Facial treatments are among the most requested services at Kocoon Spa. Guests often ask whether facial massage actually benefits the skin or is simply relaxing. Published research provides some measurable answers.

The 2018 facial massage roller study

Researchers Akane Miyaji, Kaori Sugimori, and Naoyuki Hayashi published a study titled "Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity" in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 41, pages 271-276. The article was published on September 14, 2018 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.009).

The study involved healthy volunteers and measured facial skin blood flow using laser speckle flowgraphy. Key findings included:

• Short-term effect: A 5-minute facial massage with a roller significantly increased skin blood flow in the treated cheek. The increase lasted for more than 10 minutes after the massage ended.
• Long-term effect: After 5 weeks of daily facial massage roller use, participants showed a significantly improved vasodilation response to heat stimulation in the treated cheek, suggesting enhanced vascular reactivity over time.

The Tokyo Institute of Technology reported on this research in November 2018, noting that the duration of the blood flow increase exceeded the researchers' initial expectations.

Earlier research on manual facial massage

A pilot study by Matatratip, Eungpinichpong, and Chatchawan published in the Archives of Allied Health Sciences on April 11, 2010 tested modified facial massage using finger kneading and acupressure techniques on 21 healthy women aged 30 to 50.

After 20 minutes of massage, results showed:

• Facial skin blood flow increased by an average of 14.02 perfusion units (p < 0.001)
• Skin temperature rose by 0.29 degrees Celsius on average
• Skin elasticity improved on both sides of the face
• 95% of participants reported high to very high satisfaction

What this means for your facial treatment

Increased blood flow to facial skin can support nutrient delivery and give the skin a healthier appearance temporarily. Improved vascular reactivity from regular massage may contribute to better skin responsiveness over time. These studies measured specific techniques under controlled conditions, so results from a professional spa facial may vary.

Facial massage alone does not replace sunscreen, a consistent skincare routine, or dermatological care for skin conditions. For professional facial treatments using Phytomer products, visit our Phytomer facials page.

Sources

• Miyaji A, Sugimori K, Hayashi N. Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2018;41:271-276. Published September 14, 2018. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.009
• Matatratip S, Eungpinichpong W, Chatchawan U. A pilot study on the immediate effects of modified facial massage on blood flow, temperature, and elasticity of facial skin. Archives of Allied Health Sciences. Published April 11, 2010.
• Tokyo Institute of Technology. Ready for a close-up: The science behind face massage rollers. News release. November 9, 2018.

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