The Science Of Facial Massage

Having just submitted a scientific review to the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, I would like to highlight the benefits of facial massage to broader audience.

The Science Of Facial Massage – Benefits Beyond Beauty

It might be a cliche that facial massage leads to relaxation. But how does it work? I have looked into all that is known about the physical and psychological benefits brought about by a structured, deep and long facial massage.

We are getting older and feel the need to stay looking young with the best anti-ageing skincare products and therapies. Touch, as a human need, is vital for our emotional and physical health and the face is the most accessible part of the human body. Regular facial massage is a health affirming, anti-ageing therapy with significant benefits for both skin and our psyche. It is an alternative to Botox, which has been shown to impact negatively on our social communication by changing our emotional experience. By evoking in-the-moment positive emotions, facial massage contributes to our well-being and it is its psychological effect which provides the rationale for the physiological basis underlying mechanical stimulation.

In order to be effective, clinically proven anti-ageing treatments have to stimulate the production of new, non-fragmented and well-organised collagen and/or papillary reconstruction in order to improve the appearance of aged skin. It is well-known that body massage impacts on vital body signs by inducing a state of relaxation and has a positive effect on neurosis, stress, pain, anxiety and depression. Stress has been shown to play a role in the onset of skin ageing and deterioration by compromising the epidermal barrier function and impairing the inflammatory response.

Facial massage is a form of psychological intervention; a relaxation technique with music and focused attention to the massaged area of the face. Research confirms that stress management techniques lead to reduction of skin disease symptoms.

Having done massage treatments on a day-to-day basis, I am able to compare published research to my client’s experiences. For more information about my treatments, please go to www.faceworkshops.com

Facial Massage & Relaxation At Home

• It is a nice feeling to indulge in a relaxing afternoon with a scented candle or calming eye pads but making time for relaxation in our demanding day to day life is essential for our health. Goal setting and stressful, aggressive work environment changes our hormones (adrenaline, testosterone levels are higher) and this can have a negative impact on our skin. As 80 – 90 % of illnesses are stress related, relaxation should be an important part of our life.
• The main benefits of a facial massage are calming effect, increased blood and lymph flow, muscle relaxation and increase in endorphins that make us feel good.
• Start with massaging decollete, shoulders and neck with flat hands. Sweep upwards and outwards in a slow motion, use organic plant oil and remove it with a hot flannel. Invest time into massaging the areas prone to sagging (use your thumbs and index fingers) to increase blood flow and slow down the ageing process. 

Choose the Right Oil

• Use light oil with sensual, smooth feel (not a sticky base) and pleasant aroma that transports you to a far away place.
• Dim your lights, wrap in warm towels, light a scented candle – breathe deeply and listen to relaxing music.

 Inspired by Pure Beauty (October 2011).

 

5 Top Rules Improve Your Appearance

5 Top Rules Improve Your Appearance according to Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Francis Palmer

Dr Palmer identified a distinct pattern, the Palmer Code, to what is deemed youthful and attractive. His theory defines beauty’s components through a scientific formula based on shapes, proportions and angles of the face.

Although we recognise that his theory is valid, we recommend natural strategies – facial massage, facial exercise and good quality skincare – instead of Botox and fillers.

THE RULES

1. Shape the cheeks.

The cheeks account for 75% of facial aesthetics and as such, have the power to make the entire face appear youthful and attractive. Because the tissues of the face literally “hang by the cheek bones”, the cheek shape can dictate whether the face is perceived as young, old, attractive or less so. This should always be the first place you look to improve when seeking to become more attractive in a natural and youthful manner.

The aim is to create a fuller, rounder cheeks for women and lift the apple of the cheek up and facial massage and exercise are instrumental in achieving that./em>

2. Fill and plump up the lips.

The lips, to be aesthetically beautiful and balanced, should follow a very specific proportion of upper to lower lip. The upper lip should be no more than 75% of the lower lips size to achieve the perfectly proportioned lips.

Instead of fillers, facial massage, mainly Japanese Facelift, helps to define the upper lip line and enhance the lip volume.

3. Create a flared jaw line.

The proper size and shaped chin can balance the entire face when viewed on profile and sagging jawline is one of the most common concerns of my clients.

Facial massage and exercise are of benefit, particularly Chinese Booster.

4. Reduce lines and wrinkles.

All three types of facial massage can soften unwanted lines and wrinkles of the face, forehead and neck.

5. Even and bright skin with a peel.

Mild peels (glycolic, lactic or azelaic acid based) are a great way to refresh the skin along with a continued routine of sunscreens (UVA and UVB) and quality skin care products.

To find more about the theory of facial aesthetics, please go to

http://thepalmercode.com/blog/

Ageing Face & Lifestyle

Bad Lifestyle Habits Impact on Your Facial Ageing
These photos speak for themselves. Drinking, smoking and junk food affect our appearance in the long-term. The 42-year-old freelance journalist Anna Magee worked with a forensic artist to create images of what she’d look like 10 years from now adopting different lifestyles.  She admits to having cheek fillers and Botox injections in the past.

The three projected images show her face 10 years from now:

SMOKING

After 10 years of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Please note the deep wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, and sagging brow, eyelids, and cheeks.

A survey of over 1,000 Yahoo! users found that only 28% of smokers admit to being addicted and dependent on cigarettes with 72% claiming “I choose when I smoke and can go without at any time.” 41% of the people ages 18-34 said they only smoke in a social setting, but if you want to avoid these nasty signs of aging, every cigarette may count. Fifty-six percent of people ages 18-34 said they smoke when drinking.

The Art Of Happiness Shows In The Face

Long-term happiness shows in our face. When happy, we smile more and our positive facial expressions are repeated time and again. Our lines associated with positivity become more and more ingrained, reflecting warmth and approachable nature.

A link from London School of Life on happiness.

London ‘Power Facials’ in Yorkshire

As the article written in The Sunday Times Style magazine last Sunday confirms, the facial is making a comeback, in particular the “power facial” touted as an alternative to Botox.

All of the most sought-after London facialists are offering facial massage-based treatments:

• Nicola Joss is renowned for incorporating internal mouth work into her facial massage to reduce tension and loosen the jaw (£200, 90 minutes).
• Deborah Mitchell treats Botox-free celebrities with LIA therapy technique, a nonsurgical healing facelift, to tighten the skin and clear sinuses (£165, 60 minutes).
• Amanda Lacey promotes facial manipulation to redefine, soften and relax the face, so it looks natural (£130, 60 minutes).

There is no need to travel to London to appreciate a “facial with a difference”

FaceWorkshops Anti-Ageing Facial Massage is on a par with the London offerings for a fraction of the price. An advanced massage sequence of ten complementary steps – backed up with science – brings your face back to life. It makes you instantly feel and look good and if done regularly, it will stimulate and tone your facial muscles and lift and contour the face, giving it a better definition.

A special booster treatment “Facial Revitalisation” based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be on offer from September 2010. If you have already experienced facial massage, book your complimentary place at the Facial Revitalisation Taster Day: Sunday 5th September by emailing info@faceworkshops.com.
 

All facials need commitment

All facials need commitment – they are no one-hit wonder. If you come once, it will give you a glow. Ideally, you would have a course of treatments close together and come back regularly for top-ups. As Nicola Joss, London facialist, says; “If you want a toned, defined body, you work out; the same goes for the face.”

A recent FaceWorkshops client says:

“I’m now a convert to facial massage, on a regular basis though it’s much more than just a massage, the feeling of been nurtured and cared for is wonderful. We only have one face, so don’t we owe it to ourselfs to take care of it, if you are still sceptical, do as I did, have one session, see the difference, and see a whole new you in the bathroom mirror.” ND, June 22, 2010

Sunday Times article by Edwina Ings-Chambers, The Power Facial. Style, 25 July 2010. 
 

 

The Ideal Of Beauty

What women want is to look like better versions of themselves, without losing their expression and character. Nowadays, they are more vary of looking “done” than old – in light of celebrity images where Botox, injectables or surgery went wrong! Facial expression is crucial for basic human interaction. Lines are a proof that we’ve lived -we get them when we laugh and express ourselves. The mentality that encourages women to emulate perfection is about the safety of belonging. (Dr C d’Felice: Dare To Be You, Orion). In transforming themselves into living dolls, women feel they fit.

Forget the “ideal” image – when it comes to beauty, it’s time to embrace your unique features

• Your face is your business card – learn to care for it. Make sure you are doing 99 % right in terms of skincare, facial yoga and relaxation.
• Make a point of noting the positive aspects of your appearance in the mirror before you critique the negative.
• Cosmetic procedures can offer benefits but the dangers arise when they erase the features that give personality to a face. In general, people dislike the lack of variety that often comes with these procedures - and although we strive to look fabulous, we should also look real.

Source: Betts, H. Busting the beauty myth. Psychologies August 2010

Even A Small Reduction In Wrinkles Makes Us Look Younger

New ground-breaking research shows that even small changes in skin surface topography (wrinkle depth, volume, skin relief) are noticeable to our eyes and affect the perception of our facial age and attractiveness!

It is widely known that visible signs of ageing impact on how attractive we appear to others. Perception and noticeability of skin surface topography was studied by computer manipulation of six facial images of British women, aged 45–65 years. All topography cues (e.g. wrinkles, skin relief) were removed from the cheeks, the “crow’s feet” and the under the eye area, above the upper lip, and on the forehead at once and also gradually (in 20% increments). The images were judged by 300 Americans and Germans (aged 15–55 years) who were asked to determine the “younger looking” and “more attractive” image in a comparative pair.

It could be expected that images with wrinkles removed were judged as significantly younger and more attractive than the originals. As we look into people’s eyes when talking to them, it is also apparent that the forehead and the eye area are the most noticeable. In these areas, we are able to detect at least a 20% visual change in skin surface topography e.g. wrinkle reduction.

What Does It All Mean

• Frown lines, crows feet and the under eye area are the most important in how young we look.
• Even a small effect in terms of wrinkle reduction has an impact!
• Practice facial yoga to relax your face and buy skincare with good efficacy. Our ability to understand and quantify the discerning power of our eyes enables us to predict the efficacy of chosen skincare products.

 Reference: www.mdlinx.com/dermlinx/news-article.cfm/3176525

 

 

Are You Ageing Well?

We all want to look good for our age but we age at a different rate!

French research shows that women of the same age living in the Paris area (with relatively homogeneous genetics and lifestyle) can look 10 years younger or 10 years older for their age. Skin type and avoiding extreme lifestyle behaviours (suntanning, diet and smoking) explain only 10 % of this variation! It is the more subtle genetic and lifestyle factors e.g. stress as well as our skincare routines that are of greater importance in terms of how well we age.

 

As you may enjoy trying different products ad hoc, we have put together a few anti-ageing hints & tips to highlight the particular focus points appropriate for your age group.

 

Watch our new videos on Humber TV.

 

• If you are less than 40, hydrate & stimulate!  http://humber.tv/shows/skincare-qa-6/
• If you are 40 – 50, focus on wrinkles & firming! http://humber.tv/shows/skincare-qa-6-2/
• If you are 50+, focus on the sagging jawline! http://humber.tv/shows/skincare-qa-6-3/

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12437451

Ageing in the Sun

Sun is the dominant factor in the onset of premature ageing! Had we always protected our faces, the way Japanese women often do, our skin would age in a different, subtle way.

Ageing with sun protection

Our aged face would have a smooth and even surface with only few fine wrinkles. We would be able to distinquish some loss of elasticity (due to thickenned, disoriented bundles) and thinning (atrophy) but no signs of inflammation and only a moderate decrease in perfusion giving our facial skin slightly drawn, pale appearance. The upper skin layer, epidermis, would be still working well in comparison to photo-aged skin.

Ageing in the sun (photo-ageing)

If we have suntanned all our life, our facial skin will have an uneven (bumpy) surface and sallow, yellowish tone with mottled pigmentation (sun spots). We will see coarse wrinkles and a severe loss of elasticity (due to the thickening of dermis and increase in elastotic amorphous mass, less structural fibres and underlying inflammation).  Also the capillaries become prominent on the skin surface (teleangiectasia) contributing to the uneven skin colour. Epidermal changes – and the risk of skin cancer – are also profound.

If – like me – you would rather your face aged in a subtle way, read below on how to protect your face during summer.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/32w7exe

Next – After the Boots Serum?

As discussed in my previous blog, Boots had an unprecedented commercial success in Britain in the past few years.  The Boots Protect & Perfect serum case gave clear evidence to the skincare industry that a little science could do a lot more for sales than any amount of expensive glossy advertising!

The latest attempt to promote a skincare product through serious scientific scrutiny, this time by Procter & Gamble, hopes to emulate the success of Boots and provide us with a proof of superior efficacy!

This month the British Journal of Dermatology will publish a scientific study showing that an anti-ageing cream, Olay Pro-X, is as efficacious at reducing wrinkles as a prescription-only treatment. In the study, 99 women who applied the Olay product several times a day for six months were compared to other 97 women receiving prescription-only retinoid treatment with well-known efficacy. Wrinkle reduction was assessed by grading on high-resolution digital images at eight and 24 weeks into the trial and showed that an appropriately designed cosmetic regimen can improve facial wrinkle appearance comparably with the benchmark prescription treatment and without its side effects. 

P&G plans to launch Olay Pro-X in Britain next year! And the active ingredients look great – more about them in my next blog.

Source: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/beauty/article7026342.ece