If Joan Crawford believed she could outsmart gravity, she was absolutely going to try.
And according to Joan, one of the best ways to keep a face looking firm, fresh, and camera‑ready was through nightly facial massages. Not occasionally. Not when she remembered. Nightly.
Very Joan.
She believed that upward facial massage helped keep the face looking lifted and toned. In Joan’s world, beauty wasn’t something that simply happened to you. It was something you worked at. Preferably with determination, discipline, and a complete refusal to let nature win.
Joan Crawford’s Nightly Massage Routine
Step 1: Start with Clean Skin
Remove makeup thoroughly and cleanse the face.
Joan believed every beauty ritual started with a clean canvas.
Step 2: Apply Your Favourite Cream
Choose a rich moisturizer, facial oil, or cold cream.
The skin should have enough slip to allow your fingers to glide comfortably.
Step 3: Begin at the Jawline
Using gentle pressure, massage upward from the jaw toward the cheekbones.
Notice the word upward.
Joan certainly would have.
Step 4: Lift the Cheeks
Use sweeping motions from the corners of the mouth toward the temples.
Step 5: Smooth the Forehead
Massage from the eyebrows upward toward the hairline.
Step 6: Finish at the Neck
Using gentle upward strokes, work from the base of the neck toward the jawline.
Step 7: Admire Your Dedication
Would one massage transform your face overnight?
Probably not.
Would Joan have cared?
Also no.
Face by Stace Tip
What I love about this ritual is how wonderfully Joan Crawford it is. The woman genuinely believed beauty required effort. While the rest of us are debating whether we can skip our skincare for one night, Joan was over there massaging her face like she was training for the Olympics.
If determination were a beauty treatment, Joan Crawford would have bottled it.
Joan Crawford genuinely believed facial massage was an important part of maintaining her appearance and was known for advocating upward strokes during her skincare routine. However, modern skincare experts generally agree that facial massage cannot permanently “lift” the face or stop the natural effects of ageing. What it can do is promote relaxation, increase circulation, and temporarily reduce puffiness.
In other words, Joan may not have been able to defeat gravity, but she certainly wasn’t going to stop trying.
Very Joan
Historical Accuracy Note
Joan Crawford genuinely believed facial massage was an important part of maintaining her appearance and was known for advocating upward strokes during her skincare routine. However, modern skincare experts generally agree that facial massage cannot permanently “lift” the face or stop the natural effects of ageing. What it can do is promote relaxation, increase circulation, and temporarily reduce puffiness.
In other words, Joan may not have been able to defeat gravity, but she certainly wasn’t going to stop trying.
