When Is the Best Time to Do Your Face Massage?

The perfect moment to do your face massage is when you feel the need.

There are so many rules around facial massage online.

Maybe you’ve read that morning is the best time to depuff and evening is better for relaxation. And that’s true in theory. But what if you tend to hold more fluid at the end of the day? What if you’ve woke up from a difficult night? What if you prefer to do it midday?

Perhaps you’ve also read that you need at least 10min to be effective. And you need to follow a specific sequence to see proper results. But the truth is your body doesn’t count how much time you are spending massaging your face. And maybe that protocol you’ve followed from social media doesn’t quite match what your body really needs.

Your body will always be much better at telling you when it needs touch.

Touch is regulation

Our skin is not simply something that covers our body. It is our largest sensory organ, constantly receiving information from the world around us. Touch can influence how we feel, how we perceive sensations and how our nervous system responds to our environment. Gentle, reassuring touch can be a way of giving the body a signal of safety and presence.

This is one of the reasons I love facial massage so much because it isn't only about what happens to the face aesthetically. It can become a way of nourishing your body, soothing an overactive mind and helping you love yourself a little bit more each time you practice. While changing positively the appearance of your face, for sure.

And that doesn't have to happen at a specific time of day.

So when should you massage your face?

Whenever you need it.

Some days, that might be first thing in the morning. You wake up feeling puffy, your face feels heavy, and a few gentle movements are exactly what you need to start the day. Other days, it might be in the evening, when you're finally sitting on the sofa and your whole body is asking you to slow down.

And sometimes, there is no particular routine at all, no specific time. Only when you feel the need. And that should be your only rule.

It might be:

• On your sofa while watching something.

• Sitting at your desk between emails.

• Before bed.

• In the shower.

• While waiting for the kettle to boil.

Listen to what your face is asking for

Health, wellbeing and beauty don't have to be separated.

You can massage your face because your jaw hurts, because you had a stressful day, because you have a headache, because you feel puffy, or because you love the way your face looks afterwards.

You can also do it for all at once.

A little exercise you can do is: close your eyes, take a long and deep breath, and ask yourself “where am I holding tension? what do I think my face needs today?”

You don't need 10 minutes

The idea that a facial massage only “counts” if you've completed a full routine is absolutely false. There is no minimum duration you need to reach before your body decides that it has received the message. And also for some of us, it might already be complicated to take 10 minutes to take care of ourselves. So start with what you can. Your body will thank you. Because 1 minute of selfcare every day is better than 10 minute once in a full moon!

And at the risk to repeat myself, you do not need a rigid protocol either. Your face is not exactly the same every morning and your stress levels aren't the same every evening. Your jaw, neck, skin and nervous system don't need the same thing every day.

So why would your massage practice need to be exactly the same? You are unique, so should be your practice. Find what your body loves and have fun with it!

If you’re not sure where to start your facial massage routine, The Face Ritual Coaching is our 1:1 service designed to help you learn techniques that suit your own face needs. Email hello@lymphandsoul.com to enquire!