It's been making waves in beauty salons for several years now. Kobido massage promises lifted skin in just a few massage strokes. How does it work? Can you do it at home? We'll tell you everything!

What is the Kobido technique?

You may have already heard of it, Kobido massage is a beauty technique from Japan that has been all the rage in spas and institutes for several years. The idea? Prevent the appearance of wrinkles, boost blood circulation, and release facial muscle tension. Also called a natural facelift, like facial yoga (which consists of facial gymnastics of the facial muscles), the Kobido method is entirely centered around a multitude of very specific massage techniques. The latter aim to tighten the skin, by boosting blood microcirculation (under the pressure of massages) as well as the lymphatic system (which is responsible for eliminating waste from the body).

A little history...

The true technique of Kobido massage is taught by masters and is rarely practiced around the world. Its creation dates back to the 15th century! This ancestral massage prevents the effects of aging and was long reserved for the Japanese elite. If Kobido massage focuses on the face, it is because it is considered a central area where all the body's meridians connect. The result? If the face is healthy, then everything is healthy!

Why choose kobido massage over any other?

If you're looking to relax, a standard massage can do the trick, but if you're looking for an anti-aging effect, then the Kobido massage is what you need. More than just an aesthetic sequence, the Kobido massage is an art, a moment of grace that you treat yourself to to take care of yourself. You should know that the practice of Kobido is based on more than a thousand techniques and 48 ways to apply them depending on the area of ​​the face you're trying to target. For its practice, a cream is generally preferred to avoid any unexpected slippage during the massage; each gesture must be precise. During the massage, the practitioner performs a real choreography that involves the use of the fingers, but also the wrists and even the forearms! These vigorous massages (but gentle because the skin of the face remains fragile) act in depth, and it is all this ingenious mechanism that offers the long-awaited result of a natural facelift. For effective results and lasting effects, it takes about ten sessions in total. This aesthetic massage is only really useful when the skin is beginning to mature, so it is pleasant but not very useful before the age of thirty.

Can Kobido massage be performed at home?

As stated above, real Kobido is an art taught by masters! In institutes, it is generally a light version that is offered. The latter is effective but to a lesser extent. This is the technique that we can possibly practice at home. Daily practice can be an excellent complement to our usual care, and if we couple it with facial gymnastics (or facial yoga) then we can expect a result that is really worth it. Kobido massage requires a precise technique that will be difficult to explain in writing and without visual aids. Fortunately, effective tutorials abound on the Net , some books are also starting to appear on the subject like KOBIDO: The Japanese Natural Lifting by Aline Faucheur published by Hachette. It is also possible to get advice in an institute or even take classes with a master (it's another budget and it takes time...).

Some useful information for a good home massage

Before any massage, you must ensure your skin is well cleansed. And give yourself time; an effective massage should last at least fifteen minutes to activate the desired effects. After removing makeup and cleansing your face with a neutral soap, prepare your skin with a steam bath. Why? Steam opens pores and relaxes the epidermis, making it more malleable but also more receptive to the tension exerted and the cream you apply to nourish your skin.

Once the cream is applied, the massage can begin! First, work on lymphatic drainage by massaging the sides of the neck in circular motions with your fingertips.

• To work on the oval of the face and tighten it, start from under the chin, using your thumbs and pinch the skin gently up to the ears. Repeat the pinching, this time going down along the jaw to the chin.
• To reactivate subcutaneous microcirculation, we will perform brisk (but never aggressive) movements from the bottom of the cheeks to the top of the cheekbones.
• To smooth the skin around the lips, massage the area in a circular motion; to smooth the nasal fold, press your fingers on the nasolabial fold, starting from the lips and going to the inner corner of the eyes.
• To smooth crow's feet, stretch the skin upwards at the temples.
• To work globally on the face, smooth the skin from the bottom up and from the inside out.

Once these gestures are completed, for a tenfold effect, in addition to the facial gym, we take the time to apply our facial routine including the tonic lotion (or a hydrosol), the serum, the cream, the eye contour treatment, a lip balm , or even an eyelash serum so that the treatment is complete! These small indications do not replace a real Kobido massage but can act as a complement between two sessions.