On the front end, however, ingredients are also an important deciding factor in whether a professional massage therapist or bodyworker even chooses to consider using a specific product in the first place.
For many touch therapy practitioners, there may be certain ingredients that are black and white deal breakers, whereas other components may be must-have components. Much of this depends on the individual practitioner and his or her preferences and principles.
For example, if a massage therapist is committed to recycling and other methods of living that aim to protect natural resources, then her principles might dictate which massage creams would even begin to consider purchasing.
In this scenario, it might be important to the massage therapist that the cream be packaged and shipped in recycled materials with little to no waste. This principle of protecting natural resources may extend even further, causing her to consider only those products that contain ingredients that were grown, harvested, processed and manufactured using environmentally-friendly methods.
The bodyworker who is committed to eating only organic foods and using only organic products is another good example. This principle could extend into the practitioner’s work life, leading him to look for massage creams that contain only organic ingredients.
In many cases, these two principles—protecting natural resources and a commitment to going organic—may be intertwined, along with other principles and preferences.
On a more basic level, massage therapists or bodyworks may just have one or two ingredients that they refuse to have in their massage creams, such as parabens and other synthetic preservatives. Another common deal breaker are products that either do or do not contain fragrances—some practitioners prefer no scent, while others like to have an aroma, as long as it comes from all-natural essential oils.
The list of must-haves and deal breakers varies from practitioner to practitioner, most frequently based on the main modality or modalities of practice. The biggest factor to consider when it comes to choosing a massage cream should always be whether the lubricant allows you to apply your chosen techniques in the best possible manner, hopefully enhancing your services—and never detracting from them.
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