H1:Winter massage - the miracle for facial skin
Ever heard of the winter massage? We at the 48grams blog had to smile a bit - because we wondered: does it mean rubbing snow on the face? Brr... maybe healthy, but definitely not pleasant. To make a long story short: We were wrong. Winter massage is a very special facial treatment for the cold season. It is the DIY king discipline for those who take care of their skin. Before masks are applied, before creams or serums take effect - gentle fingers ensure that the lymph flow is improved and blood circulation is stimulated. In summary: In times of ice and snow a massage – twice a day for 10 minutes – is very healthy for the skin. The massage ensures that active ingredients are better absorbed later and the skin appearance is fundamentally improved.
Massage advice from TikTok
The topic recently even exerted such a fascination on us members of the 48grams editorial team that we decided to conduct the ultimate December test. Three female editors kept up their daily skincare routine. Plus a few obligatory walks in the fresh air - visiting Christmas markets combined the sensible with the pleasant, so to speak. The remaining members added the factor of the winter massage to this sequence. Every day they followed the advice written down below: In the morning before applying makeup - and in the evening after removing makeup. They were guided by the current trend on TikTok. Here, massage videos are being published more and more frequently. And they do so step by step.
Rosacea, dry skin, pimples
Before the experiment began, all the members took pictures of themselves. Naked... well, at least their faces. So that every dry spot, every rosacea redness and every pimple is really documented. Oh, that was nice... not. But only in such a way differences would become visible after the end of the month! But we save the conclusion here for the end of the article.
Winter massage advice
This is how the winter massage works - and no, no one needs to be a professional for this!
1. As with any treatment, the following principle applies: the face must be thoroughly cleaned. We're not just talking about makeup residue, but also about dirt particles that inevitably accumulate on the skin throughout the day. Dermatologists recommend mild cleansers or foams and plenty of warm water. If you really want to do everything right, prepare a steam bath afterwards. The warm vapor opens the pores and also makes it easier to rub off skin flakes.
2. In order for the skin to become supple and for the massage fingers to glide over the tissue better, a moisturizing lotion or oil is needed. But important: do not use too much product, otherwise there is a risk of clogging the pores and subsequently pimples.
3. Important: Whether a massage brush is used or the fingertips - the pressure on the skin must not be too great. Anyone who discovers red "lanes" or even welts knows: that was too much. By the way, the movements should never follow a straight line, but should always be circular. This is the only way to stimulate blood circulation and drainage of lymphatic fluid.
4. If you don't want to have wrinkles under your eyes and an "awake look" even in winter, place a finger under each of the browns and stroke - along the lash line - from the temples to the nose and back under the eyes to the starting point of the massage. This relaxes the ring-shaped muscles around the eye. After a short resting phase, eye pads should still be applied for support - ideally with extracts of the Mallorcan salt plant. Pads additionally soothe the thin skin under the eyes. Wrinkles and bags under the eyes disappear slowly - but surely.
5. If you keep switching between the cold outdoors and the warm indoors, you will soon notice a tightening of the forehead skin. This is the result of skin that has not received enough moisture. First aid is of course the application of a greasy cream. But after the tissue has regained some elasticity, you should also lend a hand yourself. At the beginning of a massage, the forehead is smoothed, i.e. one strokes from one temple to the other - and back again. This process should be repeated three or four times. Then place the index and middle fingers of each hand on one side of the temple - and massage lightly in a circular motion. In the further sequence - the fingers draw a semicircle, so to speak - the fingers rotate over the eyebrows in the direction of the frown line. Finally, the area of the frown line is smoothed out towards the hairline.
6. Do not forget the so-called naso-labial area. To do this, place the index and middle fingers of both hands on the sides of the nose - near the eyebrows. Slowly, without much pressure, the nose is then smoothed out towards the tip. This movement is repeated several times. Afterwards, the lips are "tapped" and the corners of the mouth are gently stroked downwards.
The massage miracle in winter
We from the 48grams editorial team also took these principles and rules to heart, or rather one part of the "test group" did. As mentioned before: This little beauty experiment lasted four weeks. What was already noticeable: We all looked at each other's faces more often and each of us thought about it: Can you already see the difference? Shortly before New Year's Eve, each of us again stood in front of the mirror and took a close-up selfie - without makeup and without cream or serum on the winter skin. The result in the picture comparison was anything but a photo finish. The group that pampered their skin with a DIY massage twice a day showed a much better complexion. The tissues looked fresher, fitter and rosier. The usual consequences of winter, brittle skin, dry patches and small cold wrinkles, were much less pronounced. The conclusion for us is clear: the winter facial massage should be a fixed part of a care routine in the cold season.
