Looking and feeling good is important to most people, including your massage clients.
Some clients may be interested in natural anti-aging care, which means that facial massages and specialized massage cream are a natural fit.
Use these facial massage creams tips in your massage practice, and consider retailing creams for clients who fall in love with the products you use.
Facial Massage Creams Are Great for Your Practice
The market for anti-aging products is growing, according to the Administration on Aging. The population of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double in 2060, and women over 50 are particularly interested in natural skin care and anti-aging products.
When choosing creams for facial massage, keep in mind that some ingredients may cause irritation or discomfort when applied to the face. When creams contain plant-based and other natural ingredients, anti-aging and sensitive-skin care are added benefits of using such products.
Start With High-Quality Creams
Great facial massage creams have ingredients that are beneficial for your client’s skin. Every face is different and deserves a customized approach that considers individual needs, allergies and sensitivity issues. Starting with a high-quality massage cream will help prevent skin irritation issues and harmful additives.
“We try to avoid harmful chemicals, and we use a blend of wild-crafted, organic essential oils for the skin,” said Vanessa Lvovsky, owner of Four Elements Reflexology and Wellness Spa in Boca Raton, Florida.
Lvovsky believes being choosy about massage cream is an important part of providing a high-quality facial massage. When using a cream for a facial massage, the ingredients define how the cream should be used and who might benefit the most from it, she said.
Customize Creams to Fit Your Client
Massage creams used on the face require different considerations than creams that are applied to other areas, because your clients may have concerns about facial acne, aging, sensitivity and other needs.
Jean Shea, founder and CEO of BIOTONE, suggested adding natural moisturizers to your creams.
“Rosehips and white lily both help to moisturize and tone skin,” Shea said. “White lily also helps to soothe irritated skin, and rosehips contains powerful antioxidants that help improve skin texture, along with the benefits of Vitamin C, E and fatty acids.”
Another recommended moisturizer, coconut oil, is an ingredient Lvovsky suggested.
“If it’s for the face, try dabbing a bit of organic coconut oil with essential oils,” Lvovsky said. Adding coconut oil and choosing a high-quality essential oil can improve the massage cream and promote both skin health and relaxation.
Since sun damage may cause skin to age faster, facial skin needs sun protection; Lvovsky also recommended choosing a massage cream with SPF.
To provide an anti-acne boost, adding tea tree oil may help. This natural ingredient has other benefits, too.
“It helps soothe the inflammation, but it’s also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial,” Lvovsky claimed.
Contraindications for Facial Massage
Allergy concerns and sensitivity issues depend on the client, so it is best to ask your client in advance.
Being aware of your client’s needs helps you avoid problems with massage creams. If your client expresses concerns about an ingredient or discomfort during the facial massage, listen carefully and watch for signs of sensitivity or an allergic reaction.
Bad reactions to creams can range in symptoms and severity, so be sure to do your own research before adding new ingredients to your commercially bought or custom massage cream.
Embrace the Benefits
Learn how to use creams during facial massage and you will have more to offer your clients.
“It is a nice add-on to a body massage and can be an additional profit booster for the massage therapist,” Shea said.
About the Author
Kaitlin Morrison is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Moses Lake, Washington. A former chiropractic assistant and health care publicity person, she now follows her passion of informing and educating her readers about health care, business and marketing. She has written several articles for MASSAGE Magazine and massagemag.com, including “Sports Massage Students Get Their Hands on Detroit Pistons” and “It’s Dry Skin Season. If You Don’t Offer Exfoliating Treatments, Now Is the Time.”