BLOG 112: 6 WAYS FACIAL ACUPRESSURE CAN LIFT YOUR FACE AND MOOD

You can use Acupressure points in many of my Face Yoga routines to release stress and lift your face, as well as your mood. 

When we stimulate the Acupressure points on our faces, we work with the body’s life force, known as Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine or Prana in Yoga. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this energy runs along the meridian lines that connect various areas of our body.

When the energy becomes stagnant or stuck, it can result in physical or emotional issues. By stimulating the acupressure points, we get that energy flowing again.

At the same time, massaging the Acupressure points helps to boost blood circulation, activate our lymphatic drainage system, and gently lift and tone our facial muscles. This means it has plenty of aesthetic benefits, as well as benefits for our physical and mental health.

Today’s post will look at some of the ways you can use Facial Acupressure yourself at home to lift your mood and bring new life and energy to your face.

As well as my own knowledge, I’m drawing on the wisdom of the lovely Facialist Nichola Joss, who recently joined me to offer a free class on Facial Acupressure over on Instagram. If you didn’t manage to join us live, you can find a recording of the session on my YouTube channel.

DOING FACIAL ACUPRESSURE AT HOME

You don’t need any special equipment to use these Acupressure techniques at home. However, if you have a Precision tool or a Gua Sha tool, I recommend having them to hand as they can be useful for some of the points we’ll be working with today. You can find both these tools in my shop.

If you don’t have any tools, don’t worry. You can substitute with a teaspoon or simply use your fingers.

Before you begin, make sure you have clean hands and a clean face. If your hair is long, I suggest tying it back. 

Apply a facial oil or serum to your face and neck to help your fingers move easily over your skin. I use my Fusion by Danielle Collins facial serum, which is made with high-quality seed oils to moisturise and nourish your skin.

Press your hands gently, but firmly, all over your face and neck area to help the serum penetrate deeper into your skin. This nurturing touch is like a hug for your face – even if you don’t have time to do the full acupressure routine, adding this to your morning skincare helps to start your day with a loving touch.

Then, tap your face quickly all over with your fingertips to wake up the skin and boost blood circulation. Work down your neck and onto your collarbones too.

FACIAL ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Our digestive systems are intimately related to our emotions. Lower frequency emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety, and low mood are all held in this area. Often, when we are feeling low, we notice that our stomach feels tense, or we might experience digestive issues.

There are several acupressure points on our faces that relate to the organs of the digestive system. By stimulating these points, we help to get the energy flowing freely again, which releases trapped emotions and alleviates digestive problems.

1. COLON

First, we’re working with an acupressure point that corresponds to the colon. This is found at the corners of your mouth.

With your index fingers, press on the points at the corners of your mouth. Hold for a count of three to five and then release. Do this five times in total.

As well as helping with issues like bloating and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this increases blood circulation to the skin and can help to prevent or reduce the marionette lines that often appear as we get older.

2. LIVER

The liver plays an essential role in riding our bodies of toxins. This organ is also associated with anger and worry.

If you’ve been feeling tense and overwhelmed, there are several facial acupressure points that activate the liver and help to lift your mood.

The first is at the corners of your nose. Place your index fingers here and press the points for a count of three to five. Release and repeat this up to five times.

This also stimulates the muscles in this area of the face, gently lifting and toning the skin.

Another acupressure point that relates to the liver is found in the middle of each eyebrow. Squeeze this area between your thumb and index finger. As before, hold for three to five seconds and repeat five times.

The final point for the liver is the inner end of your eyebrows. Not right in between them, which is a point that relates to the stomach, but slightly to either side.

Place your index fingers here and press for a count of three to five. Release and repeat five times.

You might notice a lot of tension in this area – we often express worry here. Activating these points helps to release that tension and is also great for addressing number 11 lines.

3. STOMACH & INTESTINES

Worry and stress often show up as stomach issues. To release those emotions, we first go to the acupressure point right between the eyebrows, on the bridge of the nose. 

Breathe deeply as you press this point for a count of five. Release and repeat five times. 

You can use your index finger or your thumb for this point. You’ll find you naturally go for one or the other – follow your intuition and do what feels best for you.

If you are using the index finger, you can turn your hand to press your thumb onto the crown of your head. This helps you feel grounded and secure.

The second point for the stomach is the upper lip. Using your little fingers, slowly smooth along the upper lip, being careful not to drag at the skin. 

As well as releasing stagnant energy from the stomach, this brings fresh blood to the mouth, giving you naturally fuller and plumper lips.

The lower lip relates to the intestines, so we are going to use that same smoothing movement as we did on the upper lip.

If you have a precision tool or gua sha tool, you can use it instead for these two moves. A teaspoon can work too – keep it in the fridge for a lovely cool and refreshing boost to your skin.

Try to keep your mouth relaxed as you work over this area.

FACIAL ACUPRESSURE TO RELEASE TENSION

Next, we move to acupressure points that help to release tension in our faces and upper bodies. 

Many of us spend a lot of time looking down at our phones or slumped in front of the computer. This causes tightness and soreness in our shoulders, neck, and jaw.

These are also places where we store a lot of stress and emotional tension. Using acupressure points, we release that tension and open up the upper body.

4. NECK & SHOULDERS

Start with a stretch. Reach your arms out and back. Breathe deeply through your nose as you gently turn your head from side to side. This immediately opens the shoulder area and lengthens the neck. It is a simple and quick stretch you can do at any time of day.

Next, take two fingers to the acupressure point on top of the shoulder, roughly in line with your nipple. Don’t worry too much about finding the exact spot here – you can work along the area a little to release tension.

As you massage this point, turn your head to the other side and tilt your chin up slightly to stretch your neck. Then repeat on the other side.

5. JAW

Many of us hold a lot of stress and tension in our jaws. If our posture is bad, the tightness in our neck and shoulders can also work its way into our jaws. This can cause headaches and jaw issues.

Take your index fingers to the acupressure point at the corner of your jaw, just under your ears. This feels tight and tender for most people, so take some time to wiggle your fingers into the point and work out that tension.

6. CHEEKS

Our final acupressure point is one I often refer to as the ‘beauty point’ because it has so many benefits for our skin and faces.

To find it, suck in your cheeks and place your fingers in the hollow that is created. Release your cheeks and press into this point.

You might feel knots and crunchiness in the muscles here. Don’t be afraid to work into those areas further to release tightness. Just be careful not to drag at the skin and stop if anything feels painful.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT FACIAL ACUPRESSURE

Acupressure can do wonders for your skin, as well as your overall physical and mental health. That’s why many of my face yoga routines incorporate acupressure points.

You can learn more about Facial Acupressure in my Face Yoga Teacher Training Course. Accredited by The International Institute for Complementary Therapists and the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, the course provides you with everything you need to become a Face Yoga teacher and teach these amazing techniques to others.