Facial Exercise

Facial exercise myths may be confusing. There are a lot of differing opinions on the subject and it may be difficult to decipher the pros from the cons.

The practice of using facial exercise has been around for ages. You most likely have heard that facial exercise does nothing to improve the appearance of the skin.

On the contrary, you may also have heard that facial exercise is the only method to combat the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

While keeping is in mind, let’s take a closer look at debunking several popular facial exercise myths:

Myth 1 : You Can’t Improve Your Skin By Doing Facial Exercise

This study reveals that a facial exercise routine was performed for thirty minutes, every other day, for a duration of twenty weeks. This study group produced favorable results. The participants noticed a marked improvement in 18 out of 21 facial features.

The skin started to regain the appearance of fullness, where there had been loss of muscle mass, due to age. The improvements were mostly noticed in the bottom half of the facial area.

The most important point to keep in mind that consistency is key and you won’t see results right away. It takes time to see the changes in your skin. Just keep at it and don’t give up. You will eventually see an improvement.

Check out this article for more details on facial exercise.

Myth 2: It Is Hard To Do Facial Exercise

Facial exercises are not hard to do but they may require some practice, until you get used to doing them.

This article states that once you become familiar with your routine, it is best to let gravity take over.

It is recommended to do the exercises while laying down. This will help pull the muscles back, instead of down, if you are sitting or standing.

Myth 3: Skin Care Products Work Better Than Facial Exercising

A solid skin care regimen is crucial to warding off signs of aging. Using products by themselves, is not going to be as effective, if you don’t combine it with facial exercises.

The best way to integrate these two anti-aging methods, is to apply all of your serums, creams and moisturizers, while you run through your facial exercises.

Your skin will absorb the products and the blood flow will be increased, due to the exercises.

Some products, such as your moisturizer, may have enough “slip” to glide over the skin. If this is the case, then try performing your exercise routine along with the product.

Be mindful not to put too much drag on the skin when doing the motions. Doing so can be damaging to the skin.

Conclusion

In addition to using facial exercises to battle the signs of aging, taking care of your body as a whole will also improve the appearance of your skin.

Your body needs to be fully hydrated at all times to have a natural radiance. It is best to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water every day. Your skin will plump up, which will in turn smooth out any fine lines and wrinkles.

Staying hydrated also decreases bloating, because it removes toxins from the body. It will also help to decrease dark circles and eye bags, as well.

Always protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. This will help prevent the ultra violet rays from penetrating the skin and causing premature aging.

For further reading, check out: 6 Super Foods For Skin Radiating Benefits and 7 Ways You Are Causing Skin Damage.

Image: Flickr

Laugh Lines are also known as nasal labial folds. They are the lines that connect your mouth to your nostrils.

These lines will become more noticeable with age, but younger people can have the as well. Some people say they give you character, but many of us feel insecure about them and would like to make their laugh lines as least visible as possible.

There are several methods of decreasing the appearance of laugh lines. You can take the natural route, the topical route or the invasive route.

Let’s take a closer look at the methods of reducing laugh lines on your face:

1. Invasive Procedures

These methods are the most costly and the most painful. This article reveals that two different invasive methods work well to remove laugh lines.

Botox

This is one of the most popular means of reducing laugh lines. It will relax the muscles around the injection site, causing them not to move. This can be a painful procedure and also leave swelling and / or bruising after the procedure.

Fillers

As we get older, the collagen will decrease in our skin and leave it looking droopy or have fine lines and wrinkles. Losing a lot of weight rapidly, will also cause the skin around the nasal labial area to sag, creating laugh lines.

Fillers can be injected into these lines to help fill up the space where collagen has been lost, and eliminating lines. This effects of this procedure will last approximately a year. Slight swelling, bruising or bleeding is possible.

2. Topical Treatments:

Hyaluronic Acid

Topical products that contain hyaluronic acid will help the skin retain moisture, therefore preventing the development or worsening of laugh lines and other wrinkles on the face.

This article states that hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times it own weight in water. This shows just how hydrating it can be for the skin.

Moisturizers and Serums

Keep your face moisturized with serums and day and night creams that are designated for your skin type. Apply them to a clean face regularly.

3. Facial Exercises:

Facial exercises are an excellent method of decreasing laugh lines. The bonus is that they don’t cost a cent!

Laugh Line Exercise 1

Place your index and middle fingers firmly over your laugh lines. At the same time, slightly open your mouth and smile.

Hold your fingers in place, resisting the muscles that are smiling. Hold this position for five to ten seconds and then repeat the exercise thirty times each day.

Laugh Line Exercise 2

Puff your cheeks out as far as they can go, until you can feel the muscles stretching. Move the air from one side of the face to the other. Hold each side for five seconds then relax. Repeat ten times a day.

Conclusion

No matter which route you take, you will see an improvement in your laugh lines. Just be sure to also take good care of your skin to make the treatments as effective as possible and last as long as they can.

Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy diet that is rich in green, leafy vegetables. Avoid sugar and processed foods whenever possible.

Always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF when going outdoors. Cover your eyes with sunglasses and wear a large brimmed hat to shade your face from the damaging rays of the sun.

For further reading, check out: Send Your Under Eye Bags Packing With These 5 Tips and So, Which Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water?

Image: Flickr

Exercises for reducing wrinkles are not only convenient, but they are also very easy to do. You can perform them almost anywhere and they don’t take up a lot of time.

The greatest part, is that face exercises really work! If you are consistent in doing your exercises every day, you should definitely notice an improvement.

How Do Exercises For Reducing Wrinkles Work?

When we exercise the facial muscles, we are not only affecting the top layer of skin, which is called the epidermis. The dermis and hypodermis layers are also involved in the process. Those are the middle and bottom layers of the skin.

Blood circulation is increased when we exercise the face. This helps to feed and nourish the skin cells, which will give a more youthful and glowing appearance. It also helps flush toxins from the skin, which helps to decreases blemishes.

The ability for the skin to absorb moisture is also increased, if facial exercises are performed regularly. Serums and other topical products will penetrate easily, which will make them more effective.

Try These Facial Exercises For Reducing Wrinkles

Warm Up The Face

Just like when you exercise your body, warming up is important when doing facial exercises, as well.

Take a few minutes at the start of your routine to gently pat your face in quick motions, with your fingers flat and held together. Go over the entire face with this motion to increase blood circulation and to wake up the muscles.

You can also give yourself a short face massage instead if you prefer. This will help loosen the muscles and prime them up for your workout.

Cheek Exercise

This exercise will help plump sagging skin in the cheek area and jowl line.

With your lips firmly shaped into an “O” shape, try to smile while keeping your lips in the “O” position. Hold that smile for ten seconds and then repeat the exercise three more times.

Full Face Exercise

This article recommends performing a long time favorite exercise for actors and models.

Simply relax your face and shoulders. Take several deep breaths and then pronounce each of the vowels, A, E, I, O and U.

When you say each letter, do so with strong emphasis, opening your mouth wide and make exaggerated movements to stretch the muscles.

Eye Lift Exercise

This is a simple motion that is best performed in the morning. It will help reduce puffiness after sleeping and will open up the lids.

With your index fingers held flat, place them across the top of the brow line. While squeezing your eyes closed, try to slowly lift up your eyebrows. Hold for three seconds. Repeat this exercise three times.

Tension Reducer

Tight facial muscles can create wrinkles and fine lines. To help combat this, try this exercise.

Wash your hands thoroughly before you start. Open your mouth an insert your index finger. Using the tip of your finger, swirl it around against each side of your cheek. Use slow, fluid motions and stretch out the the tight muscles cause by clenching and stress.

This is a great exercise to do before bed after a long, hard day.

Conclusion

When you incorporate facial exercises into your daily skin care routine, you will begin to see the fine lines and wrinkles start to diminish. You will sport a new healthy glow and look more radiant than ever before.

For the healthiest skin, stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet. Always use sunscreen to protect the skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

For further reading, check out: The Powerful Anti-Aging Benefits of Meditation and Why You Need To Add A Rose Quartz Face Roller To Your Beauty Routine.

Image: Flickr

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If you see two chins in the mirror, don’t fear. A double chin can happen to anyone, especially as we start to age.

When we get older, the amount of elasticity in our skin decreases and our neck muscles become weaker. When this happens, it can cause sagging and loose skin under our chin, on our neck and elsewhere on our face. This will give the appearance of having a double chin and make us look much older than we actually are.

Of course, being overweight is another reason that a double chin can present itself, but it is not always the case.

You are probably asking yourself, what can be done to remedy having two chins. There are a number of exercises and other methods that can help tighten up the skin. These movements can be done virtually any time you have a few extra minutes during the day, or you can also set a routine of doing them every morning and at night before bed time.

Let’s take a look at some simple exercises that will help firm up your two chins:

Ceiling Kiss

The following movement is a super simple exercise, that is recommended by Livestrong. This movement is very easy to remember.

1. First, stand up with your back straight, with your arms hanging at each side. Lean your head back and look at the ceiling.
2. While your head is back, pretend to kiss the ceiling. You will want to do this in an exaggerated form, by puckering and reaching your lips out as far as they will go.
3. Hold this position for five seconds. Then, relax your face, put your head back to the starting position and repeat the movements thirty times.

Jutting Jaw

The exercise listed below is similar to the Ceiling Kiss, so it should be easy to remember.

1. Stand or sit with your back straight. Lean your head back and look at the ceiling.
2. While your head is back, take your lower jaw and move it in an upward and forward motion, as far as it will go.
3. Hold this position for ten seconds. Relax, move your head back to the starting position and repeat ten times.

Stick Out Tongue

This article reveals that doing the following exercise will strengthen the hyoid muscle, which causes loose skin under the chin.

1. While keeping your lips relaxed, stick your tongue out as far as you can.
2. Try to touch the tip of your nose with your tongue.
3. Repeat this movement five times.

Conclusion

When you implement the above exercises into your daily routine, you will begin to see a difference in the way your chin looks. If you are diligent and keep up with these exercises, you will eventually see your two chins turn into one. You will have the definition in your jaw and chin area that you have been trying to achieve.

In addition to adding facial exercises into your lifestyle, there are other things you can also do to help you look younger.

A major factor in the way our skin ages is the food we eat. Keep a healthy diet of mainly green, leafy vegetables, healthy fats and lean protein. Avoid eating too much sugar and processed foods. The more natural your diet is, the better your skin will look.

Hydration is also a key factor in maintaining healthy, youthful looking skin. When we drink plenty of water, our skin is plumped and facial sagging is reduced.

Another important point that should be followed by everyone, is to always wear a sunscreen when going outdoors. This will protect your skin from the damaging ultra violet rays of the sun, which can cause premature aging, as well as cancer. Always wear sunglasses and a hat for extra protection.

For further reading, check out: Facial Tapping – What Are The Benefits And Does It Really Work? and Facial Yoga – The Best Exercises For Toning Facial Skin.

Image: Flickr