Korugi: The Japanese Facial Massage That Instantly Transforms Your Skin

Korugi: The Japanese Facial Massage That Instantly Transforms Your Skin 
 
Can a facial really make your skin look seven years younger? The answer is a resounding yes! The Japanese Korugi massage – which is sometimes called manual plastic surgery – is a noninvasive facial massage technique that boasts amazing, quick results without any downtime. 
 
Read on to learn how you can do it at home. 
 
 
What is Korugi Massage?
 
Developed by Japanese therapist Chiyo Hayashi, Korugi is an anti-aging facial massage technique that targets skin and the layers of fat and muscle tissue underneath. As we age, our skin is prone to sagging and loss of firmness, as our facial muscles lose strength, and the creation of elastin and collagen slows down. But that’s not all. The fat in our face redistributes itself as we grow older, accumulating in areas like the cheeks, chin, and underneath the eyes rather than an even distribution across the face. 
 
Korugi massage addresses these signs of aging by toning and exercising the facial muscles, dispersing the fat beneath the skin, stimulating lymphatic drainage, and improving circulation for a more youthful complexion. The result? An instant transformation in the health and appearance of your face. 
 
To try the Korugi facial massage at home, here’s what you need to do.
 
 

Step 1: Prep Your Skin

 
Before starting your Korugi facial massage, you want to prep the skin. Cleanse the skin with your favorite face wash and follow with any serums or moisturizers. Then apply a facial oil – like the Gua Maral Sea Berry Organic Facial Oil – as this will provide the slip you need for the massage.

Step 2: Cheek Lift
 
Clench your fists. Hold your fists against your cheekbones, using your knuckles to gently press into the bone for five seconds.
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Massage the Forehead
 
Tilt your head back slightly. Keeping your fists clenched, press your knuckles into the forehead. Continue pressing as you slide your fists along your hairline toward the temples and then the earlobes, finishing at the collarbones.
 
Step 4: Back to the Cheeks
 
Lock your hands together but keep your thumbs straight. Position the tip of your right thumb under the inner corner of your left eye near the nose. Apply gentle but firm pressure as you slide your thumbs toward the left ear. After you’ve reached the ear, slide down the neck toward the collarbone. Repeat two to three times on each side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Smooth the Forehead
 
Make your hands into fists. Position fists closely together on your forehead, placing your knuckles just above the brow line. Use firm pressure to slide them toward the hairline. Move the fists back down to the brows, but this time a little farther apart, and make an upward motion once again, smoothing out the forehead. Continue until you’ve done your entire forehead.

Step 6: Awaken the Eyes
 
Make a fist, keeping your thumb on the outside of your hand. Lift your eyebrows, close your eyes, and use the knuckles of your index and middle finger to slide along the brow line, keeping the brow in between your knuckles. Begin on the inner part of the eyebrow and move outwards. Repeat on the other side. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7: Sculpt the Jaw
 
Keeping your index and middle fingers sticking out of your fist (but still bent at the knuckle), use them to press and pull the skin from the chin toward the temples. Use firm pressure. Repeat seven to eight times on both sides. 
 
Step 8: Finish the Massage
 
Open your palms. Place your fingertips on your forehead and slowly slide your hands toward the temples, then the neck, and finally your collarbones. This motion helps release and de-stress. Repeat a few times until your face feels completely relaxed.