We have all heard the cliche phrase 'age gracefully,' but let's face it: when the lines start coming and the skin starts sagging, graceful might not be the most poetic term. Anti-aging is one of the reasons we spend billions of dollars yearly on products that promise to be the fountain of youth. Every year, we hear new hope claims in jar targeted towards timeless skin. As someone in the beauty industry for over 20 years, I have had very few ah-ha moments, but learning about Dien Chan facial Reflexology has been one of them.
Dien Chan is a type of Vietnamese facial Reflexology created by Professor Bui Quoc Chau, in 1980. It is based on the principle that stimulating one part of the face balances another part of the body. This practice not only helps in maintaining youthful skin but also aids in relieving stress, improving circulation, and enhancing overall well-being. For instance, those pesky lines that form between the forehead as we age called the elevens, are looked at as stiffness or pulling down in the shoulders. According to this practice, your face tells you to switch out that extra-large Gucci tote for a cute backpack.
Many points on the face show what's happening inside the body, and since everyone is different, a trained professional should explain them. However, there are many general areas that you can do at home yourself to balance simple ailments. You can use your fingers or a gua sha facial tool. Here is a simple unisex massage that's easy to master. This practice offers hope for self-care and self-healing, empowering you to take charge of your well-being.
Back and Shoulder Massage: In Dien Chan, different facial areas correspond to body parts. The inner edges of the eyebrows represent the shoulders. This means that as you move your fingers from the inner edges of the eyebrows towards the temples, you follow the arms' path. The space between the eyebrows aligns with the upper back and spine while moving down the nose mirrors the mid and lower back. The tip of the nose connects to the tailbone and lower body, and the lower sides of the nose correspond to the hips—massage them and notice the subtle crackles and shifts.
Facial Reflexology is excellent for practicing self-care and self-healing, empowering you to take charge of your well-being. Erica Weiland, an educator for The International School of Multi Reflexology, shared this: For professionals who work with the face—makeup artists, estheticians, dermatologists, and beyond—there's an opportunity to observe the face in a whole new way. A deeper story lies beneath the skin, wrinkles, and moles: a reflection of internal imbalances within the body. Instead of treating surface concerns, Dien Chan offers a path to correct these imbalances through holistic approaches like nutrition, naturopathy, and reflexology tools.
If all face-focused professionals looked at the face in a way that recognized deeper connections, aging advice would shift, treatments would be more comprehensive, and clients would experience results beyond deep skin. The goal of facial Reflexology is to bridge beauty and wellness.