How to do lymphatic drainage on your face at home

Lymphatic drainage has gained notoriety over the past few years. You’ve probably seen it offered on spa menus or watched its dramatic results unfold on TikTok, but in fact this clever massage technique has medical roots going back almost a century. In the early 1900s, lymphatic drainage was used to stimulate lymph flow and reduce swelling. Fast forward to today, and it’s now recognised for its vast wellness and beauty benefits.

So what exactly is it? Lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique that stimulates your body’s natural drainage network to help remove waste and toxins and reduce excess fluid. Although originally used for the body, lymphatic drainage face massage is now a popular method to reduce puffiness and give the skin a natural glow.

Given its medical credentials, you may think facial lymphatic drainage is best left to the experts, but in fact, it’s simple to do at home and can easily be incorporated into your everyday skincare ritual. Just a few minutes per day will leave your skin looking lifted, brighter and less swollen, and you don’t need any fancy devices or expensive products to start.

Interested in learning more? This step-by-step facial massage guide will show you how to do lymphatic drainage at home. Read on to discover the best manual lymphatic drainage techniques, depuffing tools and more.

What is Lymphatic Drainage for the Face?

Ever noticed that your face looks puffier in the morning or after eating salty foods? This can be caused by a build-up of stagnant lymph fluid. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the facial lymphatic system has no pump and relies on movement and manual stimulation to circulate.

A simple, gentle facial massage can help boost lymphatic flow, encouraging excess fluid to drain and reduce puffiness for a fresher, more sculpted complexion in minutes.

The Benefits of Facial Lymphatic Drainage

There are so many benefits to lymphatic massage for the face. This simple technique is suitable for all skin types and gives instant visible results, even after one session. Here are a few effects you could expect to see after adding it to your ritual:

Reduced puffiness: Facial massage helps move excess fluid, easing swollen puffiness around the eyes, cheeks and jawline.

Reduced dark circles: If your under-eye circles are caused by fluid retention, manual lymphatic drainage can encourage circulation and drainage, making the eye area appear brighter.

A more sculpted look: Reducing fluid build-up helps define your natural facial contours underneath, revealing a sharper jawline and cheekbones in just one session.

Extra glow: The gentle movements increase blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the skin for a fresh, radiant appearance.

Tension relief: If you hold tension in your jaw, a light daily massage can help relax the muscles, calm the nervous system and release pressure.

What Do You Need To Start Facial Lymphatic Drainage?

With all these glorious benefits, you might expect to need a collection of expensive sculpting tools for the face, but the good news is, this effective technique can be performed perfectly with just your hands or a simple gua sha stone.

As the movements are incredibly light (there’s no deep tissue massage here), it can be done on clean, bare skin, but we like to add a light oil to help our hands glide smoothly through the movements. Our Nourish & Glow Superfood Face Oil is ideal for the task.

Add facial lymphatic drainage to your morning ritual to enjoy its visible benefits before the day begins. It’s also a great way to relax before bedtime.

Step-by-Step: How to Do Facial Lymphatic Drainage at Home

Follow our simple guide for the best facial detox techniques using just your hands:

Step 1: Prepare your skin

Begin by cleansing skin with a nourishing cleanser like Melt the Day Away Cleansing Balm. Next, apply a few drops of facial oil to help your hands glide easily without pulling.

Step 2: Open the drainage points

Before beginning the massage, it’s important to stimulate the lymphatic drainage points and open the pathways. Using very light pressure, tap or softly pump the areas above the collarbones, along the sides of the neck, under the jaw and in front of the ears. As the lymphatic vessels sit close to the skin surface, only the lightest touch is needed. Repeat each area five to ten times.

Step 3: Massage your neck

Place your fingers underneath your chin and lightly stroke down towards your collarbones five to ten times on each side.

Step 4: Massage your jawline

Make a V with your index and middle fingers. Start at the centre of your chin and glide out along the jawline towards your ears. Repeat five to ten times on each side.

Step 5: Massage your cheeks

Keeping your fingers in the same position, place your fingers beside your nose. Follow the curve of your cheekbones towards the top of your ears five to ten times on both sides.

Step 6: Massage your under eyes

Using your ring finger, gently sweep from your inner eye area outwards towards the temple. Take care to apply light pressure and use the natural outline of your eye socket to guide you. Repeat five to ten times.

Step 7: Massage your forehead

Start at the centre and sweep out towards your temples five to ten times.

Step 8: Final drainage

Finally, sweep your fingers behind the ears down towards the collarbones to help drain excess fluid away.

The Best Tools for Facial Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage can be performed efficiently at home using your hands alone, but many people prefer to incorporate a simple skincare tool. Here are some of our favourites:

Gua sha

We love doing gua sha lymphatic drainage massage with a cool stone to refresh our complexion before a busy day. Simply follow the same step-by-step guide, but use the smooth curves of the gua sha along your facial contours instead of your fingers. Read our Gua Sha Guide for more tips on using this effective tool.

Jade roller

If you already have a jade roller in your bathroom, it can be a helpful addition to your lymphatic drainage massage ritual. It works particularly well for the longer sweeping movements along the neck.

Ice globes

Ice globes may look professional, but they’re incredibly easy to use at home and work beautifully as a puffy face treatment. Take your globes directly from the freezer and lightly glide them along the massage pathways mentioned above. They feel particularly refreshing under the eyes and along the cheekbones.

How Often Should You Do Facial Lymphatic Drainage?

A quick daily massage is the best way to prevent fluid build-up and support healthy circulation. We recommend adding it to your morning skincare ritual, as fluid can often accumulate overnight. Just a few minutes per day are all you need to reduce puffiness and keep your complexion looking sculpted and radiant. Just remember to avoid massage if you’re experiencing broken skin, sunburn or infections.

Top Tips for Getting the Best Results of Facial Lymphatic Drainage

Hydrate: Drinking water before and after a facial massage will support lymph flow. Staying hydrated will also help your skin look healthy, plump and radiant.

Pair with great skincare: Lymphatic massage will improve the absorption of subsequent serums and creams, so it’s worth investing in a solid skincare ritual to enhance your glow.

Always massage in the morning: Timing matters when it comes to lymphatic massage. Lymph fluid can build overnight or after a salty meal, so a morning massage is a great way to instantly depuff and reset your skin before a busy day.

Consistency is key: A five-minute massage performed daily is more effective than 20 minutes once a week. For the best results, aim for short, consistent massage sessions – daily is best if you can find the time!

Lymphatic drainage works best when paired with the right products. Ella & Jo facial oils and sculpting tools are designed to help your skin look lifted, bright and radiant every single day. Start your at-home facial ritual with Ella & Jo today.

FAQs

1. How often should you do lymphatic drainage on your face?

Lymphatic drainage massage should be performed daily for the best results.

2. Can facial lymphatic drainage help with puffy eyes and under-eye bags?

Yes! If your puffy eyes are caused by fluid retention, massage can help the eye area look smoother and brighter.

3. Is gua sha good for lymphatic drainage on the face?

Yes, it works well for lymphatic drainage. Check this article for our tips on using gua sha effectively in your routine.

4. Are there any risks or side effects of doing facial lymphatic drainage at home?

Lymphatic drainage is very safe when done correctly at home. Just make sure to use light pressure and follow the correct massage pathways. If your skin is irritated or inflamed, wait for it to heal before massaging.