Lymphatic Drainage Face Massage Techniques

Jawline breakouts be gone! Here’s how to stimulate your lymphatic system and prevent acne.

By Erin Magner, originally posted on Well+Good.

According to skin gurus, there are all kinds of culprits behind those dreaded jawline breakouts—haywire hormones, dairy, and even cell phones have all been indicted. But there’s one equally guilty party that deserves a mention: the lymphatic system. Here, we will explain how each lymphatic drainage face massage technique can help benefit your health.

First, a little biology lesson: “The lymphatic system carries nutrients and waste material between the body tissues and the blood,” explains esthetician Sadie Adams, who treats clients such as Sophia Bush and Alessandra Ambrosio at her Take Care spas in New York City and, as of this winter, Los Angeles. “Lymph nodes filter the fluid, trapping bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances. Stagnation or blockages in these nodes can mitigate the filtration process, increasing the amount of toxins in the blood and lymph.”

Add a lag in filtration to pores already struggling with excess sebum and you’ve got the makings of a serious acne attack—particularly around the ears, neck, and jawline, where the lymph nodes are highly concentrated.

Fortunately, lymphatic stagnation is a pretty easy fix, and you don’t even need to book a facial to get things moving again.

Don’t rush through your skin-care routine

Adding a quick lymphatic drainage face massage to your nightly skin-care ritual can go a long way toward waking up sluggish lymph nodes, says renowned dermatologist and advocate of lymphatic drainage facials Dr. Barbara Sturm. “The stimulation of lymph node drainage is highly recommended for acne. With regular treatment, the symptoms of a congested lymphatic system can be dramatically reduced, improving the skin’s appearance.”

Adams advises that you focus your rub-down around the ears, along the jawline, and down the neck to the collarbones. “Try working pressure points without oil or use a high-quality facial serum with a good slip.” Her favorite? Sonage’s Vitality Nourishing Facial Oil, which is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and includes circulation-stimulating ginkgo biloba and rosemary oil. She also says it’s important to exfoliate the skin once or twice a week—and not just to clear out the pores (although, that’s totally necessary, too). “[Manually exfoliating] can support effective circulation of the lymph,” she explains. how to drain lymph nodes in face, at home, stagnation, how to massage lymph nodes in neck, self

Relax your jaw

If you’re stressed out on the reg—and, really, who isn’t?—chances are extra tension is being held in your neck and jaw, which can manifest as clenching or teeth-grinding.

“Excessive muscle contraction can lead to tightness in all of the tissues, restricting the flow of lymph,” says Adams. To loosen up, she suggests sitting with your elbows resting on your knees and your cheekbones resting on the heels of your hands, letting your jaw fall open towards the ground. “As much as possible, feel the disk at the temporomandibular joint moving forward and down while opening the mouth.” (That’s where the cheekbone meets the jawbone, FYI.)

Another fix for this: Address your stress at its root. “Meditation and breath awareness are powerful and empowering tools [that] help to dramatically reduce day-to-day stress and tension,” Adams says. This will also help calm the stress-induced hormones that can contribute to acne—bonus!

A great way to maximize your results for lymphatic drainage is massaging with the Frioz Icy Globes Facial Massager! This 5-in-1 lymphatic drainage tool helps to stimulate circulation, depuff the face and eye area, reduces breakouts, shrinks pores, and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Get moving

There’s a lot more to your lymphatic system than what’s above your shoulders—it actually extends throughout your entire body, so maintaining the health of the whole thing is key.

The best way to do that, says Adams, is through exercise. “Getting a cardiovascular workout for at least 20 minutes, 3 times a week, can be very supportive to the lymphatic system by helping to stimulate movement in stagnant fluids,” she says. “Muscle activity plays a role in bringing lymph [from other parts of the body] back to the drainage points.”

Rebounding, in particular, is often said to stimulate the lymphatic system. Hey, if it’ll bestow skin as glowy as Gabby Bernstein’s (a huge mini-tramp fan), it’s definitely worth a shot.

Lymphatic Drainage Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does a lymphatic drainage face massage do?

Facial lymphatic massage helps to minimize fluid retention in addition to promoting the removal of toxins and waste materials. The massage may also aid in boosting circulation, which helps supply oxygen and nutrients to the skin for a complexion that is more luminous.

How do you drain lymphatic fluid from your face?

Ice globes can be used as a facial massage tool to help stimulate lymphatic flow and reduce puffiness in the face. They provide a cooling effect when rolled gently over the skin, a massage effect to stimulate lymphatic drainage, and a soothing effect to soothe and calm the skin.

What are the signs of lymphatic drainage?

Some signs that facial lymphatic drainage may be working are: Reduced Puffiness,  Improved Skin Tone, Reduced Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles, Increased Relaxation, Improved Sinus Health.

What are the side effects of lymphatic drainage face massage?

Facial lymphatic drainage with ice globes is a gentle massage technique that is generally safe for most people. If you experience headaches, sensitivity, or skin irritation, stop performing these facial massages. These side effects are typically very mild and most people do not experience them from using ice globes.

Read More:

• Complete Guide for Ice Globes Facial Massage
• How To Use a Face Sculpting Tool - The Ultimate Guide

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