Contouring facial massages: Do they really work?

SINGAPORE – Non-invasive with instantaneous results, a facial massage can be a pampering quick-fix for a plethora of our skin woes before a big night out. To contour and firm saggy skin – especially around the cheekbones and eyes, or quell puffiness and a bloated countenance due to water retention, or to revive and freshen a tired, sallow complexion. Different facial massage techniques promise anything from glowing skin to even reducing the circumference of your face. We road test four of them for you.

Ion Remedy S$150 for 90mins, Queen’s Market (16 Tanjong Pagar Road; Tel: 6329 1166; www.queensmarket.sg)

What it is

This treatment derives from a popular Japanese one translated to mean “correction for smaller face”. It combines lymphatic drainage techniques, which are gentler strokes and finger-tip pressure on acupressure points, with firmer massage strokes.

The lymphatic drainage techniques works by manually encouraging the movement of lymph fluid (which collects toxins as it transports nutrients and oxygen to cells) towards the lymph nodes to be filtered out of our body system. A sluggish lymph flow could be the reason behind water retention, often evidenced on our face and body as a swollen puffiness. Queen’s Market’s general manager Mika Takeda, with six years’ experience, explained that the treatment by flushing toxins from the system to help with puffy, bloated faces, lifting sagging skin, plumping up the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and giving a glow to the skin through improvement in blood circulation.

The experience

First up, a thorough cleansing and exfoliation to clear any dirt built up in the pores. Serum is then applied before the hour-long facial massage begins.

The light pressure of the lymphatic drainage massage together with the repetitive, deliberate movements lull me into a state of deep relaxation. Even as Ms Takeda began applying firmer pressure, she is careful to do so incrementally. Then when she uses the crook of her fingers to rub my jawline, at first I can feel achiness there as her fingers encounter resistance that feel like little bumps along the jawline. Those are the areas of muscle tension, according to her, where fluid has built up. With more rubbing, the movement eventually becomes smooth. Along my neck is a particularly sore knot that she works to loose, expertly rolling with her lower knuckles towards the lymph node located behind my ears.

To aid facial lymphatic drainage, she also works on my décolleté and shoulders firmly rubbing towards a key lymph node lying in the armpits. The last step, a gold silicon mask is applied to hydrate the skin, allowing the serum to be absorbed.

Ms Takeda warned me that my complexion would be a little ruddy after, due to the massage increasing blood circulation and indeed my skin which is sensitive, was a touch pink. But this went away in an hour or so. After the treatment, I noticed that my jawline was more defined, and my cheeks, firmer and lifted. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the shapelier effects lasted slightly more than a week.

Balance Face Care S$388 for 150mins,Yakson House (Harbourfront: #02-17 Harbourfront Centre, 1 Maritime Square; Tel: 6734 8555; The Star Vista: #B1-24 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green; Tel: 6734-8333; Wheelock Place: #05-12A Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road; Tel: 6734-8777; www.yakson.com.sg)

What it is

According to Yakson House, Golki which translates to “bone energy” involves manually stimulating the bones in your face to restructure it through deep tissue massage. The stimulation through the massage increases blood circulation around the bone, increasing calcium absorption. At the same time, very firm pressure is applied during the therapy on targeted areas of the face, stimulating the muscle and putting pressure on the bones.

Both the increased calcium absorption and pressure applied cause the bone to alter density and form in that region. Its founder developed the therapy in 1979 in the city of Masan, South Korea and the company now has over 100 branches within Korea and regionally.

The experience

I opt for is their Balancing Face Care which it says helps with correcting imbalances in face. The 150-min treatment starts with Golki body therapy beginning by massaging the legs. After the body massage therapy, my face is cleansed, readied for the 30-min facial Golki therapy.

Pressure is applied gradually and I was warned about the pain. The therapist Hanna Chung’s thumbs dug into parts like the corner of my jaw, firmly pushing inwards, it felt like a vise inexorably clamping shut around my face. I would put it at a pain scale of six - it wasn’t unbearable, but enough to be uncomfortable. Fortunately she seemed to be able sense my internal squirming and would let up for a breather before applying pressure again. Pinching motions ended the Golki therapy. Then a mask applied rounded off the treatment.

I was told that post-treatment I would experience achiness from the Golki facial therapy. Indeed I felt mild pain from the very firm, deep pressure held at certain points like the corner of my jawline near my ear and around my cheekbones which persisted for about 2 to 3 days.

Immediately after the treatment, the right of my face appeared bigger than my left (Ms Chung worked on my left side, especially the jawline to balance it with the smaller right side), but over the next few days, this eventually corrected out to become more symmetrical with my left. I also saw an improvement in brightness and more contoured cheekbones, with an almost imperceptible hollowing under them, that wasn’t there before the treatment. The effects lasted for about 5 days.

* Yakson House is offering a 1-for-1 promotion to all first-time customers for the purchase of any a la carte treatments, at the three outlets in Singapore, until 30 September 2017.

Cloud 9 Facial S$320 for 105mins, SK-II Boutique Spa by Senze Salus (Millenia Walk: #02-54/55 Millenia Walk Shopping Centre, 9 Raffles Boulevard; Tel: 6336 4880; Shaw Centre:, #02-06 Shaw Centre 1 Scotts Road; Tel: 6836 9168; www.mysk2spa.com)

What it is

A detoxifying facial that focuses on lymphatic drainage and aromatherapy. Using massage techniques developed by aromatherapy pioneer Marguerite Maury, an Austrian-born biochemist, it uses blends of certified organic essential oils to remedy skin and overall health issues. Based on promoting relaxation and stimulating the lymphatic system, it uses light, long sweeping strokes along the jaw line and neck as well as the eye areas. It pulses lightly on the lymph nodes to encourage drainage and elimination of toxins.

The experience

The treatment starts with a cleansing of my skin with SK-II products. Of the four essential oil blend options available – uplifting, soothing, purifying and anti-ageing – I choose the first.

Its rose otto, geranium and palmarosa components are said to aid with the flushing of toxins in the system, thus reducing puffiness. Massaging it in also stimulates collagen production, giving a contoured, toned effect on the skin. After two rounds of thorough cleansing, then gentle extraction, the therapist Jaslyn Lam starts the facial massage.

At times, Ms Lam’s fingers fan out along my forehead, at others they pulse gently on acupressure points. There is a particularly soothing point when she cups warmed hands around my ears. The massage is precise, methodical and almost rhythmic. The treatment ends with the mask applied.

After the treatment, my skin was visibly brighter and more even-toned. The slight puffiness that I had had around my eyes and jowls were gone and my chin also looked sharper. Overall, the results lasted about a week.

Lymph Korea Kyung-rak S$130 for 80mins, Korean Beauty Centre (#05-05 Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Road; Tel: 6734 6037; www.koreabeauty.com.sg)

What it is

Using a version of the kyung-rak massage techniques, spa director Sira Nam explained that it is a Korean deep tissue massage which works on the principles of releasing tension or “blockages” in the meridians or energy streams in our body that determine our physical and mental wellbeing. It intersperses sweeping motions using the thumb with vigorous massage with lower knuckle joints.

The experience

After a swift double cleansing, followed by exfoliation, Ms Nam starts on the massage. Using the outerpart of her thumb in sweeping motions, she works on my temples, cheekbones and the sides of my nose bridge out towards under my eye. Then holding her hands in a half-clench, she runs her lower knuckle joints vigorously along my cheekbones and upwards along my jawline. With swift upwards-lapping strokes of her hand on my cheeks and neck, she finished off the 30-minute facial massage. While it was not the kind of gentle massage that would put you into a relaxed state, it certainly felt effective in boosting blood circulation. The last step is a cooling menthol mask that helps to plump the skin.

Usually my sensitive skin feels hot and flushed after vigorous facial massages. But, I left with a luminous complexion that looked lifted, especially under the eyes and my cheekbones felt firmer. Even the slight swelling on both sides along my nose bridge seemed to have been reduced, making the bridge more defined.