Massage is always good to have if you want to relax, release your stress and tension or relieve you from your body pains. What makes a massage complete, aside from the strong and at the same time gentle hands of the therapists are the massage essentials that are used to make the massage experience even better.

Have you ever tried asking someone to rub your arms or your back on bare skin without any form of lubricant? If you have then you can admit that the experience was neither totally relaxing nor helpful because your skin felt hot or irritated after wards. Lubricants like lotions, creams and oils are essential in any massage because it helps the healing hands of the therapist to glide his or her hands smoothly onto your skin.

In spas, parlors or clinics where massage treatments are offered, therapists are required to use lotions, oils or creams especially when providing full body massage. In fact, some massage parlors or spas have their own formulation and brand of these lubricants that you may also buy and use at home.

Oils applied onto the skin before any kneading stroke is done helps lessen the amount of skin to skin friction. This then provides you with a more comfortable and relaxing massage experience. If the skin is non-lubricated, the massage strokes may just cause redness or irritation on your skin. Therefore oils can really make the massage more valuable. Oils help rejuvenate and moisturize the skin too.

If you feel that oils are much greasy on your skin, then you may ask the therapist if massage lotions can be used instead. Oils or lotions applied onto the skin and used during the massage will make your skin feel smoother and pampered as your body stress and tension are released through the applied pressure in each massage stroke.

In addition, lotions are definitely a requirement in some massage forms. Deep tissue massage for instance entails the application and use of lotions in order for the therapist to perform the stimulating techniques. The lotion, since it is not too greasy will prevent the skillful hands of the therapist to slip. Lotions are perfect for kneading strokes involving medium glide and maximum friction. Skin applied with lotion allows the therapist to have total control but not necessarily dragging the skin, thus the best possible relief from pain, tension and stress is provided to you.

Like oil, lotion can help condition the skin. Lotions are made from different oil blends that create its desired texture. This blend is balanced enough so hands can glide smoothly on the skin without the feeling of stickiness. Lotions can also be used in other forms of massage utilizing softer and lighter strokes.
There are also the massage creams that you can choose to be used in the treatment. Like lotions, creams are also used for styles of massage that involves maximum friction and pressure. Creams have thicker texture than lotions and thus are ideal to provide the right resistance so the therapist can penetrate the deep tissues efficiently.