Are you worried about your sagging skin, which has also been developing wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging lately? Looking for natural facelift tips to rejuvenate your face? No, facelift surgery is not the only solution for this. Instead, you can try some simple facial exercises and get visible results naturally. Let’s discuss facial exercises that may give you a natural facelift and some essential tips to maximize your efforts.
Why Try Facial Exercises For a Facelift?
Exercise makes our body toned and supple in a natural manner. Cardio workouts, yoga, and weight lifting help us burn excess fat by working the muscles vigorously, eventually making the body lean and strong. But, just like the muscles in other parts of the body, the muscles in our face also need to be worked for a tighter, firmer, and younger appearance. Facial exercises may give taut and toned face muscles without a painful and complicated surgical facelift. You can incorporate simple exercises into your daily regimen and get a natural facelift right from the comfort of your home.
Do Face Exercises Work?
While many hooplas are associated with facial exercises and their ability to address signs of aging, let’s look at some scientific evidence to understand the reality of facial exercises and their impact on our faces.
According to Suzanne Olbricht, Associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, there are little or no scientific pieces of evidence to establish the effectiveness of facial exercises (1). While most of the women’s magazines are going gaga over it, facial exercise may minimize the appearance of thick scars and improve muscle tone in the face.
In another study, Dr. Murad Alam, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist found that facial exercises may reduce mid-face and lower-face fullness (2).
Should I Try Facial Exercises?
While it’s too early to believe in the benefits of facial exercises without conclusive scientific evidence, you should not discount the idea entirely, as it may still produce some positive results. However, it would be an exaggeration to state that facial exercise can give you a tighter, firmer, and younger appearance.
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Benefits of Facial Exercise
While much has been written on the benefits of facial exercise, most are anecdotal and not backed by any evidence. According to some popular websites, facial exercise can give you a younger appearance, boost blood circulation, strengthen and tighten facial muscles and skin, and reduce signs of aging. Although you may be pampered to try facial exercises after reading this, it is essential to note that these benefits are not clinically and scientifically established.
According to the Harvard Medical School and Northwestern University’s research findings, facial exercises may help.
- Reduce the appearance of thick scars
- Improve muscle tone in the face
- Reduce mid-face and lower-face fullness
Natural Facelift With Facial Exercises
Facial exercises for a natural facelift can be categorized into two distinct sets. The first comprises simple exercises for beginners, which can be practiced anytime, anywhere. Conversely, the second set includes advanced exercises perfect for taking your practice to the next level. We give you all the details here:
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Simple Exercises To Start With
These exercises are simple and can be done while reading a book or watching television, but it’s advisable not to practice them in public, as they involve making funny faces. Here are moves for different parts of the face:
Jaw And Cheeks:
- Smile from ear to ear and stick your tongue out as far as possible.
- Hold this pose for a few seconds, and then relax.
- This exercise impacts the jaw and cheeks, preventing sagging skin. Repeat it a couple of times; if your jaw feels sore, it’s a positive sign that your muscles are being exercised.
Forehead:
- Create a ‘surprised’ expression by widening your eyes.
- Hold this expression until your eyes start watering.
- Close your eyes for a few seconds and then relax.
- Repeat this sequence ten times. It exercises the muscles around your eyes and forehead, helping to reduce worry lines and furrows.
Lips And Cheeks:
- Pucker up your lips to form an ‘O’.
- Hold this pose for a few seconds, then smile wide and relax.
- Repeat this ten times to work on the muscles in your cheeks and lips, toning them effectively.
Double Chin:
- Sit on a chair with your back straight.
- Lift your head and extend your tongue out.
- Hold the pose for a few seconds and then repeat.
- This exercise targets your neck muscles, helping prevent the formation of a double chin.
Eyes:
- Close your eyes and attempt to raise your eyebrows as high as possible.
- Use your fingers to hold your eyelids down while lifting the eyebrows gently.
- This exercise is effective in warding off undereye bags.
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Advanced Exercises To Take It Up A Notch
The next set of exercises involves touching your face and pulling the skin. So, ensure your face and hands are well-cleaned before you start. Also, apply a small amount of lotion or moisturizer on your face and hands to prevent the skin from getting damaged due to pressure. The following exercises will eliminate a few specific issues so that your face looks lifted and youthful:
6. Crow’s Feet – Place your hands on your temples and pull the skin on the forehead away as if you want to tighten it. Next, try to lift each eyebrow separately while holding the pose. This exercise should be repeated ten times. It prevents crow’s feet and worry lines.
7. Droopy Cheeks – Smile wide. Put your index fingers on your cheekbones and gently press them down. At the same time, go against the pressure exerted by the index fingers and try to smile harder. This is great for firming up the cheeks.
8. Eye Bags – Place index fingers between your eyebrows and the thumbs at your temples as if framing the eyes. Squeeze your eyes shut. At the same time, pull the index fingers between the brows and the thumbs at the temple outwards so that the skin between the fingers is stretched. Once done, open our eyes and relax. Repeat ten times. This will help you get rid of the bags under your eyes.
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Facial Exercising Tips To Remember
1. In facial exercises, fingers or hands are mainly used to create resistance. Hence, it would be best to focus only on the muscles in that area of the face you are working on.
2. If appropriately practiced, facial exercises may give you visible results. However, ensure you follow proper instructions and feel exhaustion in particular muscles. Wrong practice can make your face look even older.
3. You can combine facial massage with exercises to boost blood circulation throughout your face and make it look lifted, toned, and younger.
4. Couple facial exercises with a disciplined regimen of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your skin. This will nourish the cells and strengthen the skin’s underlying structure, giving it a lifted appearance.
5. Do these exercises 3-5 times a week. Also, drink lots of water and eat healthy food. You will undoubtedly have younger-looking skin that does not need any surgical facelift.
Side-effects of Facial Exercises
While facial exercises are not associated with significant side effects, they may damage the facial appearance if instructions are not followed properly (3).
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Summary
Facial exercise is the buzz word. Its ability to provide a brighter, younger, and radiant look is making vibes. However, most of these benefits (improve in blood circulation, strengthening and tightening of facial muscles and skin, reduction in signs of aging) are yet to be proven scientifically. You may still give it a try as scientists believe that it may reduce the appearance of thick scars, improve muscle tone in the face and reduce mid-face and lower face fullness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do exercises for the face work?
The benefits of facial exercises are not scientifically established. Hence, it may not translate into younger and more radiant skin. However, you can leverage some of the other benefits backed by research.
How do I get rid of the saggy face?
You can try a combination of these – changes in lifestyle, topical treatments, supplements, and exercises.
References –
- “Does your face need a workout?” – health.harvard.edu
- “Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging“- jamanetwork.com
- “The Pros and Cons of Facial Exercises” – healthyliving.azcentral.com
