My amazing friend Lauryn, who hosts The Skinny Confidential, is guest posting today! She’s my go-to for all things skincare, and she’s recently introduced me to the perks of lymphatic facial massage. Lauryn knows her stuff, so a big thank you to her for sharing her tips with us!
Hey Wellness Mama community!
I’m pumped to be doing a blog swap with Katie today. If you’re new to The Skinny Confidential, I’m Lauryn Evarts—podcaster, author, and entrepreneur.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips and techniques: facial massage! We’re going to dive into the benefits of facial massage, four different methods to try, and Meghan Markle’s go-to for keeping her face toned: the buccal massage.
Once you’ve soaked up all the info on achieving that Kardashian-worthy contour, head over to The Skinny Confidential for a Q&A with Katie. She talks about her wellness habits, how she balances work and family, and her morning routine.
Alright, let’s dive into facial massage!
First off, let’s talk about why you need to try this. Plus, it just feels great. You can do facial massages at home for free, or treat yourself by visiting a professional.
Here’s how you can try it at home and what to request from your esthetician.
Facial massage has become a staple for me—I can’t even think about putting on makeup without it. My husband knows to give me an extra 10 minutes daily for my facial massage routine. It’s simple and free!
Let’s start with the most affordable method and work our way up.
Huge shoutout to my makeup artist and friend, Jules Wick. She recommended a YouTube tutorial when I was feeling super puffy in NYC. After spending 20 minutes following along, I felt a million times better!
Once you try this, you’ll never go back to applying makeup on a bloated face. It helps drain the lymphatic system and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes. People with dark circles or puffy eyes might consider fillers, but with regular facial massages, you really don’t need them!
I’ve tested this long enough to confidently say it works. Like Katie, I don’t recommend anything until I’ve tried it thoroughly. Keeping the integrity of The Skinny Confidential is essential to me, so I only endorse what truly delivers.
This vibrational tool I’m into isn’t cheap, but I love it. While some girls adore their Louboutins, I can’t live without my facial massager. For me, having a firm, wrinkle-free face is better than fancy shoes.
Wondering how to get this device? Consider asking for one as a gift. Just to be clear, this isn’t sponsored—I genuinely love this massager. You use it in small circles all over your face, applying an organic, cold-pressed oil before massaging. Make sure to focus on your undereye area to avoid puffiness. I even extend it down to my neck and chest for lymphatic drainage.
Using this device regularly wakes you up and boosts circulation, leaving your skin looking tighter and fresher.
Here’s how the device is officially described: “a micro-firming massage device that smooths fine lines, enhances your skincare absorption, and delivers 27,000 micro-firming massages per use, providing a spa-like experience.”
I can’t recommend this enough. If you’re into skincare, this is a must-try.
Have you heard of gua sha? Let me tell you about it. Gua sha is a facial massage technique aimed at relaxing facial muscles, boosting blood flow, and promoting lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness. It helps break up fascia—the tissue around muscles that might block circulation—and can temporarily slim your face. Devotees claim it helps with headaches, jaw pain, and skin brightness, and some see it as a Botox alternative.
It’s an ancient Chinese practice that’s incredibly refreshing and anti-inflammatory. My personal favorite tools are made from rose quartz, inspired by Cleopatra’s fondness for the crystal.
If you Google gua sha, don’t be alarmed by images of body gua sha, which is different from facial gua sha. Watching a tutorial will give you a better idea. My facialist Mo demonstrates gua sha on my face in an online video, showcasing more of her techniques.
After a flight, ask for a gua sha massage and experience the amazing results. When with a facialist, ask them to work on your neck as well.
Sometimes, explaining what you want can help. Request a lymphatic drainage facial to combat travel-related bloating and dehydration. Also, have them focus on your neck, chest, and hands. Taking preventive measures across these areas is key because aging affects more than just the face.
There’s another facial massage I’ve tried called the buccal massage. It might sound odd, but hear me out—this tip is worth trying. It involves a massage inside the mouth where the therapist works on your inner cheek and jaw muscles. It’s great for anyone who gets puffy easily and boosts collagen production. Meghan Markle swears by it too.
My facialist Mo typically starts with a facial massage, then spends 15 minutes on the buccal area, finishing with skincare products. This deep massage enhances your cheekbones and jawline.
Yakov Gershkovich, a buccal massage pioneer, has even worked on me. You can watch a video with Yakov for more insights.
Facial massage is like exercising for your face, offering both prevention and correction. It’s a natural treatment for facial tightening and is part of my routine to focus on targeted areas.
Remember, don’t neglect your lymphatic drainage. The last time I saw Mo, she noted how full my buccal area was. While you might feel slightly sore afterward, the process is painless and feels great.
Mo, my facialist—aka Heal Thy Goddess—has been sharing tips on buccal massage, emphasizing its benefits for lymph drainage, toxin removal, cheek de-puffing, and TMJ relief.
Those are all my facial massage tips, whether you do them at home or see a professional.
Focus on prevention. Don’t wait until wrinkles appear.
Treat your skin with care daily: remove makeup, wear SPF, do facial massages, invest in effective products, and use oils.
Thanks to Katie and the Wellness Mama community for hosting me! Hopefully, we’ll swap again soon. Meanwhile, check out Katie’s post on TSC for her wellness advice and podcast episode on optimizing life, parenting, and building an online presence.
Got any beauty hacks I should try?
Warm regards, Lauryn
Lauryn Evarts Bosstick has created a distinctive blog, The Skinny Confidential, focusing on beauty, wellness, and candid advice. She also released The Skinny Confidential Lifestyle Guide and a monthly BODY GUIDE with workouts and meal plans. Lauryn co-hosts The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER podcast with her husband, Michael Bosstick, which has surpassed 55 million downloads. She’s collaborated with top-tier brands and maintains daily connections with her community.
Featured in publications like SHAPE and Women’s Health Magazine, Lauryn can often be found reading, writing, practicing Pilates, or enjoying time with her new baby, Zaza.
