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Do Facial Exercises Work

5 Myths Busted About Facial Exercises

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Image: Timothy Krause

Facial exercises have existed for years. In fact, it is believed that Cleopatra had tried it herself. The people advocating facial exercises believed that facial muscles are just like other muscles of the body. If you do not work them out, they will sag and will make fine lines and other signs of skin aging more visible.
These facial exercises make use of certain techniques that target different areas of the face and the neck. When done regularly, these exercises can help improve the appearance of sagging skin and eliminate signs of skin aging such as eye wrinkles, hog jowls, double chin, and the dreaded turkey neck.
However, despite the growing number of women trying out these facial exercises, there are still those who are hesitant to give it a try primarily because of the myths about them. Here are some of those interesting myths:
Myth 1: Facial exercise cannot change the structure of the face.
Facial exercises can actually change the structure of the face though the changes do not happen overnight. Unlike cosmetic surgeries, facial exercises have this gradual effect on your facial structure. How fast you can see these changes depend largely on how frequent you do the exercise. Also, the desired changes will only start to appear if you consistently focus on that area that you’d like to improve.
There are facial exercises to get rid of your double chin, improve your skin tone, strengthen the cheek muscles, and reduce the appearance of fine lines around the mouth.
Myth 2: Facial exercise takes too long.
It actually doesn’t take that long to do facial exercises. For the first month, it is recommended to do it for 20 minutes every day and then 2 to 3 times a week for the subsequent months.
The good thing with facial exercise is that you can do it wherever you are. You can do the 20-minute facial exercise while watching TV or while listening to podcasts. You will hardly notice the time when you do that.
Myth 3: Cosmetic procedures are better than facial exercises.
Many people are attracted to cosmetic procedures because the effects are immediate. What many are not aware of is that these procedures don’t provide long-lasting results. Face lifts, for instance, can provide great result for the first 18 months but because they can cause scarring, there’s a huge chance of getting back the sagging facial skin.
Another downside of cosmetic procedures is the cost. Getting under the knife again to get rid of the baggy skin require additional costs and time off from work. As with facial exercises, you don’t have to constantly shell out money as it usually just require a one-time fee. Plus, you don’t need to go on leave when you do the facial exercise as you can do it whenever and wherever is convenient for you.
Myth 4: Facial exercises are painful.
This is not true unless it’s done incorrectly. In facial exercises, you only make use of your fingertips to apply gentle pressure on certain areas of your face. The pressure should just be right, not too firm to cause discomfort or pain.
In contrast to what many believe, facial exercises do not damage the sinuses. If you massage your sinus area, you may feel some stuffiness for the first few days. This is completely normal. In the long run, the stuffiness will dissipate.
Myth 5: Facial exercises worsen the sagging of the skin.
Facial exercises can actually improve, not worsen the sagging of the facial skin. Regularly doing it can help you achieve a younger-looking and more toned skin as it strengthens the facial muscles and improve blood flow to the face, feeding the underlying tissues and skin cells with oxygen and their-much needed nutrients.

Facial exercises provide many women and even men with an opportunity to improve the appearance of their skin without going under the knife, breaking their banks, or wasting their time. It has existed for years and it’s still here for a reason.

Why You're Never Too Old To Begin Facial Exercises

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Image: David Amsler

All of us go through the aging process. But a lot of women dislike aging because of the changes it brings on the skin. One of the most common skin-related complaints is wrinkling. These lines that appear on the forehead and outer corners of the eyes and mouth happen because of the reduction of the skin’s elasticity and thickness.
There are several treatments and remedies to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. These include cosmetic procedures like Botox injections, the use of anti-aging creams, and doing regular facial exercise.
Facial exercise is a simple yet effective way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Unlike cosmetic procedures and the use of anti-aging products, facial exercise isn’t expensive. You can do it within the comfort of your own home either on your own or with the help of another person. Plus, it is not invasive compared to some cosmetic procedures.
While testimonials have proven how effective facial exercises are, some women especially older women are hesitant to try them thinking that they’re too old for it. This isn’t true as facial exercises are created for everyone regardless of age.

Why You’re Never Too Old For Facial Exercises

As we grow older, our skin undergoes several changes including having more fine lines. Giving facial exercise a try regardless of your age is a better option than waiting for a miracle to happen to improve the look of wrinkles and other signs of skin aging.
There are several women who can prove that age doesn’t matter when it comes to doing facial exercise. A perfect example is Eva Fraser. Fraser is considered to be as one of the proponents of facial exercise. She’s already 50 years old when she went to Germany to meet Madame Hoffman who is believed to have devised a method of exercising the facial muscles.
Fraser’s persuasion had made Hoffman, who was already in her 70s that time, to provide her the training that she needed. After being trained in London, Fraser developed her own facial exercise program which is now available in various formats including books, videos, and DVDs.
These women are proofs that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to begin doing facial exercises.

Facial Exercises for Beginners

There are tons of facial exercise routines that you can try. But for beginners, the following can be a good start:
For the Forehead
To reduce the wrinkles on the forehead, begin by lying down and looking up at the ceiling. Open your eyes as wide as you can and lift your eyebrows while you do this. Hold this for 2 seconds before release. Repeat for 10 times.
For the Eyes
One of the most common signs of aging are fine lines around the eyes. These lines can be reduced by toning the muscles around the eye area. To do this, simply press your two fingers at the temples and lightly pull them back. While at this position, rapidly open and close your eyes. Do this for 5 times.
For the Cheeks
For the cheek area, try to fill your mouth with air then slowly release it. Repeat this for 10 times.
For the Mouth
Reduce the appearance of fine lines around your mouth with this facial exercise: say “AH”, “EE”, “OH” exaggeratedly by opening your mouth as wide as you can. Do this for 10 times.
For the Chin and Neck
This facial exercise is intended for toning the muscles in your chin and neck area. Begin the exercise by sitting with your back and neck straight. Once you’re in this position, slowly tilt your head back and look up at the ceiling. Move your lower lip over your upper lip. Hold this position for 5 seconds before releasing it. Repeat this for 5 times.
Aging is inevitable but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do something with the skin changes brought by it. If expensive and invasive facial treatments are not your thing, then give facial exercise a try. This can be done anytime and anywhere whether you’re in your 30s or in your 60s.

How To Improve Skin Tone With Exercise

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Image: tommerton2010

A person’s skin tone speaks a lot about her. It’s often a reflection of her lifestyle, habits, and even health. Several factors can affect a person’s skin tone. These include genes, age, sun exposure, diet, and skincare routine.
Genes
The person’s genetic makeup is an unalterable factor and one of the primary determinants of her skin tone.
Age
The effect of aging on melanocyte activity and the cumulative effect of ultraviolet exposure leads to the appearance of hyperpigmentation spots. These spots, which can appear white or yellow, can result to mottled, older skin appearance.
While hyperpigmentation is common in aging women, hypopigmentation can also occur. This results from the reduction of melanocytes. After the age 30, a person starts to lose 6-8% of her melanocytes every decade. This reduction in melanocytes also means a reduction in the protective capacity against the harmful UV rays.
Sun Exposure
Unprotected sun exposure can lead to hyperpigmentation as it stimulates the production of melanin. These hyperpigmentation spots can appear as darkened patches, ranging from brown to black in color.
Aside from being a major contributing factor to hyperpigmentation, sun exposure can also exacerbate existing dark spots, making them appear darker.
Diet
Although people’s skin tone vary depending on ethnicity, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health shows that diet plays a role in the improvement of skin tone. The researchers found similar effects across different cultures. They found out that a good diet is associated with attractive skin tone.
The study, which involves 35 students, showed that subjects who were able to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables over a specific period of time have a change in skin colour, leaning towards a healthier golden glow compared to those who consume less fruits and vegetables.
Skincare Routine
Your skincare routine can also affect your skin tone. Using products that aren’t suitable to your skin type can cause skin darkening. For people with oily skin, the use of oil-based skincare products can lead to sallow skin. This appears as yellowish tint that makes a person look sickly and older than her actual age.

Improving Skin Tone With Exercise

The idea behind facial exercise is simple. It lies on the premise that facial muscles are like other muscles in the body. The more you work them out, the leaner and tighter they become. For the proponents of facial exercise, regularly doing it can lead to improvement in skin tone and facial lift.
According to a facial exercise expert, working out your facial muscles can help improve their strength. These exercises highly benefit aging women especially that aging brings about certain changes in the skin like lost of collagen. Facial exercise helps counteract these effects by increasing heat and microcirculation in the skin.
With the improvement in blood circulation and strengthening effect, facial exercise leads to plumper skin. Plumping up volume loss turns out to be a good way to get rid of the spots that usually come with collagen loss. This boost in microcirculation from facial exercise also affects skin complexion, helping one achieve a healthier glow.

Facial Exercise For Starters

If you want to improve your skin tone without using chemicals or getting under the knife, you can try the following facial exercise routines:
1. Fish Lips
To do the Fish Lips, begin by sucking in your lips like a fish. Do this while you purse your lips. While your lips still pursed, smile as hard as you can. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax before you repeat the process for three times.
Another way of doing the Fish Lips is by sucking in your cheeks, pursing the lips, and then trying to hold the pose while wiggling the cheek muscles up and down.
2. Kiss Face
Begin by pouting your lips. With pouted lips, try to smile as hard as you can. Hold this position for 10 seconds before you relax. Repeat this three times.
There’s another way of doing the Kiss Face: with your lips pouted and trying to smile as hard as you can, try to move your cheek muscles up and down.
3. Whistler
The Whistler begins by making an “O” with your lips (think as if you’re about to whistle). While on this position, try to smile as hard as you can. Hold for 10 seconds. Relax and repeat for three times.
You can also do the Whistler by making an “O” with your lips, smile as hard as you can, and while on this position, wiggle your cheek muscles up and down.

Try doing these routines regularly and see how they can improve your skin’s plumpiness and skin tone.

How To Get That Non Surgical Facelift Without Using Product

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Image: Dima Bushkov

Women in particular have long been searching for the fountain of youth. While this is yet to be found, women in history have found ways to preserve their youth – from Cleopatra with her daily donkey milk baths to the daily white wine baths of Mary, Queen of Scots.
In modern times, science has made it possible to keep the youthful glow without getting into any milk or white wine baths. There are facelift surgeries and anti-aging products.

The Risks of Facelift Surgeries

Also known as rhytidectomy, facelift surgeries are cosmetic procedures designed to make one look younger. This is done by reshaping the lower third of the face and by removing the excess facial skin. With some facelift surgeries, the underlying tissues are involved to achieve plump and healthy-looking skin.
While many can attest that these procedures are effective, they come with certain risks. These include complications like bleeding, bruising, infection, inflammation, redness, scarring, and damage to the nerve muscles. With these and other things that come with invasive procedures, more women are now considering non-invasive ways to achieve the youthful glow.

The Cons of Using Anti-Aging Products

In response to the growing need of non-invasive solution for achieving youthful skin, skincare companies have come up with anti-aging products.
There are tons of anti-aging products that one can choose from. There are those that promise to lift, tighten, and contour the face. There are also those that claim to provide results overnight or in just a few minutes.
Anti-aging products may be non-invasive solutions for achieving young-looking skin but they can be pretty expensive, with some products costing hundreds of dollars each. Also, not all of these skincare products live up to their promises.
If going under the knife or using anti-aging products is not your thing, then you still have another option to achieve your desired facelift. This one is inexpensive, doesn’t require surgeries, and above all, have been attested by many women to be effective in achieving young-looking skin. This non-invasive procedure is called facial exercise.

Facial Exercise: Non-Invasive Way to Achieve Non Surgical Facelift

Facial exercise involves movement of the different facial muscles with the aim of toning them. This is based from the premise that since facial muscles are not just attached to the bones but are also to the skin and other facial muscles, moving them can lead to toning other muscles and the skin. This then leads to a firmer look and young-looking skin.
The following facial exercises are among the best ways to minimize facial wrinkling and sagging without undergoing surgery or paying for expensive facelift creams:
For the Eyes
The skin around the eyes is very delicate. It is prone to wrinkling as you age. The wrinkles can appear around the eyelids and as the time goes by, these creases can go deeper. To keep this from happening, you can do the following facial exercises:

  • Begin by placing your fingertips on your temples. With eyes closed, look up and down as far as possible, with your fingertips providing resistance to the movement. For best results, repeat this for 10 times, twice a day.
  • Start by closing your eyes and visualize yourself in total calmness. Stretch your eyelids as far as possible without opening your eyes. Hold this pose for 5 seconds and then release. Repeat this for five times a day.

For the Forehead
Doing facial exercises regularly can tone the muscles on your forehead. The following routines can prevent and reduce the appearance of frown lines:

  • Place your index finger just above your eyes. Try to pull it down while you raise your eyebrows. Repeat this for 5 times a day, for several days in a week.
  • Grin as wide as possible and bring your eyebrows up. Hold this for a few seconds before repeating it. For best results, repeat this for 10 times in a day.

For the Cheeks
Well-toned muscles around your cheek area can give you a more youthful look. You can achieve this by trying the following facial exercises:

  • With your mouth closed, suck your cheeks towards your teeth and hold it for 10 seconds. Relax and repeat this for 10 times.
  • In an upright position, begin by twisting your lips inwards. After you do this, puff your cheeks and try to smile in this position then relax. Repeat this for 10 times.

For the Lips
Facial exercises can firm the muscles surrounding your lips. They help prevent and get rid of the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. The following exercises can help:

  • Begin by sitting upright with your lips pursed then try to lift your lips towards your nose. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then release. Repeat this for 5 times.
  • Start by sticking your index finger in your mouth. Suck it as hard as possible and then slowly remove it. Repeat this for 10 times.

For the Neck
The neck area requires specific routine to keep its skin firm and young-looking. The following exercises can help you achieve that:

  • In an upright position, put your index finger on your neck and then gently pull the skin downward as you slowly lift your chin. Do this for 10 times.
  • Start with your head lift back, with chin pointing towards the ceiling. With lips closed, do the chewing motion for 30 seconds. Take a rest for 10 seconds before doing it again. For best results, do this for 20 times.

There are certainly a lot of ways to keep your skin young-looking without splurging on products or exposing yourself to certain risks with invasive procedures. Facial exercises are among your best options. They are simple, non-invasive, and more practical ways to achieve the youthful glow. Try doing the suggested facial exercises and you’ll notice the difference in no time.

Are Facial Exercises a Real Alternative to Cosmetic Surgery

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Are Facial Exercises A Real Alternative to Cosmetic Surgery
For years, people particularly women, have been obsessed in looking younger that many are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to gain back the youthful look. Cosmetic facial surgeries like botox injections and dermal fillers have become increasingly popular in response to this growing need.
But for a group of women who can’t tolerate invasive procedures and who find it impractical to spend thousands of dollars to look young, facial exercises have become the next best option.
Facial exercises are no longer new. They have been practised by French women, like Madame Ninon de L’Enclos in 1700s for the same belief that they can help women like her maintain her young-looking skin. However, the practice of moving the facial muscles only started to make a name in the beauty department when Senta Maria Runge published her book Face Lifting By Exercise in 1960s.

What are Facial Exercises

Facial exercises pertain to the routinary movement of the facial muscles with the belief that doing so regularly can help lift, tone, and firm the skin, preventing the development of wrinkles and other signs of aging.
According to the proponents of facial exercises, the facial muscles are like all the other muscles of the body. If you don’t work on them, they’ll end up sagging. But if you take time to move them, you can eventually tone and tighten them, leading to better skin tone and less skin tension. And that’s what gives you a youthful look.
Examples of facial exercises include puckering your lips while sucking in your cheeks, inhaling and holding your breath then moving the air back and forth from one cheek to another, pressing down your forehead as you try to lift your eyebrows, and looking up at the ceiling while puckering your lips out.

Advantages of Facial Exercises

There are a lot of reasons why facial exercises are a sell-out. For one, they are so easy to do. DVDs and free videos online can easily teach you how to do them on your own. While there are pop-up boutiques that cater to the facial exercise needs of people, one can easily do them in their own home.
Another reason why facial exercises are so popular is because they are non-invasive. For people who can’t bear the fact that they need to go under the knife to look young again, facial exercises, which basically doesn’t require you to put something on or in your skin, have become the next best option.
Lastly, facial exercises are cheap. You can do it within the comfort of your own home for free! There are a lot of free videos online where you can learn for no cost at all.

The Effectiveness of Facial Exercises

Proponents of facial exercises claim that this form of exercise is effective in helping you attain a younger-looking skin as movement of your facial muscles can improve the oxygen and blood supply to your skin, which promotes collagen production and prevents fine lines from developing.
Annelise Hagen, the author of The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift, said that facial muscles are no different from all the other muscles we have in our body.
If we don’t move them, they will end up getting flabby. And just what yoga can do to the body, facial yoga can also help in toning the facial muscles.
For Eva Fraser, a facial fitness instructor who is often mistaken for being 20 years younger than her actual age, the only way to find out if it works for you is to try it. She recommends trying it out 10 minutes a day for 6 months.
Science doesn’t seem to agree though with the claims of these women and all other facial exercise enthusiasts. In a study conducted regarding the effectiveness of facial exercises for facial rejuvenation, it was found out that the evidence is not enough to prove that this form of exercise can actually help in facial rejuvenation.

In Summary

There may be in congruence with what women and science are saying regarding facial exercises on facial rejuvenation but as what Fraser has said, the only way to find out if it works for you is to try it. It also helps to do it together with other healthy skin practices like applying sunblock before sun exposure, not smoking, and having a healthy and balanced diet.

Image: Barn Images

Does Facial Exercise Cause Wrinkles?

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If you are interested in beginning a facial exercise program, you may be wondering if exercising the face really works or perhaps you have read somewhere that facial exercises cause wrinkles?
When browsing for information online, don’t be surprised if you come across claims that exercising the face worsens the appearance of skin wrinkles, due to over-exaggerating facial movements. Many of these claims come from sources that have a vested interest in you not performing exercises for facial fitness, mainly from those in the cosmetic surgery business.
An article published on the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery (link will open in a new window) says facial exercise, when performed correctly, can be beneficial. For example, as part of a facial skin care massage. Needless to say a gentle facial massage may feel relaxing, but it is not going to reduce lines or sagging jowls, which is precisely the result plastic surgeons want.
The article goes on to claim that “some physicians warn that at home exercises can actually increase the signs of aging” and that if you are considering exercising the face at home you should discuss it with your physician. As many physicians are older men with more lines than a bulldog, and who probably have never even heard of facial exercises to reduce wrinkles, that advice seems rather pointless. I think my doctor would stare at me blankly if I were to ask “Does facial exercise cause wrinkles?”
If you look for a physician who works with issues related to facial aging or imperfections, he will be working in a cosmetic practice and his livelihood is based on convincing those looking for solutions to spend thousands of dollars on a procedure. Furthermore, it should be mentioned the procedure possibly might not have the desired results. Therefore, asking such a physician if he recommends you should exercise your face for free, in the comfort of your own home is, in all probability, a waste of time.
Once again, doing your own homework to find the correct answer seems the most appropriate solution.
Eva Fraser has been practicing facial exercise for around 30 years. See the video below.

She is now almost in her mid-eighties, so after three decades, the lady should look like a shriveled old prune if facial exercises cause wrinkles. However, the video above reveals that is not the case. Even around the problematic areas such as the eyes, mouth and neck, Eva has remarkably few lines and her face is highly well-defined.

Does facial exercise cause wrinkles – Look at the experts then decide!

In fact, if you look at any of the facial exercise experts who have spend large portions of their lives developing their programs and teaching others how to exercise the face, it can truthfully be said that none of them have anywhere near the severity of wrinkles that is commonly seen in a person of a similar age, and in addition, they all look at least 15 years younger than their respective biological ages.
It has been suggested that modern-day facial exercise ‘gurus’ may use other means to maintain a youthful look other than exercising, in order to help sell their programs. This is pure speculation, but in the name of research, you will find one of the first books written on the subject of removing wrinkles through exercise was Elinor Glyn’s “The Wrinkle Book.” Elinor, a life-long advocate of facial exercise, died in 1942, around 40 years before botox was first used on humans for cosmetic purposes.
The picture below was taken in 1942, and shows Elinor shortly before her death in 1943. She was 78 years old.

Does facial exercise cause wrinkles ?

Elinor Glyn, pictured at the age of 78, performed facial exercises throughout her life. She is a perfect example to help you determine Does facial exercise cause wrinkles.