Kobido-style facial self-massage

What is Kobido style facial massage?

He Kobido It is a Japanese facial massage technique that literally means “the ancient path of beauty”. It has more than 500 years of history and was originally developed for the Japanese imperial family, as an exclusive treatment to preserve the youth and vitality of your face without invasive procedures. Imagine being able to give yourself a Kobido-style facial self-massage, something so precious that it was once reserved only for the nobility.

Over time, this technique was perfected and passed down from generation to generation by masters of the art of Japanese massage. Today, it's considered a refined blend of therapeutic massage, facial lymphatic drainage, and a form of active meditation.

How is it different from other facial massages?

This is where it gets interesting. Throughout my career, I've performed various types of facial massages, from classic relaxation to facial reflexology and manual lifting techniques. But Kobido has a very special quality:

Speed and rhythm:
Unlike slower, more uniform facial massages, Kobido combines movements very soft with others fast and rhythmicThis alternation activates blood and lymphatic circulation deeply without damaging the skin.

Deep muscle stimulation:
It works on the facial muscles as if we were "waking them up." It's like doing facial exercises, but passively. This helps tone, improve firmness, and reduce expression lines.

Energy precision:
As a good Eastern technique, Kobido-style facial self-massage doesn't just work on the physical body. It stimulates specific acupressure points (meridians), which creates a balancing effect throughout the body. Many patients tell me that after a session, they feel not only lighter in the face, but also in a lifted mood!

Natural lifting effect:
It's noninvasive, there are no needles, no magic creams. Just trained hands that restore vitality to the skin. I've had clients who incorporated it into their weekly routine and noticed visible changes within a few weeks.

Benefits of Kobido for the face and general well-being

Kobido has a long list of benefits, both aesthetic and therapeutic. Many people come looking for a natural lifting effect, but they end up discovering that it also relieves stress, improves mood, and even helps them sleep better. It's not just about the face... it's a massage that touches the nervous system, energy, and emotions!

Aesthetic benefits

Muscle toning
The face has more than 40 muscles, and many of them tense without us noticing: we frown, clench our jaw, raise our eyebrows. With Kobido, we work these muscles in a similar way to a facial exercise, helping to firm the skin and prevent sagging.

Improved blood circulation
With the rapid and rhythmic movements typical of Kobido, the peripheral circulationThis brings more oxygen to the cells, improves skin tone (that natural glow many seek), and promotes collagen and elastin production.

Facial lymphatic drainage
One of the aspects I like most about Kobido-style facial self-massage is its draining effect. It helps eliminate toxins, reduce bags under the eyes and reduce facial swelling, something many people need without realizing it. When I combine this technique with a little facial reflexology, the change is dramatic.

Reduction of expression lines
It doesn't do magic, but it does softens fine wrinkles and improves elasticity. With consistency, I've seen lines between the eyebrows, on the forehead, and around the lips smoothed out. For people who suffer from chronic tension, this also brings muscle relief.

Emotional and energetic benefits

Reducing stress and anxiety
By working on acupressure points, areas of the parasympathetic nervous system are stimulated, which is what calms the body. Many patients tell me that, during the session, they feel a deep relaxation, as if they've been "reset."

Improved sleep and mental rest
Some people fall asleep right in the middle of the session. And that's perfect! It means they've given themselves over to the process. Massage helps you unwind your mind, especially if you do it at night.

Reconnection with the body and self-esteem
The simple act of touching your face with care and affection, or having someone do it with professional care, has a huge emotional impact. It helps you reconnect with yourself, look at each other with more gentleness and acceptance.

Energy balance
In Eastern medicine, we talk about unblocking "Ki," or vital energy. I translate it this way: Kobido gets things flowing again. If you feel dull, tense, or burdened, this technique can help clear that emotional fog that sometimes we don't even know where it comes from.

Self-massage: prior preparation

Before starting your Kobido-style facial self-massage routine at home, it's key to create an environment that allows you to relax and connect with yourself. You don't need a spa: with small details, you can transform your bathroom or bedroom into a self-care space.

Calm and warm atmosphere

• Find a comfortable place, where no one will interrupt you for at least 15 minutes.
• Dim the lights or light a candle. Dim lighting helps your body get into rest mode.
• If you want, put on some soft music or relaxing sounds (there are beautiful playlists with Japanese or nature sounds).
• Keep the space warm, because the cold contracts the muscles of the face and we don't want that.

Facial cleansing

This step is mandatory. Kobido-style facial self-massage is always done with the skin. clean and without makeup so that the products penetrate well and the movements are smooth:

• Wash your face with your usual cleanser, preferably mild and alcohol-free.
• Dry with a clean towel, patting, without rubbing.
  

Professional TipIf possible, apply a small warm compress before the massage (a warm, wet washcloth placed on your face for 1 or 2 minutes). This helps open your pores, relaxes your muscles, and feels very comforting.

Recommended products

To ensure your hands glide smoothly over your skin, you need an emollient. It shouldn't be too dry or too oily:

• Light facial oils: such as jojoba, sweet almond or rosehip.
  I usually use jojoba because it doesn't clog pores and has a very friendly texture.
• Serums or emulsionsIf you have oilier skin, you can opt for a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid and apply just a few drops of oil on top.
• Avoid very heavy or silicone-based creams, as they hinder fluid movement.
  

ImportantApply the product first to your hands, rub them together to warm it up, and then gently stroke it onto your face. This gesture marks the beginning of the massage and will begin to soothe you.

Posture and breathing

• Sit with your back straight but relaxed, facing a mirror if it helps guide you.
• Place your feet firmly on the floor.
• Before starting the movements, take three deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
  This tells the body that it is time to release tension.

Simple Kobido routine step by step

You can do this complete Kobido-style facial self-massage routine in a few minutes. 10 to 15 minutes, ideally at night Or whenever you need a moment to pause. Before you begin, make sure your hands are clean, your face is prepared, and you have applied an oil or serum.

Initial activation (1 minute)

• Support the open palms on your face and apply gentle pressure for a few seconds, as if you were holding your face.
• Then, slide your hands from the center to the sides, passing over cheeks, jaw, and neck. I repeated three times.
• This initial gesture calms the nervous system and awakens the skin.

Front (1-2 minutes)

• With the tips of your fingers (index, middle and ring fingers), smooth your forehead from the eyebrows towards the temples, with upward and lateral movements.
• Then, with quick and very light movements (like small keystrokes), activates circulation on the forehead. This is called studded, and is typical of Kobido.
• Finish with gentle smoothing passes.

Aim: release tension between the eyebrows, soften horizontal lines and stimulate circulation.

Eye area (1 minute)

• Use the ring fingers (which exert less pressure) to draw a circle around the eyes: from the tear duct outwards through the lower part, and back through the upper part.
• Then, do small, gentle pressures on the temples, the tear duct and under the eye (on the bone, not on the dark circle itself).

Aim: reduce bags, dark circles and eye strain.

Cheeks and cheekbones (2-3 minutes)

• With the palms or fingers, slide from the sides of the nose towards the ears, following the line of the cheekbones.
• Then, make upward circular movements with your fingertips on your cheeks, as if you were lifting them.
• You can also make quick movements (tapping or tapping) to activate circulation.

Aim: tone cheekbones, stimulate collagen and give natural volume.

Jaw and contour (1-2 minutes)

• With your thumbs under your chin and your fingers on your face, gently pinch the edge of the jaw, and swipe back.
• Then, make a pinching motion from the center of your chin toward your ears, several times.
• Massage the masseter muscle (the one that hardens when we clench our teeth), with slow circles.

Aim: refine contour, release jaw tension, relax bruxism.

Neck and décolleté (1-2 minutes)

• With wide, downward movements, slide your hands from your jaw to your collarbones.
• Then gently pump your fingers in the supraclavicular area (just above the bone).
• I repeated this several times. This step is key to the lymphatic drainage.

Aim: decongest, facilitate the elimination of toxins, visually lengthen the neck.

Closing and final relaxation (1 minute)

• Rest your hands on your face again and breathe deeply.
• Make yourself a final caress from the center of the forehead, down the nose, chin and neck.
• If you like, finish by applying a refreshing mist or toner to seal the treatment.

Tip Jimena:

It may seem like a lot at first, but with practice, you'll find your own rhythm. Some days I only do the eyes and jaw, and others I give myself the full routine. Listen to your body.

Tips to enhance the effects of self-massage

These are the secrets I've learned over time, both in my practice and in my own self-care. They're easy to apply and make a big difference:

Make massage a habit, not an exception

• Consistency is key. It doesn't have to be done every day, but it does have to be done regularly.
  Ideal: 3 times a week, although even once done well it is better than nothing.
• The important thing is that you surrender to the momentDon't think of it as just another chore. Think of it as a space to connect with yourself.
  

Real experience: I have a patient who started doing Kobido on Sundays while applying her mask, and after a month, she noticed that her frown lines were softer and she felt clearer mentally.

Internal and external hydration

• Drink water before and after from the massage. This helps eliminate toxins mobilized during facial drainage.
• After self-massage, you can apply a moisturizing or soothing product such as thermal water, aloe vera gel, or a nourishing cream that your skin accepts well.
  

Extra tip: On hot days, keep a jade or quartz spoon in the refrigerator and use it after your massage to seal the work. A divine refreshment!

Add conscious breathing

• While you massage, breathe deeply, especially during the slow moments.
  Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system and promotes relaxation.
• You can also accompany with soft affirmations such as: “I give myself permission to relax” either “My skin is alive and radiant”It's not cheesy, it's emotional medicine.

I chose the best time of day

• The ideal is at night, before bed. It helps release the stress of the day and promotes rest.
• But you can also use it as a midday "reset" if you're very tense or spend long hours in front of screens.

Jimena's Advice: If you do it during the day, wait at least 10 minutes before applying makeup, so that the products penetrate and the skin can breathe.

Listen to your skin and avoid friction

• If you feel that your skin is pulling or “locking up”, add more product. Never rub or stretch hard.
• Pay attention to how your skin reacts. If there is excessive redness or sensitivity, reduce the pressure or consult a professional.

My personal and professional experience with the Kobido massage

Throughout my years as a massage therapist and reflexologist, I've learned many techniques, some very ancient and others more modern. But there's something about Kobido that has always resonated deeply with me: the subtlety with which it acts on the skin and the soul at the same time.

As a therapist

From the moment I incorporated it into my sessions, I noticed something different happening. It wasn't just an improvement in skin texture or muscle relaxation. effect was comprehensiveAfter the massage, the person woke up feeling different. Lighter. More present.

What made me fall in love with Kobido style facial self-massage was its precision without aggressionIt's a technique that demands attention, presence, and respect for the rhythm of the face. It requires the practitioner to be deeply connected, not only to their hands, but also to their breath, intention, and the energy of the moment.

Every time I do a session, I feel a sacred space open: there's a dance between my hands and the other person's skin. And even though we don't speak much, a silent, transformative communication is generated. The face, often filled with expression and tension, begins to soften... and this is also reflected in the mood and the way we engage with the world.

As a woman who practices self-massage

I didn't always have time for myself. Like many people, I prioritized the urgent and left the important—like self-care—for later. But during a time of great physical and emotional stress, I decided to try making myself a little more comfortable. My own Kobido-style facial massage.

It was eye-opening.

The first few days, I struggled to focus. I rushed, doubting whether I was doing it right. But as I repeated the gesture every night, something changed. Not just in my skin (which looked more radiant and rested), but in my connection with myself. It was a moment where he touched me with love, without demands.. Where I put aside my earrings and connected with something simple: my hands, my face, my breathing.

Today, Kobido self-massage is part of my routine. Not as an obligation, but as a act of presence and affection towards myselfIt reminds me that I can take care of myself with gentleness, that I don't need to rush to be worthy, that there is beauty in calm.

Why incorporate Kobido into your self-care routine

Kobido style facial massage is not just an aesthetic technique. It is a powerful tool for conscious self-care, which connects the external with the internal, the physical with the emotional. It is a path that teaches you to listen to your face with tenderness, to recognize accumulated tensions and gently release all that you no longer need to hold.

Incorporating Kobido self-massage into your daily or weekly routine doesn't require a lot of resources: just a little time, your hands, and a willingness to look at yourself with new eyes. Through simple yet profound movements, you can tone your skin, brighten your expression, and, above all, feel better in your own body.

My hope is that you explore it with curiosity, without demands, without seeking immediate results. Because the truest changes aren't just seen in the mirror, but in how you feel inside.