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facial exercises

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.

How To Know If Your Facial Exercises Are Working

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facial exercises

Doing facial exercises on a regular basis is a great way to look more youthful. All it takes is a little time and commitment and you will be on your way to firmer and less wrinkled skin.

The results of facial exercises can be subtle in the beginning stages of starting your regimen. You may not be able to notice them right off the bat, because it happens so gradually.

Let’s take a look at how to know if your facial exercises are working:

Take Pictures

Before you start your facial exercise routine, get out your phone or camera and take some pictures of your face. Get some shots that have your most unflattering angles.

Some different examples of shots would be: one from each side, eye close ups that show crow’s feet and neck photos to show sagging.

You will also want to get photos of your jawline, jowls and a closeup of your forehead that shows and wrinkles that may be present.

Make sure that you use natural lighting when taking the photos to get an exact representation of how you look.

Take the same photos every two weeks and compare the results. The lighting should be the same in each batch, so try to take the pictures at the same time every day.

Compare Images

Once you have several weeks worth of images, put them next to one another and compare the difference.

Do you see less lines on the surface of your skin? Does the texture look smoother? Is there less sagging and drooping in the jowl area?

Show your photos to family and friends and see if they notice improvements that you may have overlooked. Sometimes, we are our worst critics and need an outside influence to give us their unbiased opinion.

Record Observations

Record your observations in a notebook along with the progressive photos for each pose. Continue evaluating and photographing your progress and adding to the notebook.

Before you know it, you will have an entire series of pictures that show the improvement in your skin. You will be able to see that all of your time and effort is paying off.

Exercise Tracker

You can also use the notebook to record which exercises you are doing and how often.

It may help you to stay on task if you create an exercise tracker that you can tick off each day, after you perform each exercise. You can add new exercises to the list as needed.

How Long Will It Take To See Improvement?

An article in Good Housekeeping suggests that if you commit to a thirty minute per day routine of facial exercises, you will look a few years younger in at least five months. Considering that you don’t have to leave your home or be injected with Botox or fillers, that isn’t a bad deal.

Conclusion

Now that you have the tools you need to record your progress, it is time to start doing your facial exercises. In no time, you should start seeing the benefits and the results you are looking for.

In addition to facial exercise, be sure to take good care of your skin from the inside out.

Eat a healthy diet, rich in green leafy vegetables, drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin, wear a sunscreen daily to prevent damaging UV rays from the sun. Always moisturize your skin with a product dedicated to your skin type.

By following the above tips, you should be well on your way to looking younger and feeling more confident about the way you look.

For further reading, check out: How To Achieve A Healthy Glow Without Getting Pregnant and If You Apply Your Makeup Wrong, You Can Add Years To Your Face – Over 50.

4 Exercises You Can Do To Help Get Rid Of Necklines

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necklines

No matter how smooth your face is, if your neck has visible wrinkles or sagging skin, your age will start to show.

It is common that we lose elasticity on the skin of our neck as we get older. The skin tends to get thinner and have a crepe type appearance. This is caused by environmental factors, such as sun damage, free radicals and lack of moisture.

Strengthening the muscles in your neck by exercising, will help combat the signs of aging. It is a healthy way to tighten and smooth the skin and help get rid of necklines.

These exercises should be done at least once a day, but twice a day is ideal. Try to get in the habit of doing them in the morning and before you go to bed at night.

Let’s take a look at several key exercises that will help firm this delicate skin on your neck:

1. Tilt Back

This exercise requires you to sit down and tilt your head up towards the ceiling. After your head is in place, move your jaw forward and hold for five seconds. Repeat this motion ten times. You should be able to feel the muscles in the front of your neck getting tighter as you do this.

2. Pucker Up

This neck exercise is similar to the one above, but it targets different muscles in the neck and face.

Sit down with your back straight and point your chin upwards towards the ceiling. Slowly form your lips in a kissing motion by pouting your mouth. Hold this position for a few seconds and repeat two times.

3. Neck Stretch

You may be familiar with this exercise, because it is commonly used to relieve tension in the neck. Performing this neck stretch, will actually tone and tighten the muscles in the neck, chin and throat.

Simply place your chin on your chest and slowly rotate your head to one side, going all the way around. Repeat this motion five times, then circle around in the opposite direction five times. Not only will you be smoothing out wrinkles, you will relieve muscle tightness in your neck and shoulders as well.

4. Baby Bird

This exercise is recommended in “The Yoga Face” by Annelise Hagen, The Baby Bird movement targets sagging jowls and will help firm them up if this exercise is performed regularly.

For this exercise, tilt your head back and look upwards. Push the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth and then swallow. Next, tilt your head to either side and swallow again. Repeat this motion on the opposite side. You should repeat this motion three to four times on each side.

Conclusion

By incorporating the above exercises into your daily routine, you should start to see a visible difference in your neckline. You should also actually be able to feel the skin getting firmer and appear smoother.

In addition to exercises, be sure to use proper skin care and sunscreen and avoid overexposure to the sun. Eat a healthy diet that contains vitamins and nutrients.

You should also make a point to stay hydrated by drinking enough water. Doing so, will reduce future sagging and damage to the delicate tissue on your neck area. Skin that is hydrated is plumper, firmer and shows less signs of aging.

It only takes a few minutes a day to perform these exercises. The best part is that they are free! No need to pay for expensive plastic surgery. Just stick to your regimen and you will see improvement over time.

For further reading, check out: Anti-Wrinkle Fruits – 4 Best Fruits To Reduce Wrinkles and 4 Step Easy Skincare Routine For Busy People.

Image: Flickr

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

The Best Time To Start A Skin Care Routine

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When it comes to skin care, there is no better time to start than now.
Some people may think that you don’t have to start paying attention to your skin until it shows signs of aging. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Preventative measures, as well as maintenance, are the key components to keeping a youthful and glowing complexion.
It’s never to late to start taking care of your skin. With a proper routine, even the most damaged skin can be improved. Even girls in their teens and twenties can benefit from properly caring for their skin from a young age. Doing so can delay the onset of wrinkling and sagging, as well as uneven skin tone.
Let’s take a look at several skin care methods that can be started immediately at any age:

Stay Out Of The Sun

Most young girls love to be tan, especially in the summer when wearing shorts and bikinis. What they don’t realize is the damage that they are doing to their skin in the process. In short, sun rays literally “eat” the collagen in your skin, causing premature aging.
The most important thing to do is to wear a sunscreen of at least 50 SPF, to prevent any burning or damage. Reapply according to the directions on the bottle.
You can still avoid the sun and get that golden skin tone from spray tanning or by using a body lotion that includes a self tanner.

Remove Makeup

Pores can get clogged when makeup is not cleansed from the face. Repeatedly leaving your skin coated with makeup will prevent your skin from breathing. This can cause breakouts and premature aging.
Wash your face before going to bed with a cleaner designated for your personal skin type. Be sure to apply a moisturizer and eye serum afterwards.

Facial Exercises

When it comes to working out, most people don’t imagine exercising their face. Just as repetitive motions can strengthen the muscles in your body, the same holds true for the face.
This method works to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin on the younger population and improves the look and feel of a person who has already started showing signs of aging.
A program of various facial exercises for different parts of the face is listed here.

Exfoliating

Using an exfoliator will help remove the buildup of dead skin cells that block the new cells from coming through, which makes the face make it appear dull. Your skin will appear much healthier if you use an exfoliator on a regular basis.
This is very important for skin that is aging and dry, but even younger faces will look refreshed after a good exfoliating treatment. The new skin underneath will look healthy and more vibrant.
This can be done with a simple facial scrub using the fingertips or with a rotating facial brush for best results.
Conclusion
It’s obvious that the sooner you start caring for your face, the better. It will pay off in the end and your skin will glow for many years down the road. It’s never too late to begin a facial regimen, and there’s no better time than the present.
By keeping the above points in mind and being proactive and consistent in your skin care routine, you will reap the benefits. The appearance of wrinkles will decrease and the overall texture and elasticity of your skin will improve as well.
Even if you are young, starting facial exercises, avoiding the sun and using the right products will keep your appearance youthful for many years to come.
Check out these articles for further reading on how to improve your facial skin tone and look younger: Top 8 Things To Make You Age Quicker and Hottest Tips For Reducing The Signs Of Aging.
Image: Flickr

10 Minute Facial Exercise That Will Help You Look Younger

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Image: sean Kong

Whether we like it or not, our skin would age. The good news is, there is a way to delay this process. Forget about Botox and surgery; there is a non-invasive way of doing it – facial exercise.

What is facial exercise?

Facial exercise, which is also known as facial toning and facial yoga, is a popular method of skin rejuvenation. Proponents of this method claim that by ‘working out’ our facial muscles, we can change our facial contours such as increase our facial muscle tone and volume.
This is not an entirely new concept. In fact, it was believed that Cleopatra and the Empress of the Imperial Court in China have used facial exercise in order to maintain their youthful appearance. However, it was only in the 1950s that the practice of facial yoga started to propagate.

How does facial exercise make you look younger?

A number of fitness celebrities have been endorsing facial exercise as a way of reversing skin aging. But do these exercises really work?
Some doctors, especially plastic surgeons, are not convinced that these facial movements actually help in preventing or minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. According to them, working the facial muscles may actually emphasize those deep lines such as crow’s feet and frown lines.
Cynthia Rowland, the creator of Facial Magic, has a different take on it. According to her, facial exercise works and the key to achieving desired results is through contracting the right facial muscles. In her practice, Rowland teaches her students isometric techniques that contract the muscles. These techniques help in creating muscle contractions to lift the face.
For Rowland, facial exercise works because the facial muscles are attached to the skin. When you contract the muscles, you are forcing oxygenated blood into the skin’s tissues, making them look plump again.
People who have tried facial exercise also claim that it works. You can find a lot of people in discussion boards/forums who are saying that facial yoga works for them.  

10-Minute Facial Exercise Routine

Facial exercises are best done in a place and time where and when you are fully relaxed and free from any form of distraction.
Unlike other methods for reversing skin aging, it doesn’t take too long to do the facial exercise. In fact, you can do several techniques even if you only have 10 minutes to spare each day. Below are examples of facial exercise techniques that you can do in that short amount of time.
For the forehead
For best result, apply a small amount of moisturizer on your forehead and your fingertips.

  1. Place both of your hands on your forehead, with your fingers spread out between your eyebrows and hairline. Applying mild pressure, gently sweep your fingers outwards across your forehead. Relax and repeat this for 10 times. 
  2. Staring straight ahead, pull your forehead tight (imagine that you’re trying to bring it on top of your head). Hold this position for 10 seconds then repeat.

For the eyes

  1. Close your eyes then raise your eyebrows as far as you can. Relax and then repeat. 
  2. Place both of your middle fingers at the inner corner of your eyebrow. With your index fingers, apply gentle pressure to the outer corners of your eyebrow. While your fingers are at this position, look at the ceiling and raise your lower eyelid. Relax and repeat this for 6 times.

For the cheeks

  1. Smile as hard as you can while having your fingers on top of your cheekbones. Hold your grin while you push as hard as you can. Relax for few seconds and then repeat. 
  2. Puff out your cheeks as much as you can and then tap them for 30 seconds. Relax and then repeat.

For the neck
Keep your neck in a neutral position by looking straight ahead. Turn your head to the right, making sure that your chin is in line with your shoulder then gently tilt it backward. Hold this position for 30 seconds before returning to the neutral position and repeating this to the other side.

Facial exercise is a simple yet effective way of preventing and minimizing fine lines and other signs of skin aging on your face. Try it for yourself and see how your 10-minute facial exercise routine can make a difference.