5 Lymphatic Drainage Treatments To Depuff Your Skin

Chances are you’ve already dabbled in lymphatic drainage. If you think you haven’t, consider the facial massage demo you once followed online or the jade roller you bought because everyone did… along with a gua sha stone, which became TikTok’s most searched beauty term last year. Social media’s hot new trend is, as is so often the case, not new at all, but rooted in ancient practices that were developed for good reason. That reason being the revving up of the lymphatic system.

Possibly one of the most undervalued of your body’s many functional networks, the lymph is part of your immune system and helps protect you from disease and disability. Its job is to bathe cells in liquid that facilitates delivery of nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream. But it’s also in charge of transporting foreign pollutants, metabolic waste and toxins away from the cells and into the body’s toxin-processing stations – your liver and kidneys. The lymph and circulatory systems work together, but, while blood has a pump (your heart), which moves it around the body, lymph fluid has to somehow stay in motion without. It relies entirely on movement, muscle contractions, gravity and breath to keep flowing.

If you need a bit of a push to do some more exercise, consider that a clogged, stagnant lymph system is involved in 70 per cent of all chronic disease, says natural health educator Donna Strong in her book Love Your Lymph. Or heed lymphovascular medicine specialist Professor Peter Mortimer, who says: “Lymph fluid carries immune cells to your lymph glands, where all acquired immunity against infections and vaccinations occurs.”

Limber up that lymph and you’ll reap not only the health benefits, but also the pleasure of clear, glowing skin, free of puffiness. With the multitude of beauty boons extending to acne control (lymph drainage helps draw impurities from the skin) and rosacea relief (rosacea is linked to impaired immune function, while lymph drainage boosts immunity), many beauty treatments quietly include work on the lymph. You just won’t always realise it because ‘instant sculpting’ and ‘line-plumping’ techniques sound more seductive than moving toxic waste from under the skin.

Here’s our pick of the most effective lymph-moving treatments; some to carry out at home, some to enjoy at the hands of a skilled practitioner. Either way, your body and face will thank you.

1. Movement & Massage

COST: FREE

Moving around more and getting in your recommended 10,000 steps a day will have an immune-boosting effect by stimulating your lymph, as well as many other health benefits. “Do anything that elevates your heart rate on a daily basis; jumping up and down, bouncing while standing, stretching or doing inversions (lying on your back with your legs up against a wall is just as good as a handstand),” says Jules Willcocks, founder of Body Ballancer lymphatic massage technology. (The likes of Jennifer Aniston and Chrissy Teigen are said to be fans of Jules’ at-home Body Ballancer 505 pressotherapy suit, which, for the price of a small car, utilises 24 air chambers to consecutively inflate and deflate in a mechanical imitation of the so-called ‘Vodder’ manual lymph drainage technique.)

Jules also recommends slow, deep breathing for moving lymph fluid around, and drinking lots of H20. Water makes up 96 per cent of lymph fluid and it needs constant replenishing. As for a free beauty boost, massage therapist Guendalina Gennari starts the day with this simple face de-puffer: “Apply a little face oil for ‘slip’ and, starting from the collarbone, work towards the backs of the ears making little strokes with a flat hand (use your right hand to do the left side of the neck and vice versa),” she says. “Do the same from the centre of your chin and from the nasolabial folds [indentation lines on either side of the mouth] outwards. Then work from the inner eye corner out to the temples and from the centre of the forehead to the hairline. Repeat each movement five times.”

2. Gua Sha

COST: FROM $8

These elongated heart-shaped pebbles can be pricey, but inexpensive ones are just as good – you can find them for as little as $8 in Kmart, or treat yourself to some luxe crystal ones (see below left). It doesn’t really matter what material it’s made out of, as long as it’s smooth. Professionals use their gua sha vigorously to lift and ‘scrape’ skin, but at home, you should only use it with the lightest touch for lymph drainage, says Guendalina. “It should be held almost flat as you glide it along the skin, which shouldn’t redden; anything that tears or pulls at the skin is counter-productive. Use plenty of oil or, if you have oily skin, a mild cleansing milk and move the stone always from the centre of the face to behind the ears and down to the collarbone, where the lymph nodes are. Online demos are handy.”

Guendalina also likes cryo sticks (ice-cold metal balls on sticks) for the same purpose, rolling them outwards from the centre of your face. “The choice in at-home facial massage tools can be a bit overwhelming,” she says, “but these balls are soothingly cold, so particularly good for sensitive skin.” 

3. Body Brushing

COST: $29.95

Body brushing is a deceptively simple but effective way to keep your lymph moving and cellulite at bay. Brushes can be found for about $10, but it’s best to choose one with firm, natural bristles. It takes a minute or two to do your entire body before showering; easy enough to become a habit. Using long, light strokes (too much pressure means you’ll bypass the lymph), work your way up your legs towards the groin. Then, brush from the lower trunk, back and hands towards your collarbones, and from the neck down to the collarbones (you have lymph nodes in your inner elbows and knees, in your armpits and groin and behind your ears, but the largest ‘drainage portals’ are just under the clavicles). The whole thing should feel tingly, not scratchy, and should leave you feeling pleasantly invigorated.

4. Buccal Fusion Facelift

COST: $495

A trained pair of hands can truly resculpt a face. Melbourne-based integrated facialist April Brodie’s (aprilbrodie.com) signature Buccal Fusion Facial uses a combination of deep massage and lymphatic drainage techniques to lift and rejuvenate the skin. Working deep within the skin, the treatments offer much more than just superficial massage, targeting the muscles, fascia (connective tissue) and lymph to increase circulation, drain toxins and release muscle tension.

The muscle-sculpting techniques act as a facial workout, stimulating the muscle tissue and either softening stiffness or boosting lax muscles. Visibly lifted facial features, defined jaw contour and reduced dark circles and puffiness under eyes are always commonly noted after the treatment, plus improved skin texture and the release of jaw tension.

“When muscles are tight or contracted, they can pull on other muscles and affect your natural shape and contours, and when the muscle tone is normalised, everything is aligned and lifted,” April explains. “Skin becomes brighter and more hydrated due to boosted cellular functions such as natural hyaluronic acid release. The complexion looks plump immediately after the massage, as we induce hyperaemia through high-energy movements. Any puffiness due to stagnant fluid throughout the lymphatic system will also be drained away. By working on deeper structures both on the surface and intraorally [within the mouth], we can increase muscle tone, improve the overall complexion and visibly reduce the signs of ageing." 

5. Caci Eye Revive 

COST: $90

Professional muscle-toning microcurrent treatments, such as CACI, often feature a lymphatic drainage protocol. “It ensures there’s no excess fluid obstructing access to the muscles, as that would compromise the lifting and toning results we’re after,” says holistic skincare expert Gemma Clare. CACI’s 30-minute Eye Revive Treatment (available in select clinics around Australia, including at thefacialroom.com.au) involves not just microcurrent probes to gently
contract and strengthen orbital muscles for an ‘eye-opening’ effect, but also an extensive lymph drainage massage to tone and smooth skin, using serum-infused rollers. Eyes look significantly more perky afterwards. At-home alternatives are available, which emit microcurrents to tone and sonic vibrations to ‘shake’ stagnant fluids into action. Passing it over skin for a few minutes a day, always working from the inside out, can significantly de-puff and tone both the eyes and face as a whole.

Instant massager

Curious to give lymph drainage a try? Our beauty editor shares her best buys.

1. GUA SHA

Salt By Hendrix Rose Quartz Gua Sha, $29.95

2. CRYO STICK

BeautyBio Cryo Dual-Ended Roller, $134.42

3. BODY BRUSHING

Swiish Skin Detox Dry Body Brush, $29.95

4. MICROCURRENT TREATMENT

Foreo Bear facial toning device, $449

This article was originally featured in Red UK's March 2022 issue.