Elevate Skincare Device Efficacy With Anti-Aging Facial Vectors

There’s a pro tip estheticians use when completing professional skincare treatments that you can use with your at-home devices—facial vectors!

This technique is advanced but simple, delivering rapid facial lifting and toning. Use your anti-aging device as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions and set aside 5 minutes of your treatment time for vectors. I use vectors with microcurrent, radio frequency, and multi-modality devices.

WHAT ARE FACIAL VECTORS? 

Facial vectors are movements that cut across common areas of facial sag. There are 11 vectors on each side of your face that can lift your face and jawline. You can use vectors during facial massage, but for best results, use them with your at-home skincare devices.

While your skincare products, routines, and treatments must be tailored to meet your current and evolving skincare needs, vectors work on everyone all the time. An anti-aging lift may be your primary objective, but vector work also releases facial tension. You may be surprised at how much tension you’re carrying in your face.

Use to:

• Release tight muscles

• Strengthen weakened muscles

• Clear lymphatic buildup

FACIAL TONALITY: WHY YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR FACE MORE, NOT LESS 

There’s a growing misconception that moving your face less slows the signs of aging and minimizes the need for Botox, but quite the opposite is true.

Yes, crow’s feet, laugh lines, forehead creases, and other wrinkles are caused by a combination of repetitive motion and decreased collagen and elastin production. As such, it might seem like reducing the repetitive motion of facial expressions would minimize the formation and severity of fine lines and wrinkles, but the opposite is true.

As the saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it!”. When you reduce facial expressions, you reduce muscle contractions. When you reduce muscle contractions, it sends a message to your brain to produce less (adenosine triphosphate).

WHY ATP PRODUCTION SLOWS WITH DECREASED MOVEMENT? 

There are 43 muscles in the face. Just like any other muscle, you can overuse or underuse your facial muscles. When you underuse facial muscles, your body sends less ATP to the muscles you use less. ATP is the primary energy source for muscle contractions. With less energy, your facial muscles atrophy, leading to a rapid decrease in facial tonality.

REAL-LIFE USE CASE THAT DEMONSTRATES WHY LITTLE MOVEMENTS MATTER

A client came to me after experiencing accelerated facial sagging. As a Master Esthetician, I knew we needed to discuss her lifestyle, not just her skincare routine and products. I discovered that she worked in a library and asked if her job duties had recently changed. They had!

Previously, one of her roles was reading to toddlers. When you read to toddlers, you don’t just read, you make goofy faces to differentiate the characters and make reading fun. In her new position in the library, she no longer read to toddlers and had less social engagement. This is why her face began to sag. With this knowledge, I was able to tailor her treatment to the precise cause of sagging.

HOW I INCORPORATE ANTI-AGING VECTORS IN MY SIGNATURE 3-STEP ROUTINE

It’s never one thing that makes your face look better; it’s a whole combination of things. My signature approach includes targeted massage, high-performance skincare products, and anti-aging skincare devices used as directed and with vectors.

Step 1: Targeted massage: I use my hands and a fascia massage tool in this step so that I can feel each client’s individual areas of stuck fascia and tight muscles. Using my fingers allows me to dig in and release overworked muscles and fascial adhesions, while stimulating circulation for lymphatic drainage.

Step 2: High-performance skincare products: I specialize in tailoring skincare routines with concentrated premium products. I use multitasking products formulated from actives that nourish, hydrate, and prompt your body’s natural healing process. The perfect skincare routine isn’t one-and-done. I adjust products by your current skin conditions, weather, and lifestyle.  

Step 3: Skincare devices with vector work: I use skincare devices as directed by the manufacturer, setting aside 5 minutes at the end for facial vectors. In addition to lifting common areas of facial sagging, vector work clears out lymph that collects in your nasolabial folds, jawline, undereye, and other areas of the face.

IS LYMPHATIC FLUID BUILDUP MAKING YOU PUFFY? 

Circulation is naturally lower in the neck and face because both areas reside above your heart. As you age, circulation further slows, especially when lying flat while sleeping. This  causes lymphatic fluid to build up, creating aging puffiness. Undereye bags are often the first thing that comes to mind, but lymphatic fluid can build around the nasolabial folds, along the jawline, and in your neck. Draining this buildup rapidly depuffs your face, providing instant slimming.  

HOW TO COMPLETE VECTOR WORK AT HOME?

There’s a growing range of pro-grade skincare devices that are safe, gentle, and effective for at-home use. I suggest devices that smooth, lift, firm, and clear skin by stimulating collagen production, restoring fascia, and optimizing cellular performance. Use with vectors for added rejuvenation.

• Cleanse: Cleanse and prep your face as directed by your skincare device’s instructions. In most cases, this includes applying a conductive gel for comfortable slip and glide. Feel free to layer a high-performing serum underneath your conductive gel. Some devices can be used over the  Exoderm Bio Cellulose Mask.

• Treatment minus 5 minutes: Complete your treatment as advised in your device’s instructions, reducing overall treatment time by 5 minutes. Some devices suggest cutting across some or all vectors in their instructions, so adjust the time accordingly.

• Vector work: I cut across all 11 lifting vectors 7 to 10 times, without exceeding the suggested treatment time. In addition to stimulating weak muscles and releasing tight muscles, this technique helps drain lymphatic fluid.  This video provides detailed instructions!

Pro tip: Complete your treatment after taking a shower or wetting your hair. When your hair is dry, skincare devices can’t penetrate the hairline. When your hair is damp, you can glide your device over the hairline to conduct through your hair. Depending on the device modality, this may work as a proactive approach to receding hairlines.

WHY I DON’T SUGGEST MEDICAL-GRADE CONDUCTIVE GEL?

Medical-grade conductive gel is inexpensive to purchase in bulk, but it’s not my top choice for esthetic treatments. That’s because medical-grade formulations typically include artificial colors and fragrances. When completing a quick medical ultrasound, the ingredients aren’t likely to irritate your skin. When completing an esthetic treatment, you push actives deep into the skin. If actives are artificial, they can cause irritation and inflammation.

While there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on conductive gel, I suggest using a product that’s formulated with high-performing actives. My top choice is from my signature line.  The Hydrate + Conduct is infused with aloe vera leaf, hyaluronate, and botanical extracts that soothe and hydrate while ensuring optimal slip and glide. It can also be applied as a soothing post-sunburn mask.  

THE BEST DEVICES TO USE FOR RELEASING VECTOR MUSCLES:

• Facial massagers: If you have a vibrating or ultrasonic facial massager, use it to complete anti-aging facial vectors. One of my top picks is the  Contour Pro Lymphatic Massage Multitool. You can even use vibrating silicone cleansing brushes or non-motorized facial tools, but without heat or vibration, they won’t release your muscles as effectively.

• Microcurrent: Microcurrents (aka. electrical muscle stimulation/EMS) tone and  firm facial muscles. It’s like a mini-workout for your face. Amplify your results by cutting across common areas of facial sag. I suggest the  Hybrid Lift Pro. One of the things I love about this device is that it randomizes the microcurrents to stimulate muscles in different ways.  

• Radio frequency: The  Radio Frequency + Infrared Light device heats the deep layers of skin to tighten skin, improve elasticity, and rejuvenate skin tone. This device is pro-grade, but gentle enough for at-home use. You can also use the  Eye and Lip Pro for the vectors surrounding your eyes. This device is super gentle and delivers RF, EMS, vibration, and LED red light.

• Multi-modality devices: You get more bang for your buck if your anti-aging device (or topical) is multitasking. One of my top picks is the  Time Master Pro, which combines ultrasound, EMS, and LED.

LET’S DISCUSS HOW TO TAILOR ALL AREAS OF SKINCARE 

Now that you know what facial vectors are and how to release them, let’s explore how to address your other skin conditions and anti-aging concerns! Join the  Christine Byer Beauty Club to learn how to tailor your skincare routine for your local climate, lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions. 

I offer a 14-Day FREE preview with full access to everything in the Club. This includes answers to your personal skincare questions and access to exclusive content and discounts. If you don’t find value in your membership, cancel within 14 days at no charge.