With techniques that can vary from deep and focused work on a specific region of the body to longer and lighter gliding strokes applied to a much larger surface area of skin, the components of a professional massage therapy or bodywork session can be quite diverse. Depending on whether the practitioner chooses to use one modality in the session room or piece together several different techniques, the client may experience one method of massage therapy or a blend of modalities. For massage therapists who lean toward using a variety of techniques within one session, selecting a massage cream that contains healthy oils may be a smart move.
Healthy oils add flexibility
One of the driving forces behind the popularity of massage cream as a lubricant for the professional session room is the fact that a high-quality massage cream might work well with a wide variety of techniques. By choosing a massage cream that contains an array of beneficial, healthy oils, practitioners may be able to get a nice amount of glide for lighter and longer strokes, while still maintaining enough friction for deeper and more focused work. This can be especially important for longer sessions, when you want a little less glide than oil provides, but do not want the lubricant to absorb as fast and fully as a lotion.
When you know the facts about each element of a massage cream, you may feel more confident about the value of your services and the quality of the products you use. In fact, you may even wish to include information about your massage cream and any benefits it might deliver in your marketing materials or on the website for your practice.
Among the healthy oils to look for on the ingredient label of a massage cream might be apricot oil and sesame oil. Here is a quick overview of the potential perks of applying these oils to your clients’ skin—not to mention absorbing them into your own skin in session after session.
Apricot oil
According to the Personal Care Products Council, which maintains a database of information about the safety, testing and regulation of certain ingredients found in cosmetics and personal care products, apricot oil, or apricot kernel oil, consists of about 58 to 66 percent oleic acid, 29 percent linoleic acid and small amounts of palmitic and linolenic acids. A massage cream containing apricot oil can help practitioners avoid nut oils and the potential allergic reactions ingredients derived from nuts may cause, while at the same time offering clients apricot oil’s soothing skin benefits.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil, or sesame seed oil, according to an article on the Times of India’s website, is a natural sunscreen; supports the healing of skin abrasions with its antibacterial properties; and can also aid in easing conditions such as psoriasis and eczema with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Adding a massage cream containing healthy oils to your usual array of products can provide you more flexibility with the techniques you use, as well as offer your clients additional potential benefits.