Facial Massage and Basic Skin Care
Core concepts
Basic facial care includes consultation, cleansing, skin analysis, massage, mask, and moisturizer. Identify skin type: normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive. Massage manipulations include effleurage (light gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), and friction (small circular movements). Begin and end with effleurage; work upward and outward, following muscle direction, with light pressure on sensitive areas. Draping and client comfort are part of professional practice. Extractions are limited to visible comedones and only when permitted; never squeeze inflamed lesions.
Contraindications
Avoid massage over infected acne, boils, cold sores, open wounds, sunburn, recent surgery, or undiagnosed lumps. Clients with certain medical conditions should obtain physician approval. Do not massage the throat or apply pressure over the eyes.
Traps
More pressure is not better. Massage is not indicated for every client. Tapotement is stimulating, not relaxing. A facial massage does not replace medical treatment. Always cleanse before massage.
Worked example
A client with oily skin and several whiteheads wants a facial. Cleanse, analyze, and use light effleurage and petrissage, avoiding the inflamed areas. Apply a noncomedogenic mask, remove it, moisturize, and advise against picking. If lesions are red and tender, do not extract.
Rule of thumb
Massage healthy tissue only, and always begin and end with effleurage.