What is buccal facial massage? - Get The Gloss

[massage]

If you think you don’t know what buccal facial massage is there is a high chance you will have actually seen it in action thanks to social media. Buccal facial massage (it’s also called intra-oral massage) is a massaging technique that is performed inside the mouth, rather than on top of the skin. By massaging internally you can stimulate lymphatic drainage and also engage with muscles that you can’t connect with externally.

What is a buccal massage?​

Buccal massage is a method that’s been around for awhile and I trained in it over ten years ago. Thanks to social media, it has recently become popular again. Buccal involves using your thumb and fingers to massage the inside and outside of your mouth and cheeks. It’s particularly effective for those wanting to soften facial expression lines on the lower face, re-contour the nasolabial area, ease TMD (temporomandibular disorder) and relieve sinus discomfort.


It can be really effective. Especially for enhancing facial contour, softening smile lines, releasing muscle tension from teeth grinding and it’s great for relieving pain around the jaw.


Absolutely, we can simplify it and build it into our home routine. Just don’t be overly aggressive with your movements. As you’ll be working on and inside your own face and mouth, you can perform Buccal without surgical gloves. If you went to a clinic the therapist would wear gloves. You’ll need a simple, non-aromatherapy oil such as rosehip seed, almond, coconut, olive or sea buckthorn. Just the tiniest amount (two to three drops) is enough.


Apply oil to your lower face, mouth, chin and cheeks, and then repeat each of the following movements three times. On exercises that ask you to put your thumb in your mouth, make sure to purse your lips around your thumb in an “O” shape, then soften your mouth and repeat the moves.

As a general rule, the finger that’s on the outside of your face will glide toward your lips. You can and will feel lumps and bumps in the tissue. Don’t worry – this is totally normal.


I call these 'walrus tusk' moves, here's how to do them.

1. Place both thumbs inside your mouth. Glide both of your first fingers in an inward curving glide, like creating a semi-circle on each side, tracing and rubbing over the nasolabial line and upper lip area.
2. Place your first fingers inside your mouth and repeat the move, this time with your thumbs gliding in a semi-circle around the sides of your mouth, from your nose to your chin and back.

This is an extract taken from The Glow Plan - Face massage for happy, healthy skin in 4 weeks by Abigail James, £11.75. Design and typography copyright © Watkins Media Limited 2022 Text copyright © Abigail James 2022 Photography copyright © Katrina Lipska 2022

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