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Facial Exercise

Facial Yoga – The Best Exercises For Toning Facial Skin

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facial yoga

Facial yoga is simple. Basically, the premise behind it is, if we strengthen the muscles in our face, it will make our skin look less droopy and wrinkled.

It is also believed by many, that performing facial yoga exercises will plump the muscles under the skin. This will in turn make our skin smoother and look younger, overall.

There are a number of facial yoga exercises that will help tone the face and neck. The key to great results is consistency.

A recent article stated, that a study conducted by Northwestern University, revealed that there was a reduction in the signs of aging, by performing facial yoga. This study was conducted with over twelve women, who performed facial exercises for a half an hour per day, for eight weeks. After the initial eight week period, the participants performed the facial yoga for thirty minutes for an additional twelve weeks.

After the study was completed, the cheeks of the participants were fuller and therefore plumped up the wrinkled skin on the surface of the skin. The skin around the eyes was also firmer, which smoothed out fine lines and crows feet.

The skin of the participants in the study also appeared to look brighter and healthier. It was speculated that the healthy glow was due to an increase in blood flow, due to the exercises. It wasn’t proven in the study, but the doctor who conducted it, could not rule out that possibility.

Let’s take a look at the best exercises for toning facial skin:

Full Facial Yoga Exercise

This exercise will work out the muscles in the entire face, including the temple area, the area around the eyes and the cheeks. Perform this facial yoga while lying down.

Open your mouth to a long “O” position and cover your top and bottom teeth with your lips. While your mouth is open, try to smile and lift your cheeks in an upward motion.

While doing this, place your palms against the sides of your face, with your pinkie fingers resting on the outer corners of your eyes. Put pressure on your temples with the rest of your fingers and slide in an upward motion, until the eyes are slanted upwards.

Next, close your eyes and move your chin in an upward motion. Once you feel a tightening in the scalp and cheeks, hold that position for twenty seconds and repeat three times.

Jaw Definer Exercise

This is the easiest facial yoga movement you will ever do.

Simply open your mouth as wide as you can and stick out your tongue. Hold that position for one minute. Repeat three times.

Cheek Toner Exercise

This is a very effective facial yoga exercise that will help plump and define the cheek area as well as smooth out the lips.

With your lips pursed together, suck in your cheeks like you are making a fish face. Hold for three seconds and repeat five times.

Conclusion

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the benefits of facial yoga and how to perform the exercises, you are well on your way to a more youthful appearance.

Another bonus is that it can be conveniently performed at many times during the day. Set a reminder on your phone every day, so you remember to do them and before you know it, facial yoga will become a regular part of your day.

Facial yoga is definitely worth trying. It is non-invasive and is absolutely free.

In addition to facial yoga, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Protect your skin from the sun by wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30-50. Keep your eyes protected from the sun, by wearing sunglasses outdoors. This will help prevent crows feet and further skin damage from the sun’s UV rays.

For further reading, check out: The Best Anti-Aging Facial Exercises You Can Do At Home and What Causes Crow’s Feet And How To Minimize Them.

Image: Unsplash

The Myths Behind Facial Exercising

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facial exercising

The growing popularity of facial exercising, has had its fair share of myths to go along with it.

First and foremost, you may be wondering what facial exercising actually is. To break it down simply, it is repetitive movements that target specific areas of the face and neck, to tone and tighten muscles, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.

You may have found some naysayers that don’t believe in the process of facial exercising. Myths have been circulating on how it is not effective. Determine for yourself whether it is for you, by reading the list of myths below.

Let’s take a look at several myths that surround the topic of facial exercising:

Myth 1: Plastic surgery is the only way to tighten skin and make it look younger.

Plastic surgery is not only dangerous, but it is also extremely painful. You are putting yourself at risk of infection and worst case scenario, death, by subjecting yourself to unnecessary plastic surgery.

Even if you remove sagging skin around the neck or get a facelift, gravity will still take its toll. The skin will slowly start becoming looser again and the surgery will have to be repeated, to keep the same level of tautness.

After someone has had a few of these procedures, it alters their appearance entirely and they no longer look like themselves in the end.

When done properly and regularly, facial exercise is an healthy alternative to plastic surgery. This article shows a number of helpful facial exercises that will help contour the lips, firm the skin on your neck, plump the cheeks and slim your face.

Myth 2: Skin serums, moisturizers and creams are more beneficial than facial exercising.

The fact is, you should combine facial exercising with your skin care products for the best results.

The most effective and efficient way to do this, is to perform your facial massage, when applying your skin care products. This will give you the most benefits from each method and your products will better penetrate into your skin, as well.

Myth 3: Facial exercising is difficult.

Actually, you will find that facial exercising is very easy.

This article reveals that there are about twenty points on the face, where pressure is applied with the fingertips. You will just press and hold for many of the exercises and some movements don’t include the hands at all.

The best way to start out your new routine, is to have a list of movements printed out next to you. Perform your exercises approximately for one minute on each area.

Repeat these movements daily. Before you know it, you will have them memorized and you will no longer need your cheat sheet.

Conclusion

Facial exercises must be performed daily over time to see results, you won’t notice a change overnight. But with a little determination and patience, you will start to see a difference in your appearance. Your skin will look smoother and you will look more youthful.

To achieve the maximum benefits from facial exercising, you also should take care of your skin in other ways:

  • Eat a healthy diet that is rich in green, leafy vegetables.
  • Limit your intake of sugar and processed foods.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
  • Protect your skin from the sun by wearing a sunscreen of 50 SPF or higher.
  • Use facial cleansers and other skin products that are specifically designed for your skin type.
  • Remove your makeup before going to bed at night.

For further reading, check out: How To Know If Your Facial Exercises Are Working and How To Achieve A Healthy Glow Without Getting Pregnant.

The Biggest Facial Exercise Myths Ever

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facial exercise myths

Facial exercise myths are plentiful. Throughout the years, there has been a lot of controversy about this practice. There are some people who swear by the practice. On the other hand, there are others who think it is reminiscent of something a snake oil salesman would recommend.

The top facial exercise myths are:

“Facial exercises do not work at all” and “Facial exercises are the only thing that will improve your wrinkles”.

Both of these myths could not be farther from the truth.

Let’s dive deeper into each of these facial exercise myths and set the record straight, once and for all.

Myth #1: Facial Exercises Do Not Work At All

Many of us rely on exercise, such as yoga, pilates or weight lifting, to tone and tighten our bodies. If it works for the muscles in the body, it only makes sense that it would strengthen the muscles in our face as well.

This article reveals that there are over forty muscles in the face that respond to facial exercise. The exercises will increase blood flow, which gives the skin a plumped appearance. It will also help circulate other nutrients and oxygen, which will promote healthy cell reproduction, giving a glowing complexion.

When the muscles are taut and tone, our skin appears smoother and has a less wrinkled appearance. Our face appears more lifted and the contours are more visible, which will promote a more youthful appearance.

Let’s take a look at a facial exercise you can try to improve your skin’s texture and appearance:

Complete Face Tone

In simple terms, this exercise can be described as a “face crunch”.

To perform this exercise, place your hands in fists under your chin to stabilize it. Next, contract all of your facial muscles, including your eyes. Squint them and pucker your lips. Tuck your chin down and hold this position for five seconds.

You next want to release your muscles and open up your eyes and mouth as wide as you can. Raise your eyebrows. Lift up your chin away from your neck and hold for five seconds. Repeat this exercise three to five times a day.

You can find a list of more facial exercises here.

Myth #2: Facial Exercises Are The Only Thing That Will Improve Your Wrinkles

On the flip side, there is also the facial exercise myth that they are the only thing that will really help reverse the signs of aging. This is not an accurate statement.

There are actually a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration, to support the health of your skin.

Always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF when going outdoors. If you are spending long periods of time in the sun, you should also protect your eyes and the area around your eyes, by wearing sunglasses. This will help prevent crow’s feet wrinkles and under-eye bags.

You should also pay attention to your water intake and stay hydrated. When we don’t take in enough water, our skin will appear dry and wrinkles will form or get deeper.

Eat a healthy diet full of dark green, leafy vegetables. These are full of antioxidants and vitamins that will help nourish your skin and promote overall health.

Conclusion

Now that we have set the record straight on the reality of facial exercise myths, you can put some of the above points to use.

Perseverance and consistency are key. If you perform your exercises for the target spots on a regular basis, as well as incorporate a healthy diet and skin care regimen, you should notice an improvement in several weeks.

As we get older, we need to focus more on our health and get a jump start on the aging process. Putting the steps mentioned above into your daily life will benefit your body on the inside as well as on the outside.

For further reading, check out: 6 Things You Can Do To Help You Look Younger and 3 Reasons You May Look Unhappy When You Look In The Mirror.

Five Facial Exercises To Reduce Laugh Lines

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laugh lines

Laugh lines are the wrinkles and fine lines that form from the corners of the mouth up to the sides of the nose. They are technically known as nasolabial folds or more commonly, “smile lines”.

These fine lines will form on the skin over time. Even younger people will begin to notice them on their face. Contrary to common belief, they are not actually caused from smiling. They appear from excess sun damage and other environmental factors, such as smoking.

Fillers can be injected into these lines to reduce the appearance, but strengthening the muscles in the face by exercise, is a safer and more cost effective option. It will not only reduce laugh lines, it will also help prevent new ones from surfacing as well.

Let’s take a look at several facial exercises that strengthen and smooth the muscles which create laugh lines:

1. Obicularis Oris Exercise

The obicularis oris muscle is the round shaped muscle of your mouth.

You can strengthen this muscle and smooth lines in the nasolabial area, by gently inserting your index fingers into each corner of your mouth. Gently pull out the corners of the mouth, no more than one quarter of an inch. Hold this pulled position for a few seconds and release.

You also want to strengthen in the opposite direction. To do this, press the corners of the mouth inwards with your index fingers, while resisting. Hold for 10-15 seconds and repeat the entire process up to 25 times.

2. Big Smile

You may not think that smiling can actually help reduce smile lines, but it can.

Smile as big as you can without opening your mouth. Hold this position for 10-15 seconds, then relax the face. Repeat this exercise up to 20 times.

3. Resistance

The muscles in the body are strengthened with resistance and the same holds true for facial muscles.

Apply resistance to your smile lines by pressing down on them with the tips of your index fingers. At the same time, smile as big as you can while opening the lips. Keep smiling for 10 seconds then release. Repeat this exercise up to 30 times for the best results.

4. Fish Face

You probably remember making this face as a child. Simply such in your cheeks like a fish and hold the position for around five seconds. Repeat three times.

5. Cheek Lift

Tightly form your lips into an “O” formation. While keeping them in that shape, try to lift the corners of your mouth into a smiling position. Hold that pose for five seconds and release. Repeat this movement five times.

Conclusion

Implementing facial exercise in your routine will definitely make a difference in the appearance of these lines. The only hard part, is to remember to actually do the exercises. Make an effort to incorporate them into your life at least three to four times a week.

You can make a habit out of doing them in the car on the way to work or maybe every morning before you apply your makeup. Bed time may work better for you, when you are taking your makeup off and applying your night moisturizer.

If you find that you are having a difficult time remembering to do these facial exercises, set a reminder on your phone. You will be alerted so you don’t forget to take care of yourself. After a short time, you will be used to incorporating these facial exercises into your life and you will just automatically do them.

For further reading on how to keep your skin looking its best, check out: The Easiest Home Recipes For Tightening Sagging Skin and 6 Facial Yoga Tricks For Younger Looking Skin.

Image: Flickr

How To Give Your Lips A More Youthful Look

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plump_youthful_lipsOne of the very first things we notice about someone when we meet them is their smile, putting our lips on display front and center. This can be uncomfortable as we experience the natural effects of aging, as lips – most notably the upper lip – naturally become thinner due to the degradation of collagen and elastin.
What defines a “youthful” smile?
The thinning of the lips as we age, in combination with lip lines, a lack of definition and weakening muscles, creates what we refer to as an aged appearance. So, to achieve a more youthful appearance, our lips should be plump and have a healthy pink hue with defined edges with an upward turn. That is why we often see makeup looks and tutorials focusing on the enhancement of the lips with lip liner and lip gloss.
Apply Lip Gloss
When you apply a shiny lip gloss to your bottom lip and in the middle of your top lip, it gives the illusion of having a fuller mouth. Be sure to choose a lightly colored gloss, as darker colors will actually have the opposite effect by making your lips look even thinner and smaller. As an alternative to gloss, try using Vaseline. This can double as a moisturizer, which also helps to counteract the effects of aging.
Moisturize Your Lips
With age, your lips begin to dehydrate more quickly, which can lead to dry, cracked lips. Since plump, voluptuous and smooth lips create that desirable youthful appearance, try using a daily moisturizer, such as lip balm, on your lips to keep them young and healthy. Be sure to apply your moisturizer after exfoliating to get the most benefit from the application. Pair this with consistent water intake to keep the rest of your body hydrated and your lips should be looking younger, naturally, in no time.
Keep Your Lips Protected
SPF15. You always hear about taking care of your skin by using lotions with SPF15 to block harmful rays from the sun that can be damaging to your skin cells, but what about your lips? The skin on your lips is even more sensitive and deserves the same amount of care and attention as the rest of your body. To help give your lips a younger, healthier appearance, choose a lip moisturizer with SPF15 and use it multiple times a day, every day. This added level of protection will keep your lips looking more youthful in the coming years.
Use a Lip Scrub
Our skin goes through regular cycles, shedding dead skin cells to be replaced by new ones. Your lips work very much the same way. To keep your lips fresh, try exfoliation. There are plenty of products, such as lip scrubs, that use sugars, oils or other methods to remove the dead cells and boost blood flow to your lips. This offers two benefits in one, smoothing your lips and giving them a healthy pink hue that makes them look younger and healthier. As an alternative to scrubs that will help you achieve a similar effect, you can also use Vaseline and gently rub a toothbrush against your lips for a couple of minutes.
Exercise Your Face
If you’ve entered into the aging years where your facial muscles have begun to shrink and weaken, and you’re noticing a more downward turn at the edges of your mouth, there’s a solution that doesn’t involve any products or tricks. Using your own body, you can help restore a more youthful appearance through facial exercises.
What are facial exercises?
Facial exercises are a simple and natural way to strengthen the muscles in your face, which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and bagginess. These exercises can be used to target specific areas of your face to achieve your desired effect, such as a younger-looking smile. All you need is about 10 minutes a day and you can start to change the look of your smile and restore a more youthful appearance.

6 Facial Yoga Tricks For Smoother Looking Skin

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Image: Pedro Ribeiro Simoes

Yoga is well-known for the benefits it does for the body. It relaxes the mind and helps improve your strength and flexibility. But did you know that the practice of yoga isn’t just exclusive for the body? It can be applied on the face too.
Yes, facial yoga exist. Proponents of facial yoga believe that the mild movements you do with your facial muscles can help relax them, giving you a natural face lift when done on a regular basis.
While there are some people who are still skeptical about it, there are those who can prove that facial yoga works. It’s a natural, effective, and inexpensive way to smooth areas of the face and the neck.

About Fine Lines and Wrinkles

As we age, we notice a lot of changes in our body including our skin. As early as 25, some of us may notice fine lines and wrinkles in some areas of the face and the neck. The appearance of these lines is brought about by different factors.
Some factors that contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles are beyond our control. Examples of it are the natural changes brought by aging.
After the age of 20, we produce about 1 percent less of collagen, the protein that provides the skin its firmness and elasticity. On top of that, our body’s production of elastin slows down and there is diminished functioning of our oil and sweat glands. As a result, our skin becomes thinner, drier, and less supple.
There are also these factors that we have control of, something that we can prevent or minimize in order to slow down the effects of aging on our skin. These include environmental factors and lifestyle choices such as exposure to pollution and sun, our diet, and smoking.
Unprotected sun exposure, poor diet, and smoking contribute to the damage of the collagen and elastin, making the skin look dull, dry, and saggy.

Yoga Tricks for a Natural Face Lift

Botox injections and night creams became popular because they help in reducing the appearance of the fine lines. However, in order to see results, you need more than one session of Botox injection and tubs of night creams. This isn’t a practical choice for those who are on a budget and definitely not a good choice who are skeptical in trying invasive procedures.
If you’re one of these people, you can still achieve smooth, young-looking skin without having Botox injections or using anti-aging night creams. You can try facial yoga.
The following are facial yoga tricks that can help you achieve smoother-looking skin:
To smooth your forehead
Begin by looking straight ahead. Try to widen your eyes as much as you could and hold this position for a few seconds or until your eyes start to water.
According to a facial yoga expert, this trick works as this exercises the muscles around your eyes and your forehead.
To strengthen the cheek muscles
Take a big breath through your mouth and hold it. Your cheeks are puffed out at this point. Hold this position for a few seconds and then release. An alternative is puffing your breath from one cheek to another before releasing it.
This facial yoga exercise helps in strengthening the cheek muscles, keeping it from appearing thinner. The thinning of the cheek muscles contributes to the hollowness we typically see on middle-aged people.
To get rid of the crow’s feet
The crow’s feet pertain to the fine lines around the eyes. You can reduce their appearance by doing this facial yoga trick: lift and release your lower eyelid while applying gentle pressure (using your fingertips) on the outer crease of the crow’s feet.
To lift your nasal labial folds
As we age, we lose the plumpness of our cheeks. But with facial yoga, we can strengthen the muscles around the area, preventing them from getting slack.
For lifting your nasal labial folds, begin by smiling with your teeth showing. Applying gentle pressure, press the creases between your nose and lips. You can lift your muscles up and down for some slight resistance.
To strengthen the chin and the neck
The neck is one of the first few places where we start noticing the signs of aging but it’s also one of the most commonly neglected areas.
For strengthening the chin and the neck area, press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth then swallow while your chin is pointing to the ceiling.
To reset your face to neutral state
Also known as the “Buddha face,” this facial yoga trick is one of the easiest to perform and can help offset line-making expressions.
With your eyes closed, try to visualize the point between your eyebrows and then make a slight smile.
Facial yoga won’t totally get rid of your fine lines but with regular practice, they can help prevent the development of new ones and reduce the appearance of existing lines.