The Best Facial Massage Techniques to Fake a Facelift

Giving yourself an at-home facial massage doesn’t just feel good, it has physical benefits, too. According to Taylor Worden, a celebrity facialist and founder of Taylor Worden Skin, there are many types of facial massages and techniques that have various benefits, including increased radiance and blood circulation, reduced puffiness and a minimized appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can even fake the appearance of a facelift by making your complexion appear more toned and tightened with consistent practice.

To see benefits, Worden advises doing two to ten minutes of facial massaging every night. Below, she explains how to give yourself a natural facelift at home in four steps. 

STEP 1: Start With Your Neck

Worden recommends starting your facial massage on the neck and working your way up to the face. Be sure to start with a clean complexion (and hands!) and use a facial oil to reduce friction. 

“Begin by placing your right hand on the left side of your neck and make circles going working your way down the neck,” says Worden. Do this 10 to 20 times and repeat on the other side of your neck using the left hand. Then, massage both sides of the neck in a circular motion at the same time.

STEP 2: Massage the Jaw

“Place your thumbs under the center of your chin and rest your pointer finger above your chin and jaw bone,” says Worden. “Push your fingers from your chin to your ears 10 to 20 times.” You can also do this technique by making a peace sign with both hands, scrunching your index and middle fingers and gliding your fingers from the chin to the ears. 

Next, glide a flat hand up from the chin to the outer cheek. Repeat this motion on both sides 10 to 20 times. Finish massaging the jaw by making a fist with both hands and pressing your knuckles into the cheeks outward and upward, just under the cheekbone another 10 to 20 times.

STEP 3: Massage the Under Eyes and Upper Cheeks

Place your thumbs under your cheekbone and let your pointer finger rest underneath your eye. Lightly push upward following the top of your cheekbones to the temples 10 to 20 times. Then, make a peace sign with both hands and scrunch your index and middle fingers. Place your scrunched knuckles on the top of your cheekbones below your eyes and glide out to your temples.