Which technique is used to provide a gentle lifting effect during a facial massage?

Effleurage is a vital technique in facial massage known for its gentle, gliding strokes that help promote relaxation and a soothing effect on the client's skin. This method involves using the palms and fingertips to move across the face in a smooth, continuous motion, allowing for the stimulation of blood circulation without causing discomfort. The lifting effect associated with effleurage comes from the way it encourages lymphatic drainage and muscle relaxation, leading to a sense of firmer, more toned skin.

The other techniques—petrissage, frictions, and tapotement—each serve different purposes. Petrissage involves kneading and squeezing the muscles, which helps with deeper tissue engagement but is not specifically focused on providing a gentle lifting effect. Friction techniques include more vigorous movements that focus on stimulating the skin and deeper tissues, but they do not provide the same gentle lifting characteristic. Tapotement, characterized by rhythmic tapping or percussion movements, can energize the skin but does not deliver the soft, lifting sensation that effleurage does. Through the combination of gentle strokes and their effects on circulation and lymphatic flow, effleurage stands out as the technique that effectively achieves a soft lifting effect during a facial massage.