Facial Massage for Collagen, Elastin & Firm-Looking Skin - Video Tutorial Included
Another blog about face massage? Yes! Because facial massage can do so much more than sculpt, depuff, or contour.
scrub me secret: I use red LED therapy, nano-needling treatments, and a peptide serum to keep my collagen and elastin healthy and alive. And that equals firm, youthful-looking skin! But do you know what else I do to keep my collagen and elastin healthy? Face massage 💆♀️
When we massage the face, the pressure, direction, rhythm, and type of movement all create different effects in the skin and underlying tissue. Some movements are designed to support lymphatic drainage, while others are used for facial muscle release, circulation, tension relief, or skin vitality.
I love focusing on how facial massage can support not just the way our skin looks, but also how it helps our skin to be healthy and function at its best. While gua sha and hands-on massage are often talked about for lifting, sculpting, and reducing puffiness, certain massage movements can also help support collagen and elastin by encouraging microcirculation, oxygen flow, and nutrient delivery to the skin.
scrub me secret: lymphatic drainage is done with specifically light pressure in order to move lymphatic fluid effectively. Deeper pressure is used for facial Muscle release massage.
These are 5 facial massage movements you can perform using simply your hands and facial oil to strengthen and improve the health of your collagen and elastin. Keeping skin plump, firm, and radiant for a long time.
How does facial massage help our collagen and elastin?
Facial massage helps support our collagen and elastin by encouraging better circulation, oxygen flow, and nutrient delivery within the skin.
When we massage the face, we are creating movement in the skin and tissue. Stimulating connective tissue. These massage movements help bring fresh blood flow and oxygen to the area, which gives the skin that healthy, radiant glow. Good circulation is important because oxygen-rich blood helps support skin repair, skin vitality, and the way our skin maintains healthy collagen and elastin over time.
Facial massage can also help create microcirculation in the skin, which is the kind of gentle internal stimulation we want for skin that looks plump, firm, and energized. Collagen and elastin are part of what gives our skin its bounce, structure, and firmness, so supporting the skin’s natural environment is key.
This does not mean facial massage magically creates brand-new collagen overnight. It means that consistent, intentional massage movements can help support the health of the skin by improving circulation, boosting oxygen flow, encouraging lymphatic movement, and helping the skin look more lifted, bright, and alive.
5 Facial Massage Movements to Support Collagen and Elastin Health - For Firm & Healthy Skin
Video tutorial below!
scrub me secret: we do not want to damage our skin’s tissues with incorrect face massage. In the sections below, where we go over each movement, I’m also specifically telling you what not to do. If you’re not going to take proper steps to make sure you’re massaging your face in the right way, with the right pressure, and the correct type of product on your skin, then maybe skip the face massage altogether. Because we want to improve our skin and it’s APPEARANCE, not do the opposite.
Gentle Tapping - Especially Underneath Eyes
Why this move is helpful: The gentle, rhythmic tapping motions over delicate skin create the oxygen and nutrient flow that we want for our collagen and elastin without any chance of damaging delicate skin. It’s the perfect way to keep things firm, healthy, and wrinkle-free.
DON’T do this: Don’t tap too hard or use pressure that is too firm. This is a delicate movement.
Where you’ll find this in the tutorial video: 0.15
Hold & Glide
scrub me secret: this movement actually mimics a very important part of gua sha facial massage where you use your free hand and then your gua sha stone to create the smallest bit of tension or “tiny tug” on your skin’s tissues. A movement that stimulates connective tissue.
Why this move is helpful: When we gently hold the skin tissue with one hand and create the smallest, gentle tug using the other hand, we are creating microcirculation in the connective tissues. This microcirculation is something that helps the skin tissues to continue to strengthen and repair. This results in firmer, bouncier-feeling skin that is even-textured and healthy.
DON’T do this: Don’t tug or pull too hard or apply too much pressure. This move should be slow and gentle. You actually shouldn’t be able to feel your pulling much or “stretching out”. The more aggressive your movements are, the further away from results you are getting.
Where you’ll find this in the tutorial video: 1.05
Upward Lift & Scoop
Why this move is helpful: This deep upward lift and scoop motion using firm pressure gets oxygen and circulation flow going in both our skin tissues and our facial muscles. Hello, healthy tissues! The deeper pressure of this movement also breaks up some tight fascia, allowing for more circulation and nutrient flow. Bonus: it feels amazing 😊
DON’T do this: Don’t do this movement without facial oil or a moisturizing cream; we need proper slip and glide so we don’t pull on or damage our skin. Never do this movement downward; the deep pressure moving downward might create sagging over time.
Where you’ll find this in the tutorial video: 2.40
Side to Side - Against Wrinkles/Lines
Why this move is helpful: Working perpendicular to your lines or wrinkles with a “side to side” motion using your fingertips helps drive that same microcirculation I talked about in the “hold & glide” motion directly to the specific areas you want to treat. This motion also releases stuck fascia that is holding on in certain expression/other lines (specifically on the forehead and neck). That release of fascia smooths the skin and drives the nutrient flow deeper, which creates healthy collagen.
DON’T do this: Do not do this movement without facial oil or moisturizing cream. You need proper slip and glide to avoid tugging or pulling at tissues. Do not do this movement too aggressively or with deep pressure. Your skin shouldn’t be bunching up between your fingertips; you should be gliding over it. Once you feel enough warmth or see some sort of flushing on your skin’s surface. Stop. We don’t want to overdo it.
Where you’ll find this in the tutorial video: 3:29
Small Circular Motions Using Your Fingertips
Why this move is helpful: These small circular motions using medium pressure drive natural oxygen and circulation towards your skin’s surface. This oxygen and circulation flow feeds nutrients from within to your important tissues/collagen and elastin cells.
DON’T do this: Don’t do this movement on dry skin. Facial oil, serum, or moisturizing cream is needed to create the correct type of slip and glide. Otherwise, you might be tugging or pulling on tissues, creating damage instead of improvement.
Where you’ll find this in the tutorial video: 4:47
What type of video tutorial do you want next? Let me know in the comments!