Facial massage works wonders as it increases the blood flow to your muscles, eases away all the toxins, and relieves your stress and tension. It is also known to enhance cell reproduction. So, it’s no wonder that many people crave a relaxing facial massage every now and then. However, to get maximum results and reap the various benefits of a facial massage, you need to know the various facial massage techniques that you can use.
So, here are 4 amazing facial massage techniques that use precise strokes to target small muscles in your face.
1. Stroke Your Fingers Up From the Chin
With this facial massage technique, you need to start by placing your hand on either side of your face near the chin area. Use your fingertips and palms to gently and slowly stroke up the sides of your face till you reach the forehead and then move them up the forehead. Once you reach your hairline, gently glide your fingers back to their starting position.
Make sure that you keep applying constant, light pressure while you use this massage technique. Repeat the process at least three times. The real emphasis in this technique is to put pressure on the face when you are going up and then ease it off while you go down.
2. Stroke Your Fingers Out Over the Forehead
To fully make use of this facial massage technique, you need to place your fingertips together in the center of your forehead. Make sure to press them firmly and start gliding them out to the sides of your forehead. Once you reach the edge, lift your fingers off and return to the starting position. Make sure to repeat the process three times. This repetitive movement will help smooth out your forehead and protect it from wrinkles.
3. Stroke Your Fingers Around the Eyes
For this massage technique, use a minimal amount of your favorite oil to ease the movement of your fingers. Start by placing your fingertips at the sides of your eyes and stroke them around the bony edge of your eye sockets.
Slowly work them up and over the eyebrows and move them down the center of your nose. Next, move them under your eyes and back to your starting position. Make sure to repeat this process three times. This technique helps to ease your eyestrain and provides some relief to your eyes. The oil is important as it lubricates the skin in your orbital eye area.
4. Stroke Your Fingers Under the Cheekbones
For this facial massage technique, you need to start by placing your hands close to your nose – make sure that they are on the inner side of each of your cheeks. Make small, sideward circular motions and move all the way toward your ears before massaging all the way back to your nose. Make sure to put constant firm pressure on your face while you do this.
Also, remember to give special attention to the area under your ears – this is where your temporomandibular joint resides. This joint can ache due to stress and poor posture, so it needs extra attention.  Make sure to repeat the process three times. This technique helps tone your cheek muscles.
Pro Tip: For best results, use a career oil such as camellia or jojoba oil to ensure that you don’t cause skin irritation on your face from constant stroking. Such a lubricant will also allow you to smoothly stroke your fingers across your face.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start using these facial massage techniques to release all your tension and rejuvenate your face.

A nighttime skincare routine is as important as a daytime routine — if not more. During the night, your skin absorbs the ingredients of the products better than it does during the day. Besides, at night, there are no external factors that can reduce their benefits. While you sleep, the products reach deeper into your skin to treat skin problems. You are also not wearing makeup, so your skin can breathe as well.
Our skin naturally repairs itself at night and you can boost the treatment with some skincare products. The focus of your nighttime routine should be repairing and providing nutrients to the skin. Following the right nighttime skincare routine order is also just as important as it is for your daytime skincare routine.
Here’s the right order in which you should use your skincare products to get the most out of your products at night:
Nighttime Skincare Routine Order
Some things are essential in a nighttime skincare routine regardless of the type of skin you have. Following is the step-by-step guide for the best night time skin regimen:
1. Removing Makeup
The first step is to remove your makeup with a makeup remover. This step is to make your skin get rid of residual makeup that you put on in the day. You can try the double cleansing method in which cleansing oil is used to dissolve the makeup first. You can also saturate a cotton pad with micellar water and wipe your face with it to remove makeup.
2. Cleanser
The next step is to use a cleanser or a face wash to remove any grime, dirt, oil, and skincare product. Cleansing the face will also remove any makeup residue that you left in the first step. Now, your skin is fresh and ready to absorb nutrients from your skincare products.
3. Toners
Next, apply the toner over your face like you would for your daytime skincare routine. There are also different types of skincare boosters that you can apply instead of a toner. They come in the form of mists or hydrating serums. They are lightweight, almost like water, so you can apply them after cleansing as well. The purpose is to hydrate and nourish the skin.
4. Treatment Serums
The skin is generally repaired during the nighttime which is why it is best to use treatment serums at night. These are used to repair, restore, and regenerate the skin cells during the night time. You can use prescription meds for acne and other skin conditions as well as anti-aging serums in this step. Do not use all the treatment serums together; instead, choose the treatment which your skin needs the most at the moment.
5. Face Oil
If your skin is very dry, the next step is to use face oil for hydrating the skin. You can also use a hydrating cream mask as an alternative for face oil. Both the products are mild and you can use them according to your skin needs.
6. Moisturizer
The last step is the same as that of the daytime skincare routine, which is to moisturize the skin. While using the day time moisturizer is no problem, it is better to use a night moisturizer. Night creams or moisturizers are usually thicker and heavier and they moisturize the skin for long hours.
With that, we sum up the correct night time skincare routine order. We suggest that you always choose the products that are best suitable for your skin type. If it is confusing for you to pick the right products, consult your dermatologist or skincare professional for expert advice.

Dermaplanning refers to an exfoliating treatment that involves a licensed and trained medical aesthetician or a doctor gently scraping your skin’s surface with a surgical scalpel to remove peach fuzz and dead skin.
It is essentially equivalent to shaving your face. It aims to remove fine wrinkles.
Dermaplanning has the following benefits:

• Removes facial hair
• Makes your face baby soft
• Gives you smooth foundation application
• Brighter-looking skin
• Healthier skin
• Removal of dead skin cells
• Triggers cell regeneration process
• Stops breakouts of pimples
• Quick and easy
• Unclogs pores
• It’s painless
• It is a great option for pregnant women
• It prevents ingrown hairs
• It can be performed regularly 
• No downtime

Dermaplanning is essentially safe for all skin types in the hands of a trained professional.
But if you have sensitive or highly reactive skin, it might irritate your skin. For those with acne, a scalpel on their skin can lead to more breakouts, redness and irritate zits. Those with skin conditions like eczema should avoid this procedure. There is a slight chance of damage or scarring to your skin when it comes to using a scalpel. In certain instances, the hair might grow back thicker.
Another side effect is patchy skin pigment in the area where you have the procedure. Although infections are normally rare, they do occur. Dermaplanning can also reactive cold pores.
After dermaplanning, you should coat your skin in sunscreen as it will be more sensitive to the sun now.
The Procedure: What Does it Actually Entail?
You shouldn’t really feel any pain during a dermaplanning procedure. You might just feel a tingling sensation.
First, you lie down on a chair in a comfortable and clean room. Sedation options might be available, and include local anesthesia combined with an oral sedative, a numbing spray or rarely general anesthesia.
After you are relaxed, your provider will use a manual or electronic dermaplanning tool to scrape over your skin at a particular angle. This could last about half an hour on average, as your provider gently exfoliates the skin.
After the treatment is over, your provider will soothe your skin with substances such as aloe. Sunscreen might also be applied to protect your face.
This procedure is a costly one and isn’t long-lasting either. So you should consider that before investing in it. It also has different effects for different people so it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
If you’re looking for a painless way to get smooth, radiant skin, dermaplanning is worth a shot. It is a popular process. You should try it out to see if it suits your skin type. Make sure you go to a professional to avoid any of the side effects. DIY dermaplanning is probably not a good or a safe idea. 

For a lot of people, the concept of getting facials regularly from a professional salon is still not clear. They think it’s a luxury meant for celebrities and rich people. They believe the products used at salons are similar to what they already have at home, so why pay someone to apply the same products on your face when you can do the same at home?
If you are one of those people, it’s high time that you get your facts straight.
A Facial is much more than luxury and indulgence – it is a skincare necessity.
Not convinced?
Here are 4 of the many reasons why you need to go to a good salon regularly for facials:

1.      For Deep Cleaning
This is a no-brainer. Being continuously exposed to pollution and sunlight, our skin loses its glow and shine over time.  This happens because our pores get clogged due to the accumulation of dust and dirt. When not cleaned properly, your skin not only loses its shine, but it also develops problems like acne and blackheads.
The way most of us clean and wash our face is not right. A facial is basically a thorough process of deep cleaning. It refines pores, removes dead skin and leaves your skin fresh and rejuvenated.

2.      To Undo the Negative Effects of Climate
Climatic factors, like temperature and humidity, have huge impacts on our skin. But, with regular facials, you can undo the harmful effects of the weather. Facials help to keep your skin fresh and hydrated in all seasons
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3.      To Slow Down the Aging Process
While aging is a natural phenomenon that is impossible to stop, we can certainly minimize or slow down the appearance of the signs of aging on your skin.
By taking regular facials from a professional aesthetician, like the ones at SB Health & Beauty Spa, you can keep your skin healthy for a longer time. In addition to maintaining healthy skin balance, facials can improve skin elasticity by boosting collagen production. Regular facials also help to increase cell turnover.
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4.      To Get Rid of Nasty Blackheads
Every woman agrees to the fact that blackheads are almost impossible to get rid of at home. We all have tried countless DIYs and hacks, not to forget those nose strips, to remove these tiny, nasty hair follicles. And we all know that they are only temporary solutions – they make your skin a little better at the time, but you seem to face the same problems the next morning.
Honestly, a facial is the only way to remove blackheads.

If you have considered facials a luxury all your life, it’s high time that you stop believing that. A facial is a skincare necessity, which is essential for skincare health and hygiene. Find a reputable and professional salon in your area and book an appointment for a facial at your earliest. For people living in Tampa Bay, SB Health & Beauty Spa is the best place. We offer many different types of facials according to skin types and concerns. Visit us to receive professional guidance and best services in town.

Winter season has its own charm. But, it is no fun for your skin. Cold air, low humidity level, indoor heating, hot showers and excessive coffee can be highly damaging for your skin. The harsh weather rips off the natural oil from your skin, leaving it dry, flaky, and itchy. Extreme dryness can also trigger certain skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema, making winters unbearable for the patients. And let’s not forget the countless problems people with sensitive and acne prone skin face.
While everyone knows the importance of moisturizing skin, it’s not enough to counter the damage and to regain your soft, smooth and hydrated skin. 
While there are many winter skincare regimens available, they are very time consuming and hence, less likely to be followed for a long time, especially by people who are busy or just lazy.
Don’t worry if you also struggle to maintain healthy skin during winters. Here are some simple yet highly effective tips to keep your skin hydrated and beautiful this winter season:

• Choose Your Moisturizer Carefully

Just because a big brand is making it, doesn’t mean a moisturizer is great for your skin. Unfortunately, most of the commercial moisturizers are packed with harsh chemicals that do more harm to your skin than good. 
To keep your skin moisturized and healthy, choose products that are made of natural ingredients known for their hydrating and soothing properties.
Alternatively, you can use natural ingredients to moisturize your skin.
Since natural ingredients are free of chemicals, they are gentle on your skin and are inexpensive as well.
Some natural moisturizers that are great for keeping your skin hydrated, glowing, and healthy are:

• Coconut oil
• Shea butter
• Aloe Vera gel
• Avocado Oil

• Exfoliate 

There is a widespread misconception that you shouldn’t exfoliate in the winter as it will make your skin even drier.  A lot of people think that winter is all about moisturizing and hydrating your skin, but that’s not true!
Removing dead skin cells through exfoliation is as important in winters as it is in other seasons. The only thing that should change is the type of exfoliant you use. Stay away from harsh, chemical based exfoliators as they can damage the protective barrier of your skin and make it more vulnerable.
Also, a lot of people end up damaging their skin by scrubbing too hard or too much.
Pro Tip    
Get it done by a professional aesthetician, like the ones available at SB Health and Beauty Spa. Experienced and trained aestheticians not only know the type of exfoliants that should be used, but they also know the right exfoliating techniques. Furthermore, they can provide treatments to soothe and heal the irritated skin.

• Use a Humidifier

Indoor heating systems dry out the air, which then removes the skin’s natural moisture. To prevent the negative effects of heating systems, always use a humidifier in your home. 

• Use Essential Oils in Shower

To prevent hot water from drying out your skin, add a few drops of essential oils. Some of the oils you can use are lavender, cedarwood, and jojoba.
Happy winters!