What Skin Care Specialists Need to Know About Touch
Touch is powerful. As a skin care specialist, you come in contact with and work to improve the sense organ–skin–that creates people’s tactile experience of the world. You can affect this experience in many ways. Here’s how to make the most out of the opportunities for positive therapeutic touch:
Facial Massage
As Skin Inc explains, while lymphatic drainage is a popular technique, a facial massage doesn’t need to be long or invasive in order to produce benefits. Even a short facial massage using basic stroking can increase circulation, stimulating healing and giving a glow to the skin. A light touch can benefit acne-prone skin without causing inflammation. Those who are hard on their skin and those with aging skin will also be happy to see the change that a facial massage can provide.
Benefits of Facial Massage
If you need more reasons to include facial massage in your regimen, check out this list from Skin Inc of the benefits:
- Stimulates circulation;
- Detoxifies;
- Stimulates sebaceous production;
- Relaxes the nerves;
- Releases toxins trapped between the tissues and muscles;
- Oxygenates skin tissues;
- Provides physiological and psychological benefits;
- Aids in the extraction process;
- Hydrates by bringing nutrients to the surface layer of the skin;
- Increases lymphatic flow; and
- Eases muscle tension.
Tailor the medium you use to conduct the massage based on the client’s skin type. For example, oil or cream will work better for dry skin, while acne-prone skin is better off with gel. You can make your medium do double the work if it both has the right texture and includes skin-improving ingredients.
The influence of touch starts when you shake your client’s hand. Your body language and the way you situate your client in the room–including the texture of the bed or chair they’re on while getting their treatments–affect how comfortable your client is, as does the way you conduct small acts of touch that aren’t directly part of the treatment. Some studies even show that you can transfer emotions through touch. Considering the messages you’re sending can go a long way to giving your clients the best experience they can have with you.
Make the Client Comfortable
Because you’re helping people improve their bodies through direct application of treatments, you spend a lot of time in your clients’ personal space. Make sure everything is within the client’s comfort level, from how close you are to them and for how long to how much pressure you exert on their skin. When a client is deciding whether to return, relaxation can be as important as how successful the treatment is in improving the quality of their skin. While you don’t want to hound your client and make it seem like you don’t know what you are doing, occasional check-ins and attention to a client’s body language can make them feel cared for.
If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of skin care treatments, Everest Beauty College offers courses that teach you about everything from facial massage to facial and body waxing.
