Celebrities like Elle Macpherson, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez have long extolled the virtues of lymphatic drainage on social media, both for its effect on their faces and below the neck. But what exactly is it, and can you do it without needing to engage a pricey, Insta-famous massage therapist?

Lymphatic drainage is essentially a rhythmical massage treatment performed to stimulate the circulation of lymph fluid around the body, rapidly speeding up the removal of wastes and toxins with effective results that can be seen in the very first session. As the name suggests, lymphatic drainage is the process of “draining” fluid from your lymph nodes using massage techniques, and when performed on the face and neck results in a more sculpted jawline, depuffed face, and glowing complexion. It’s also been known to help with improved firmness, lack of sallowness, and plumpness over time, so yes – we’re here for it.

So how do I do it?

Done right, lymph drainage is one of the easiest, most effective ways to sculpt your jawline, remove puffiness from under the eyes, and support the health of your skin. And if performed on yourself, it’s also amongst the cheapest! 

The lymph system consists of lymph nodes which are the filters, and lymph vessels, which resemble respiratory veins or arteries. But while the respiratory system has the heart as a pump to move fluid, lymph moves with muscle contractions, and facial muscles just don’t contract that much doing the day.

Professionals say that the key concept is to massage upward, as it reduces swelling. Like all circulation in the body, the lymphatic vessels drain toward gravity, which leads to swelling in the first place. Massaging upward will help improve the skin’s radiance and over time, with consistency, create a more toned and energised look to the face.

Our lymph system relies on normal, gentle contraction from our muscles during everyday activity, so there’s no need for too much pressure. You also want to be sure you have ample slide over the skin, so massaging with a serum or oil will reduce friction and pulling of fine skin.

It’s harder to perform a lymphatic drainage massage on your own body but a daily body brush in an upward motion towards the heart is a great substitute.

 A good facial massage starts with great tools

Depending on what kind of effect you want, you can try out different facial massage rollers and tools to aid your at-home lymphatic drainage massage. Alder New York’s Gua Sha is a good place to start, and super easy to use. Gua Sha is the ancient Chinese therapy of scraping the skin with a tool in combination with an oil, cream or serum to improve the skin’s overall appearance via micro-circulation. Alder New York’s Gua Sha helps stimulate blood flow, reduce scar tissue, sculpt and lift the face, move stagnant fluid under the skin to de-puff, and makes the skin glow-ier over time. After a couple of days, you will see the difference.

You can use a gua sha anytime, but first thing in the morning on clean skin with a few drops of your favourite oil or serum is ideal. Always follow up with plenty of water to further flush toxins out, and bask in your glow.

 And for a little extra relaxation…

If you’re showing your face a little extra love with regular lymphatic drainage, maybe add in a little lymphatic breathing for enhancing an overall feeling of wellbeing. Deep breathing acts like a pump that helps move fluid through the vessels and lymph nodes, and you’ll feel pretty great afterwards. 

Start by placing both hands on the stomach, then inhale through the nose, expanding the stomach and keeping the shoulders still. Slowly exhale through the mouth, taking a few moments to rest between breaths.