do not excessively handle your skin. Your hands have bacteria on them and can cause the acne to get even worse. In other words, DO NOT pick at your pimples. I know that it is very hard not to do, yet it is very good advice. Only a doctor, with special instruments can effectively “pick” at pimples in a way that will not cause more inflammation and excessive scarring.

Use a special sunscreen that is at least spf15 and is non-comedogenic, non-oily, which means it does not clog pores. A good sunscreen for acne sufferers is Neutrogena SPF 45 Sunblock with Parsol 1789. You should always try to avoid tanning and sunburn because both could cause acne pimples and acne scars to become even more noticeable.

If you choose to use base makeup, it is recommended you choose a makeup that is oil free (and again) non-comedogenic. There are acne cover-ups that are available that also have acne medication. One product that is my favorite is Clinique's acne cover-up. It can cover up even the worst outbreaks.

Taking these few extra steps with acne skin care can make a world of difference in your flare-ups.

Facial Massage

Massage helps the skin to absorb oils and creams easily. It relaxes you. It relieves tension. It restores energy to your body by stimulating the blood flow.




Pour a small amount of the blended oil into the palm of your hand and gently apply all over the face. Avoid your eyes.

With the backs of your hands, gently tap the skin around the jaw-line and underneath the chin to stimulate the skin cells.

Apply small circular movements to the chin area, using your thumbs. This will tone, help circulation and eliminate toxins.

Make an "oooh"-shaped mouth. Massage either side easing out fine lines.

With your fingertips, press along the top of the cheekbones and massage outward up to the temples to release toxins.

With the middle fingers, apply pressure to points above the bridge of the nose and underneath the eyebrows. Hold for 5 seconds and smooth across from the inner to the outer corners of the eyebrows and continue up to the temples.

To relieve tension, apply firm pressure at either side of the temples, and rotate backward.

Stroke up the forehead to the hairline with the palms of the hands, smoothing out fine lines.

Eye Treatment

 

The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face. This skin requires extra care to ward off signs of ageing.

Skincare recommendations
Use an eye cream or gel both at night and in the morning. Apply it only along the orbital bone. (It is the bone directly under the eye). Gently pat it on, being careful not to drag the skin.

While relaxing with a face mask on, close the eyes and cover with cotton pads soaked in rose water, or soothe with 2 slices of fresh cucumber.

Treat your eyes while you have a face mask on. Soak two cotton-wool pads in cold camomile tea and place them over your eyes.

 

Treat sore eyes caused by exposure to the sun, wind or chlorine with a soothing eye bath. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of rose water with 150ml distilled water. Use this solution to give a bath to your eyes.

Puffiness around your eyes is caused by a build-up of toxins or excess fluids. Press gently along the eyebrow and around the eye socket with your middle finger. This will help reduce any swelling by stimulating the lymphatic system. For a cooling and soothing effect, store an eye cream or gel in the fridge and gently pat it onto the delicate skin around your eyes.

Decleor Expression de L'Age
Relaxing Smoothing Eye Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expression de L'Age Relaxing Eye Cream is designed for the first signs of aging. It preserves the youthfulness of the eye contours by treating wrinkles, fine lines and expression lines, visible dark circles, dehydration lines and irritation.

 

Erno Laszlo TranspHuse Eye Refiner

 

 

 

An age fighting, moisturizing eye cream which provides a healthy glowing look and helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This luxurious cream also protects against and reverses the effects of environmental stress. Rich in cranberry seed oil, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and vitamin E, eyes will appear younger and firmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sothys Dark Circle Eraser

 

 

Sothys Dark Circle Eraser (All Skin Types) a powdery emulsion in a universal shade enriched with active ingredients to immediately hide dark circles. After fifteen days use the appearance of dark circles is greatly reduced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thalgo Silicium Eye Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thalgo Silicium Eye Cream, rich in hyaluronic acid and marine silicium, lifts the eye area, effectively fills fine lines and wrinkles and corrects signs of fatigue (puffiness and dark circles) resulting in refreshed and younger-looking eyes. The fresh, melt-on-the-skin texture of Thalgo Silicium Eye Cream leaves a soft and velvety feel to the skin with no oily film. Infused with delicate aromatic rose tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masks

A face mask, also known as a facial mask, is what an esthetician applies to your face after cleansing, skin analysis, exfoliation, extractions and massage during a professional facial.

Face masks are generally left on your skin for for 10 to 15 minutes. Face masks contain ingredients like clay, aloe vera, algae, seaweed, essential oils, carrier oils, herbs and vitamins and are and are intended to treat your particular skin type or condition.

For instance, if you're dry or dehydrated, the face mask should help add oil and moisture to your skin. If you're red or have inflamed areas, the face mask should calm and soothe. If you're oily and congested, it can help draw out impurities from the skin.

One sign of a good facial is that the esthetician stays in the room with you during the mask, giving you a scalp massage or some other service that enhances your experience. If she says, "Relax for a minutes and I'll be back", it breaks the connection between therapist and guest. I'm not paying good money to lay there by myself. You can do better.

After the mask has done its work, the esthetician removes it either with a cool towel, cotton pads (or it may even peel off). After making sure it is fully removed, she then completes the facial with application of toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, lip balm and if it's day-time, sunscreen.

A face mask is intended to treat whatever condition is going on with your skin -- dryness, dehydration, acne, or aging skin -- so it's important to choose the right one. If you're working with a regular esthetician and a particular skin care line, she can recommend a facial mask for you to use for a once a week home facial.

What Are The Benefits of Face Masks?

Face masks have a number of benefits for the skin. Depending on what they are made of, they can do the following:

l   draw impurities out of the pores

l   clear up blemishes

l   tighten and tone the skin

l   hydrate the skin

l   nourish the skin

l   calm and soothe the skin

l   rejuvenate the skin

What Types of Face Masks Are There?

l   Clay masks draw impurities to the surface of the skin. They contain clay, kaolin or bentonite for their tightening and sebum-absorbing effects.

l   Cream masks or gel masks are formulated to hydrate and nourish the skin.

l   Setting masks are made by mixing a powder with water, whipping it up, and quickly applying it to your skin. They then harden into a rubbery state and esthetician peels them off at the end. These are cool and refreshing masks, but not found that often because they're tricky to work with. They're not a good choice if you have claustrophobia.

Decleor Harmonie Calm Comforting
Milky Gel-Cream Mask

This high-tolerance mask with a fresh, creamy texture, enwrapped in moisture, is inspired by Decleor's professional expertise and is applied using a sensory brush technique. "Lacto Calm" complex, a synergy of precious flower milks, combines with moisturizing and comforting plant active ingredients to gently soothe and hydrate.

Erno Laszlo Anti Blemish
Beta Purifying Mask

This detoxifying acne mask helps to heal breakouts and prevent future acne lesions. Kaolin Clay and Willow Bark Extract reduce surface oil and shine while Salicylic Acid gently exfoliates the skin.

Sothys Immuniscience Mask

Sothys Immuniscience Mask is ideal for sensitive skin types. This fresh-fragrance mask leaves skin soft and supple. It This fresh creamy mask contains decongesting agents, witch-hazel, licorice and amica, and Photonyl with anti-radical and soothing properties.

Thalgo Hyaluronic Mask

This high precision filling mask acts at the center of the wrinkles to effectively fill and erase the signs of passing time.