Moisturize with Massage Cream

by Brandi Schlossberg

   During the chilly winter months, many clients may come to you with more than sore muscles and holiday stress. These clients may also have dry skin due to the cold weather and whipping wind. For those massage practitioners who work in a dry climate all year, this affliction may be even more common, whether it’s winter or not.
   People who seek massage are often looking for a way to relieve muscle tension and stress, but an overall need for comfort and soothing may drive their desire for bodywork as well. If you are able to provide the type of session that not only relaxes the body and mind, but also soothes and moisturizes dry skin, it could take the “pamper quotient” up a notch—and create a more loyal client base.
   If you wish to help hydrate the dry skin of your clients, while at the same time providing a high-quality massage, check out massage creams that contain ingredients aimed at sealing in moisture and providing the perfect glide.
   One way to begin sussing out the best massage creams for dry skin is to simply read the label. Look for ingredients, such as avocado, sunflower and carrot oil, all of which pack a moisturizing punch to massage cream.
  For instance, avocado extracts have a high fat content, loaded with vitamins A and C to protect, smooth and soften the skin. Sunflower oil may provide a protective layer to the skin, making it more difficult for cold winds and dry air to damage the dermis. Carrot oil, which is rich in beta carotene, may boost the growth of new tissue to replace dry, chapped skin.
   Other

hydrating elements, such as moisture-binding wheat amino acid and beta glucan can also help restore the elasticity of your clients’ skin. In addition, a massage cream that contains ingredients along the lines of jojoba oil, shea butter and sesame oil should be loaded with vitamins A, E and F, which may help to rejuvenate and moisturize dry skin during and after a massage.
   Although the majority of massage creams may provide a certain level of moisture at the time of application and perhaps for a short time following the massage, a practitioner who wishes to amp up the hydration factor should search for a product that has been manufactured specifically to suit this purpose.
   By doing a bit of research on key moisturizing ingredients, such as those listed above, it should not be very difficult to choose a massage cream that will hydrate your clients. However, be sure to consider any other factors of importance when selecting a new massage cream.
  Depending on your own preference, as well as the individual preferences of your clients, you may wish to purchase a massage cream that’s not only highly moisturizing, but also organic, free of parabens, unscented and hypoallergenic. Other practitioners might be looking for a massage cream that offers heavy hydration, along with the benefits of aromatherapy, via essential oils.
   Fortunately, there are plenty of massage creams on the market, so finding the right one for you and your clients should simply be a matter of time. Before long, your clients may be coming back for both the relaxing and skin-enhancing benefits of your massage.

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