How to Try It at Home

Lymphatic self-massage doesn’t require any fancy tools. All you need are clean hands, a bit of facial oil (to reduce friction), and a few mindful minutes.

Here’s a basic routine to try:

1. Start at the neck.
   Gently stroke downward from just under your ears toward your collarbone. This is where many of your facial lymph channels drain.
2. Move to the jawline.
   Use your fingertips to glide from the center of your chin outward toward your ears. Gentle pressure is key—think of it more as guiding fluid than pressing deeply.
3. Focus on the cheeks and under eyes.
   Sweep outward from the nose across the cheeks, then use ring fingers to lightly tap from the inner corners of your eyes outward, following the orbital bone.
4. Finish at the forehead.
   Stroke from the center of your forehead toward your temples, then sweep down the sides of your face to encourage complete drainage.

Do this two to three times per week—or even daily if your skin feels especially sluggish or puffy.