Our month of consistency starts now
If you’ve noticed your skin changing in your 40s and beyond — becoming a little drier, a little less plump, or simply not bouncing back the way it used to — you’re not alone.
And according to Olivia Wilde’s facialist, Joomee Song, (who also works with everyone from Anya Taylor-Joy to Lady Gaga), the most powerful tool for supporting mature skin isn’t a high-tech device or a trending ingredient. It’s your hands.
Does massaging your face really work?
Speaking to The Zoe Report, Joomee shared some serious skin wisdom that we will be putting into action immediately: “More so than any product or tool, the daily moving of stagnant energy and releasing of tension can unequivocally change everything about your skin for the better. There’s no downside to consistent facial massage and every person, at every age, can start seeing the benefits if they started today. All they need to do is be patient and consistent.”
It’s a refreshing reminder, especially for women over 40 who often feel pressured to “correct” signs of aging. In fact, the facialist reveals that when she moved to the U.S. in her twenties, she noticed the Western approach leaned heavily on external procedures — from high-tech devices to chemical peels: “Often, those more aggressive techniques compromise the skin’s health and natural immunity, which opens the door for long-term sensitivities and damage.”
Instead of trying to erase every pore or line, she encourages embracing realistic skin goals. “Even healthy, happy skin has texture… We must pivot from punishing our skin for naturally aging to celebrating our skin’s resilience and strength.”
What does a facial massage do?
So where does facial massage fit in? As it turns out, it’s a quiet powerhouse for mature skin. “Massage stimulates fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen,” Joomee says. And with hormones shifting and skin cell turnover slowing, a gentler approach is key, as over-exfoliating or stacking treatments like retinol and lasers can sometimes overwhelm your barrier. “Your skin needs time to heal in between,” confirms Joomee.
Her advice? Turn cleansing into a ritual instead of a rush. “Most people want to rush this step. Slow down and give yourself a mini facial,” she suggests, recommending massaging your face and neck with a nourishing balm cleanser such as the La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser or Oak Essentials Cleansing Balm. Those few intentional minutes can soften tension, plus help to boost circulation and improve texture over time.
La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser ($270 at David Jones)
Oak Essentials Cleansing Balm ($81.28 at Revolve)
Sure, the price tags of Joomee’s favourite massage-friendly cleansers are a little heftier but if you ask us, investing in your face’s future (especially in a way that allows you to DIY) is always a good idea.
And frankly, if Olivia Wilde’s facialist says it’s so, we believe it!
Main image credit: Getty Images
Will you be joining us in a month of facial massages to check out the changes?
Sounds interesting! I might give it a try