Facial Exercises, Do They Work?
- Jason Becker, MD
- Jan 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Are Facial Exercises beneficial? And are there ANY downsides to face exercises?
Advocates claim regular staying in the practice of regular facial exercises can help tone your facial muscles, giving you the younger and healthier look we all hope to achieve miraculously.
Continue reading to learn more about what it means to "exercise your face", the potential benefits, and a few simple facial movements to attempt at home!
What Role Do Facial Exercises Play?
Facial exercises are movements or expressions that you repeatedly do to get the muscles in your face to help tone and essentially help move "blood" around. This is thought to help stop the loss of elasticity and other signs of aging on the face. Think about it as physical exercise, doing regular physical exercises help us to stay in shape and
These movements, also known as face or facial yoga, are supposed to help boost blood circulation and fortify your facial muscles' integrity. In turn, this may improve the health of the skin's cells, giving the skin an overall look younger and brighter appearance.
What Are the Possible Advantages of Facial Exercises?
According to the limited research conducted and anecdotal evidence, face yoga or a facial workout plan may improve facial appearance. Among the many advantages, are the following:
Skin that appears firmer and fuller in the cheek muscles, supporting a younger appearance
Improved muscle tone results in a revitalized feeling in the skin.
A more relaxed appearance results from tension released from the facial muscles (which may also lead to a less-pronounced appearance of wrinkles).
A radiant and fresh-looking face results from increased blood flow to the front.
Since the conducted studies on this topic are in the early stages, you should talk to your dermatologist before starting any facial exercises to find out if they will worsen any skin problems you may already have. On the contrary, facial exercises are hypothesized to increase the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. Ask your doctor how a modest face workout regimen like the one below can be beneficial or non-beneficial along with other anti-aging skincare treatments.
Try These 4 Facial Exercises
Most facial workouts involve moving your face in a series of motions or making different facial expressions. Here are several to try:
If these movements make you uncomfortable, stop and talk to your doctor.
1. Cheek Lifters Facial Exercises
This exercise targets the cheek muscles, tightening and toning for a more "lifted" appearance around your cheeks, jowels and jawline.
Open your mouth wide and use your upper lip to hide your front teeth and;
⬜ | Feel your facial muscles lift when you smile. Place an index finger on top of each cheek and press gently. Relax your brow. |
⬜ | Smile once more to raise your cheeks. As you do so, you should feel the tension in the cheek muscle beneath your fingers. |
⬜ | Rep 10 times, you are holding the upward raise for 20 seconds on the last repetition. |
2. Jawline Definer Facial Exercises
Excess fat or even the pull of gravity can cause the jaw area to sag and lose its definition. These workouts work the muscles beneath your chin and around your mouth.
⬜ | Attach your tongue to the roof of your mouth, behind your teeth |
⬜ | Tension can be increased by pressing or applying pressure to the roof of your mouth with your tongue. |
⬜ | Hum for a long time to engage the muscles and make your mouth vibrate. Repeat 15 times for a total of three sets. |
⬜ | After then, open your lips wide and utter the vowel sound with an exaggerated 'O.' |
⬜ | Pull your mouth back immediately while saying an exaggerated 'E' vowel sound. Repeat 15 times for a total of three sets. |
To further define your jawline and activate and develop the front neck muscles. *It works on the cheek muscles to tighten the area and give the face a more lifted and taut look:
⬜ | Close your mouth and extend your lower jaw. |
⬜ | Your bottom lip will protrude. Lift your bottom lip a little to make it look like you're making a sad or pouting face. |
⬜ | Feel the stretch beneath your chin and around your jaw. Hold for 15 seconds before relaxing and repeating three times for a total of three sets of 15 repetitions. |
3. Chin Definer Facial Exercises
The chin definers helps prevent and retain elasticity among the areas of the chin that tend to sag.
⬜ | Place two fingers behind the chin, in the fleshy area just under your tongue. |
⬜ | Raise your tongue to the roof of your mouth. The muscles around your fingers should naturally tighten and contract. |
⬜ | Hold for a beat before relaxing. Rep 10 times more. |
4. Eye Lifters Facial Exercises
This workout focuses on the area around your eyes and brows, where your skin is thin and fragile and tends to sag. This helps to counteract the loss of elasticity and drooping typically noticeable in mature skin's chin area.
⬜ | Gently press the three middle fingers of each hand against the skin patch beneath your brows. Raise your eyebrows. |
⬜ | While looking straight ahead, use your forehead muscles to push your brows down and oppose your fingertips. Hold for ten seconds. |
⬜ | Close your eyes for 7 seconds while keeping your brows locked in place. This exercise should be done three times. 8 Chin Shapers |
How Often Should You Do Facial Exercises to See Results?
While facial exercises can help to tone and strengthen the muscles in the face, they alone are not enough to effectively combat the effects of aging. This is because the aging process is not just limited to the muscles, but also affects the skin, which can become thin, dry, and less elastic over time. A proper skincare regimen, on the other hand, can help to nourish and protect the skin, keeping it looking youthful and radiant.
Combining a facial exercise routine with a proper skincare program can be an effective way to address the various aspects of aging. The exercises can help to tone and firm the muscles, while the skincare routine can help to keep the skin hydrated, smooth, and protected from environmental damage. This can result in a more youthful and radiant appearance overall.
It's important to note that a proper skincare regimen should include a combination of products and practices, such as cleansing, exfoliating. Try some of Malibu MD's top rated products to help combat the effects of aging!
Working with a facial exercise instructor who can correctly coach you on the most effective motions and exercises to obtain the best outcomes is recommended.
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