Forget the pricey spa facials and full-body wraps—here’s how to find your radiance at home in a few minutes a day. STEP 1: Scrub your scalp. Improving circulation to the follicles is one of your best bets for keeping the hair on your head healthy, and scalp massage can help, says Rob Danoff, program director of the combined Family Medicine-Emergency Medicine residency program at Aria Health in Philadelphia.Why it works: Scalp massage gives crucial cellular functions (like absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste such as carbon dioxide) a little kick in the pants.Try it at home: While shampooing, use your fingertips to apply light, steady pressure along the center of your scalp, right where your middle part would fall. Continue for 3 to 5 minutes, then rinse. MORE: 8 Ways To Disguise Thinning Hair STEP 2: Do accupressure. Photo by Joshua Petska According to the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupressure, pressing specific spots on your face can clear blockages, leading to radiant skin, says Injae Choe, a licensed massage and acupressure therapist in New York City.Why it works: Putting pressure on your facial muscles forces them to contract and release, getting your blood pumping in the same way a biceps curl would, says Jamé Heskett, a women’s health specialist and medical director of the Wellpath in New York City.Try it at home: Use the tips of your index fingers to work on acupoints 1 through 12, in order. Use light pressure and hold gently for up to 30 seconds per point. Repeat as often as desired throughout the day or right before bed. Only have a second? Focus on point 9—it’s long been tied to a brightening effect on the complexion. MORE: Get Younger Skin With A Spoon (Yes, A Spoon) STEP 3: Dry-brush your whole body Your skin below the neck needs love, too. If you do this total-body routine once a day, it will make a huge difference in your circulation, Heskett says. “Dry brushes are inexpensive and you can find them at any drugstore,” adds celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas.Why it works: Working the firm-bristle brush over your entire body encourages proper blood flow.Try it at home:1. Before your next shower, grab a dry brush and start at the tops of your feet, working your way up your body and brushing with long, straight strokes in the direction of your heart, keeping the pressure light.2. Each stroke should take 2 seconds, and you’ll need only about four strokes per section of your body.3. Skip your neck, decolletage, and face—the thin skin there is too delicate for this kind of brushing. MORE: The Best Foods To Eat For Prettier Skin
