Just like the rest of your body, your face has muscles, And, just as with the rest of your body, you can exercise those muscles. Facial exercises can be a holistic alternative to fillers and laser treatments. Studies show that exercising your facial muscles can slow some of the visible signs of aging, help relieve tension, and tone your facial muscles.
Try performing facial exercises three to five times per week for 10‒20 minutes each night. While you won’t see results immediately, you may start to notice firmer skin and fewer visible wrinkles in a couple of weeks.
Just like traditional exercises, like weightlifting, cardio, or yoga, facial exercises can be highly therapeutic. The endorphins you release during exercise help reduce stress and improve your mood. The appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging may lower your confidence, even though growing older is a completely natural and beautiful process. By tightening the skin, facial exercises can help slow down and even improve outward signs of aging. Facial exercises can also be a great alternative to expensive, and potentially risky, traditional fillers and cosmetic procedures.
Other benefits of facial exercises include:
If you’re interested in tightening the skin on your face, check out these six facial exercises.
Sagging skin around your brows can make your eyes appear smaller and give you an angry or exasperated expression.
When you have tension in your neck, it shows on your face! Your face may look drawn and tired, and the skin around your jawbone may not be as firm. Stretching and massaging your neck can help relieve tension and keep you looking younger.
High cheekbones are often regarded as traditionally beautiful and desirable. While you can’t change your bone shape, you can help tone the muscles and skin around your cheekbones. This results in a lifted, sculpted look.
Crow’s-feet are lines that can form at the outer corners of your eyes as you age. They’re very common, as the skin around your eyes is extremely fine.
The skin along our jaws — sometimes referred to as jowls — begin to sag as we get older. Constantly looking down at our phones may contribute to that! This stretch can help pull the skin tighter against your jaw, resulting in a more toned look.
This exercise helps strengthen the muscles around your mouth and on the sides of your lips.
Like with any exercise regimen, consistency is key. You probably won’t see immediate results, but don’t give up! You don’t need to perform the exercises every night, but three to five times per week should result in tighter, firmer skin.
Skin care is incredibly important, especially as we age. Doing these facial exercises in conjunction with proper skin care can help multiply the results. Vitamin E oil, retinol/retinoids, and collagen have all shown to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Making sure you’re using SPF every day can also help prevent sun-damage-related skin concerns.
Your skin is a reflection of how your body feels from the inside out, so make sure to treat your body well! Whole fruits and vegetables, protein, and complex carbohydrates keep your body fueled and nourished. Getting enough water and keeping yourself hydrated can also help your skin stay plump and keep it from drying out. Moving your body and getting regular exercise helps tone your face: As you lose weight and gain muscle, it’s reflected in the fat composition around your face and neck.
While appearance is an important aspect of both physical and mental well-being, it’s not everything. Whole person wellness is about the balance between your physical health and the non-health parts of you. IIN calls this your primary food (everything not on your plate), and it includes relationships, career, spirituality, and how you care for yourself.
Although facial exercises can be very helpful in maintaining the neck and facial muscles and keeping the jawline sharper, they aren’t a fix-all. In order to look and feel healthy, you’ll also need to practice good eating habits and exercise regularly.