Lymphatic Drainage Treatments Are All the Rage. Here’s How You Can Do It at Home, According to a Specialist
Tips from Elise Augustin-Gill on how to get a daily glow (without even leaving your bathroom).
As with all trends, luxury beauty treatments enjoy their moment in the spotlight. Right now, light is shining particularly vividly on lymphatic drainage. Striking a sweet spot between skincare and wellness, this treatment offers benefits that extend well beyond a fleeting glow, with the potential to support internal healing. Is it any wonder, then, why more practitioners than ever are specialising in lymphatic drainage? Elise Augstin-Gill is one, and today she shares a few expert tips for those who can’t always make it to the massage bed—or who want to weave lymphatic drainage into their daily routine.
In her own words, Elise “became a facialist a while ago when my Dad was ill and I’d give him facials and light touch massage to help ease tension in his face, reducing puffiness from medication and water retention. He would always tell me my hands were magic, and when he passed away, I made a promise to myself to take a course and pursue being a facialist professionally.”
Today, Elise works with a regular clientele, offering bespoke facial lymphatic rituals designed to get things flowing again and restore balance to the body. By gently working with the lymphatic system, her treatments boost circulation, release built-up tension, and invite a deep sense of ease. “Many clients describe the experience as grounding and restorative, with effects that linger long after the session ends.”
As a skincare content creator, Elise regularly shares helpful content to empower her community.
So what is this treatment du jour all about? “Lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage to help your lymphatic system drain fluid and move it around the body,” shares Elise. “The system can’t drain itself, so regular massage helps to move stagnant lymph.” She goes on to outline the many benefits of regular lymphatic drainage treatments, from reducing puffiness and bloating to supporting the body’s natural detoxification process and boosting circulation.
“I think we are seeing a rise in holistic, less invasive treatments. A lot of us are now shifting our focus to what we eat and drink too, and this also links to how we apply products and what ingredients we’re using on our skin. We’re seeing a softer approach to living, and this type of massage encourages that kind of relaxation.”
When we asked Elise how long it takes to truly see results—both visually and physically—she explained, “If you’re seeing a facialist, I’d recommend at least one appointment a month. At home, though, you can apply your products with intention and encourage lymphatic flow every day.” After all, while professional treatments are a true indulgence, they aren’t always sustainable in terms of time or cost. Which is why we’re all ears when it comes to simple daily steps.
“I think maybe people forget to be intentional with their touch when applying products—they should be worked with and massaged consciously. For example, one of my favourite tips for under-eye puffiness is patting on your chosen eye cream, working from the inner corner out to the outer corner of the eye, massaging into where crows’ feet are generally found, then moving your fingers out and around the back of your ear, then down the neck (lightly!) Gentle pressure is key here, as this is what encourages lymphatic drainage, and you’re also then hitting the lymph nodes behind the ears and along the neck, draining puffiness and allowing fluid to flow around the rest of the body.”
When it comes to tools of the trade for lymphatic drainage, Elise’s favourite is her hands, but she also shares: “I love using the Lymphatic Brush by Cecily Braden. It’s been designed to precisely grip the skin whilst targeting the superficial lymph vessels just under the skin. It can mimic the passive contractions of the lymph vessels to help manually move fluids and stimulate lymph flow.”
Book in for a lymphatic drainage treatment with Elise at Studio SHY, or contact her directly to discuss a bespoke appointment.