Is there anything to lymphatic drainage massages?

Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and organs that helps move excess fluid, waste products, and immune cells throughout the body.

Unlike your circulatory system, it doesn't have a pump (the heart). It relies on muscle movement, breathing, and manual pressure to keep lymph flowing. Under the right conditions, this happens without much intervention. But modern lifestyle means lymph fluid can sometimes get stagnant.

So certain massage techniques—gentle, rhythmic strokes—can help encourage healthy flow, helping reduce fluid buildup.

While these results are only temporary, here’s what you can expect from a lymphatic drainage massage:

• Create a more sculpted appearance: Less fluid retention can make facial contours and muscles appear more defined.
• Support circulation and detoxification pathways: It encourages your body's natural movement of lymph, which is part of your normal waste-removal process.¹
• Help skin look smoother: By reducing fluid retention, cellulite and uneven texture may appear less noticeable for a short time.²
• Promote relaxation: The gentle massage can help calm the nervous system, making it as much a wellness ritual as a beauty one.

While I’m sure most of us would jump at the chance to get regular massages, that’s simply not realistic. Here are some ways to support lymph flow at home:

• Move your body regularly (walking is enough!)
• Stay hydrated
• Practice deep diaphragmatic breathing
• Try dry brushing before you shower
• Gua sha or perform a gentle facial massage

And most of those tips are free! All in all, a healthy lifestyle is the most important thing for your lymphatic system. And if you can get a massage every once in a while to support it? Cherry on top.

+ Get things flowing

• How to do an at-home sculpting massage
• A lymphatic therapist's 3 tips to to lift & tone
• 3 tips to naturally reduce the appearance of cellulite
• How to look sculpted in less than 5 minutes

Skin Snacks: Olive oil

There’s no place I’d rather be than enjoying a meal by the Mediterranean Sea. But since I’m not, we’re spending the month of June highlighting the benefits of the much-researched eating habits of the area.

The hero of the Mediterranean diet? Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).

• Rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidant polyphenols, and vitamin E, it's one of the most studied foods for healthy aging—and your skin benefits, too.³
• Studies of Mediterranean-style eating patterns consistently associate higher olive oil intake with fewer visible signs of skin aging.⁴
• In fact, one study found that Med-style eating was associated with lower instances of skin cancer in women who lived in the region⁵

Now this is a beauty ingredient I can get behind.

+ Drizzle, eat, and enjoy your summer:

• Welcome to the summer of the Mediterranean diet
• New research says this is the best diet for lifelong health
• 8 foods you’ll find in every Mediterranean kitchen
• This meal packs all the best things into one dish