Although wrinkles are unavoidable part of aging, aromatherapy facial massage can give amazing results to reduce fine lines and achieve younger look and healthier skin. By taking routine 10-minute-a day facial massage your skin looks smoother and firmer and it can prevent early aging process as well.

There are other potential benefits facial massage may offer you :

o Relaxing facial and eye muscle
o Alleviating tension and pain
o Ease away stress and anxiety
o Tone and refresh tired facial skin

As facial skin is delicate, work gentle massage using one of the following essential oils that fit to your skin type :

Oily skin :

Essential oils :
2 drops bergamot
1 drop lemon
1 drop geranium
Carrier oil : 10 ml soya oil

Sensitive skin :

Essential oils :
2 drops chamomile
1 drop lavender
Carrier oil : 10 ml sweet almond

Dry skin :

Essential oils :
2 drops neroli
1 drop frankincense
1 drop rose
Carrier oil : 10 ml sweet almond

To achieve best results from aromatherapy facial massage, follow these steps :

Before the massage : wash hands with soap and clean water, remove contact lenses and jewelry and cleanse your face thoroughly.

1. Applying the oil :

Apply one of the massage oil blend and begin massaging your face, then slide your hands out toward your ears to draw tension away. Repeat the movements several times.

2. Firming the neck and chin :

Open your mouth, pull your lips tightly over your lips, then make slow circular movements with the tips of your fingers around your mouth and chin and down to the edges of the jaw. Then work up on both sides of your nose towards the forehead to the temples.

Make large circles on the sides of the neck and around the back of the neck

Tilt your head to the right, use the back of your hand then following by the back of the hand stroke up the left side of the neck. Repeat on the right side. This movements may help in releasing signs of aging.

3. Relaxing and beautifying the eyes

Use your two middle fingers to circle your eyes, stroking firmly out over the eyebrows and gliding very gently back under the eyes. Repeat five times.

Squeeze your eyebrows with your thumbs and first two fingers starting at the bridge of the nose. Hold, then slowly release before moving on to the next area, covering the whole eyebrow.

Apply pressure with the middle fingers of both hands on the temples and all over the forehead. This is to relive tension and headache. Then use your third fingers to apply gentle pressure along the sockets bone beneath the eyes, in the direction of the nose.

4. To minimize frown lines

Rub your fingers together in a scissor-like movement across the middle of your forehead, above the eyebrows and out to each side of the forehead.

Slowly stroke one palm after the other from the eyebrows over the forehead and into the hair. Repeat several times.

Resources

Clare Maxwell-Hudson. Aromatherapy Massage, Dorling Kinderslely Ltd., London, 1999 .
Nelson Lee. You Can Look Younger at Any Age: A Leading Dermatologist’s Guide. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996.
Stephanie. Naturally Healthy Skin. Pownal, VT: Schoolhouse Road, 1999.