Video: Anti-Aging Tips for the Chin and Neck

A few months ago I wrote a post called Anti-Aging Strategies: Preventing the Wattle, which was about how to prevent the sagging, crepe-ing of the skin that can happen to the chin and neck as we age. I talked a little about how to apply your skin care products to help prevent or improve this condition, but now that I have entered the 21st century (kind of) since I have my webcam, I thought it would be really helpful to actually show you want I am talking about.

Why facial and neck massage is important

Facial and neck massage is one of the most underutilized anti-aging techniques out there. We constantly see new advertisements for anti-aging creams (many of which misleadingly featuring models in their teens and twenties) for the face and neck but we rarely see anything about the best way to actually apply the products.

Facial massage is almost always (should definitely be) done as part of most facials at salons or spas. When you are booking your facial appointment, I highly recommend that you ask about the length of the massage portion of the facial, and make sure it includes the neck. I have gotten many facials in my life and I can tell you that this is an area that has been lacking in some I’ve received. I didn’t know about the importance until I was in school for aesthetics and was learning the techniques myself. The basic facial sequence I learned had a very generous massage portion (no less than 20 minutes of the facial), because my teacher Ms. B really believes in the benefits of massage.

Some of the benefits of professional facial and neck massage include:

? Increases circulation
? Improves muscle tone?this is crucial when anti-aging is your skin care goal
? Improves product penetration/absorption
? Helps to gently exfoliate the skin without using chemicals or abrasives
? Helps soften and remove sebum (oil) and impurities
? Increases metabolic function in the skin and ?wakes up? sluggish or dull looking skin
? Helps reduce puffiness and relieve congestion
? Provides relaxation
? If massage is done using acupressure or other chi point stimulation techniques, energy blockages can be cleared which has many health specific health benefits, and promotes overall good health and wellness

Facial and neck massage should also be done at home.

I have talked about the importance of proper home care in the past. If you get facials or other skin care treatments and do not follow your home care instructions to maintain the benefits of the treatment, you are really doing yourself a dis-service.

Your aesthetician will often tell you which products you should be using at home, but make sure you ask specifically how to use them: not just in what order, but how to physically apply them. The technique I demonstrate in the following video is a very good, quick, and easy technique that I know improves the appearance of the chin and neck regardless of your age or weight. It is safe and can be done twice a day while you are applying your skin care products. I personally like to use my jojoba or argan oils infused with my own anti-aging blend of essential oils, but I also do this with my cleansers and moisturizers (never do this with a scrub). Make sure you are applying gentle but firm strokes (more gentle over the throat) and are not pulling at the skin.

Check out this short video:

If you start doing this technique twice a day, you will definitely see an improvement in the appearance of your chin and neck over time. I think I first started seeing an improvement after two months. If you are using high quality skin care products and getting regular facial treatments you will see results sooner than if you are not.

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