Beauty Knowhow: Turn that frown upside down… 

…or at least iron out a bit of tension in your face with these clever massage tools – my favourite new skin soothers and smoothers

We had the Eastern-inspired jade (and rose quartz and amethyst) rollers. Then the gua sha, the heart-shaped massage aid made in the same stones. Now meet the acupressure massage tool. Essentially, it’s a stick with a small ball on the end and boasts the same Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) credentials as the aforementioned devices.

As part of her 001 skincare range, facialist, acupuncturist and TCM practitioner Ada Ooi has launched The Pick, which has an acupressure ball at one end and a ‘spoon’ at the other for stroking techniques. Think of it as a physiotherapy tool for the face, says Ada, that will ‘increase oxygenation and circulation and decrease the formation of adhesion – basically break down habitual muscle tensions that create some lines’. Of course, you’ll have to use it regularly and consistently to have an effect.

Founder of Kyushi, Alice Moore uses facial reflexology in all her treatments and has launched her own acupressure tools we can use at home: one made from bian stone, said to have a high-vibrational frequency, and one from bronze. Alice believes these help energy to flow, relieve tension and improve circulation to give a radiant glow.

Also in on the acupressure-tool act is natural skincare brand Odacite. Its offering doubles up as a spatula to scoop out creams. ‘We have so much tension in the forehead and eye area, especially from using computers,’ says founder Valerie Granbury. She keeps her tool by her bedside to massage her acupressure points before going to sleep.

DITCH TENSION  

‘To relieve pain or tension, apply your the ball tip between the brows, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and move the tool in circular movements,’ recommends facial reflexologist Alice Moore.

LOSE THE FROWN  

To relax your forehead, acupuncturist Ada Ooi advises: ‘Using the ball tip, apply medium pressure starting from the top of the eyebrows, moving upwards towards the hairline in a zigzag motion.’

SAY GOODBYE TO BAGS  

For a face depuff, Ada suggests targeting the ‘Si Bai’ point, which is on the top of the orbital bone, perpendicular to the middle of your pupil. Using your tool, gently massage the area in small circles to help relax muscles and rid any fluid congestion that might cause eye bags. This can also help with digestion and the nervous system.

LIFT YOUR SPIRITS  

Give your mind a boost by ‘tracing along the line where the nose meets the cheek and stimulating the top point with gentle pressure but without closing the nostril’, says Alice.

GET GLOWING  

To pump oxygen around and stimulate the nervous system, Ada recommends using your tool in small circular motions along the trigeminal nerve (on the depressed points at the front of the ear, under the cheekbones, on the side of your nose, and the middle of the chin).