There are more24 individual muscles We have muscles on either side of our face, but the gym doesn’t have any equipment to strengthen or tone them. If we work hard on our bodies, can we do the same for our facial muscles?
Many experts say that this is absolutely possible, as long as you practice face yoga consistently.
While high-end spas and salons offer services like “face gyms,” facial yoga can be done for free at home. Here’s what the experts have to say.
Does the science back it up?
“Many people carry tension in their faces, and facial yoga can help relieve that tension,” says the physiotherapist.Sandra Gail Freyna “Facially focused yoga exercises can help achieve firmer, slimmer features by relaxing muscles for a more youthful appearance,” she told Huffington Post.
There is some scientific evidence that proves the effectiveness of facial firming exercises, also known as facial yoga.Northwestern Medicine ResearchA 30-minute facial exercise program every day or every other day improved the facial appearance of middle-aged women, giving them fuller, more youthful looking upper and lower cheeks. Evaluators found they appeared almost three years younger over the five-month study.
“There is some evidence that facial exercises may improve the appearance of the face and reduce the visible signs of aging,” lead author Murad Alam, M.D., associate dean and professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine, said when the study was published. “Exercise enlarges and strengthens the facial muscles, so the face appears firmer and more youthful.”
Strengthening your facial muscles can do wonders for loose, aging fat. “When your facial muscles are larger, there’s more padding under the skin, which seems to tighten the muscles and plump up your facial shape,” Emily Poon, a research assistant professor of dermatology at Feinberg and senior author of the study, said when the study was published. “This increases facial volume, countering the effects of age-related fat loss and sagging skin.”
The effects of facial yoga
The facial exercises used at Northwestern University include:Gary Sikorsky ofHappy Face Yoga“These exercises are a natural alternative to plastic surgery,” study co-author Dr. Schneider, a certified facial toning yoga instructor, told HuffPost. “These exercises are just like using isometric and resistance exercises to work out your body using weights.”
Sikorski said facial yoga helps improve blood circulation, and that improvements are often seen within two to three weeks. “The skin becomes more elastic and softer to the touch,” he said. He also said that with a consistent program, “the eyes open, the cheeks lift, the corners of the mouth lift, and the jawline tightens. And as the muscles tighten and lift, the skin becomes firmer and smoother, and fine lines become less noticeable.”
Study participants performed a series of 32 exercises, holding each one for about one minute. A good place to start is:
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Cheek Lifter: Open your mouth to make an “O” shape, place your upper lip over your teeth, and smile by lifting your cheek muscles up. Place your fingers lightly on the top of your cheeks and release the muscles, lowering them, then lifting them again. Repeat, lowering and lifting your cheeks.
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Happy Cheek SculptureSmile without showing your teeth, purse your lips and tighten your cheek muscles while smiling, placing your fingers at the corners of your mouth and sliding them up your cheeks and holding for 20 seconds.
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Lion Pose: DermatologistJanet GraffShe recommended this pose to HuffPost: Start by sitting comfortably. Lean your arms forward and reach your hands toward the floor. Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, open your mouth and make a loud “ah” sound, like a lion’s roar. Exhale completely and bring your tongue towards your chin. “Over time, you’ll notice benefits to your breath, throat chakra, neck, eyes and smoother skin,” she said.
Take it easy and be consistent
The good news isYou don’t have to break a sweat to get through these exercises – you can easily do them during a regular Zoom call (camera off, of course).Elsa JungmannWith a PhD in dermatological pharmacology and having started her career in research and development at L’Oreal in Paris, she takes a relaxed, holistic approach to toning the face.
“The main cause of skin problems is psychological,” she told Huffington Post. “Research shows that stress releases cortisol, which affects the skin. Facial yoga exercises can really help.” But Jungmann sees yoga as gentle self-care rather than a demanding workout. “Rather, it’s a chance to reconnect with your skin and relax. In France, where I come from, people aren’t as intense. We recommend just a few minutes of exercise a day.” Her website offers short videos of exercises like these:Ear pinch,Blowing a raspberry andI Victory.Serum Ritualit’s about applying products more consciously.
Like any health-related activity, you won’t see results unless you do it consistently. “The only downside is that facial exercises need to be done consistently — 20-30 minutes a day, six to seven days a week,” says the dermatologist.Shilpi Khetarpal, “It takes at least three to four weeks before you start to see results,” an associate professor of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic told HuffPost.
