If you’ve been looking into anti-aging tips, then you’ve probably come across facial yoga several times now. These face exercises promise to lift and tighten the skin, but if you’re feeling dubious, you’re not alone.
The only way to find out whether or not face exercises work is by taking a look at some before and after case studies.
Contents
What are Facial Exercises?
Facial exercises are just like a standard workout. However, instead of exercising the muscles in the body, they focus on facial muscles.
There are numerous exercises out there that you can try, but some are definitely more effective than others. This has led to people experiencing such varied results, which is why some dismiss the concept while others swear by it.
Facial Exercises: Before and After Stories
First, let’s take a look at the science. One study found that a facial exercise routine can significantly lift and tone the face, especially around the cheeks and mouth [1]. As a result, the skin is plumped up from within.
This reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving the face looking noticeably younger. This was verified by both the participants as well as independent dermatologists.
That said, the studies that have been carried out to date have been small. More research needs to be carried out on both men and women of varying ages and backgrounds.
However, there are plenty of anecdotal before and after stories out there too. Many celebrities rave about facial exercise techniques. Meghan Markle has been a fan since 2014, regularly following exercises that target the cheeks and jawline [2].
Kate Moss, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow have also added facial massage and exercise methods to their daily routines.
Granted, they also use a vast array of other anti-aging products, but each one has seen improvements in their skin after giving facial exercises a try.
Putting Together a Facial Exercise Routine
So, what’s the best way to get started with face exercises?
The easiest way is to add them into your existing skincare regime. This will save you from having to remember to set aside a separate time each day for them.
Follow your skincare routine as normal, but then do three facial exercises while you’re applying your moisturizer, so that your skin is well lubricated before you start manipulating it. This is very important since pulling at dry skin could cause damage.
Make sure that you also pick tried-and-tested facial exercises to follow – do the wrong ones and you could end up making your wrinkles worse.
To start with, do your facial exercises every day. Then, after eight weeks, you can drop this down to every other day. Research shows that a facial massage or exercise session every other day is all you need for maintaining your results.
As mentioned above, do no more than three exercises in a row. Over-exercising your face could cause new expression lines to form, which you definitely don’t want!
FAQs
Do facial exercises really work?
Yes, facial exercises really work, especially when it comes to targeting the mouth and cheek muscles.
How long does it take to see results from facial exercises?
You’ll start to see results from your face exercises after just a couple of weeks, but it could take up to eight weeks for these to become really noticeable.
Which face exercise program is best?
The Happy Face Yoga method is the best program out there, simply because it has clinical research backing up its wrinkle-reducing results.
Can facial exercises make you look better?
Facial exercises can make you look a few years younger.
Summary
So many women are tempted by the instant results of cosmetic surgery. However, if you’re willing to be patient, facial exercise could offer comparable results, yet without the cost or side effects.
References
[1] https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/january/facial-exercises-help-middle-aged-women-appear-more-youthful/
[2]https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/a20884196/meghan-markle-face-yoga/
