Secret Exercise Tricks for Getting Rid of Wrinkles, Says Science
You know that you can exercise your legs, your back, and your brain. But did you also know that you can perform some face exercises that will give your features a little boost? According to available research, it's true. One study conducted by researchers at Northwestern Medicine and published in the journal JAMA Dermatology found that middle-aged women who performed a half-hour of face exercises every day or every other day over a 20-week period showed "improved" and "younger appearance with fuller upper and lower cheeks."
Whether it goes by the name "face exercise" or "face yoga," some leading experts will tell you to do these facial exercises routinely. "I recommend facial exercises to be done every day," dermatologist Doris Day, MD, author of the book Beyond Beautiful, explained to Town & Country earlier this year. "We exercise our face every time we make expressions, and most people overuse certain muscles, which ends up weakening the opposing muscles. When you frown often enough to create a crease, you're overusing those muscles and weakening the muscles that lift and smile, because you're using those muscles less."
She goes on: "Another rule is that muscles can only pull in one direction. So for every muscle pulling down, there's an opposite/paired muscle that pulls up. I try to teach my patients how to do facial exercises to lift and rejuvenate."
If you'd like to try some face exercises to improve the health and vitality of your face, read on, because we've included a few of them right here. And for more great exercise advice you can use, don't miss the One Surprising Exercise Trick for Losing Belly Fat After 50, Says New Study.
The Cheek Exercise
According to Marie Claire UK, performing this exercise is great for "sagging skin" and "cheek lines." To do the exercise, you make an "o" with your mouth, being sure to keep your teeth hidden. Then you "smile widely while keeping the teeth hidden" and "repeat six teams." Once that's done, you "hold the smile shape while placing one index finger on the chin. Then start to move the jaw up and down as the head tilts gently back. Relax and repeat" two more times. And for more ways to look your very best, make sure you know the Body Parts You Should Clean at the End of Every Day, Say Experts.
The Forehead Exercise
Do firm up your forehead, you can consider an exercise known as "The Owl." Here's how to do it, according to Friday Magazine: "Make a big 'C' shape with your thumb and index fingers. Place your index finger just above and parallel to your eyebrows and your thumbs on your cheeks. Start to pull down with the index fingers while trying to raise your eyebrows and making the eyes wide. Hold for two seconds, relax and repeat for a total of five times. Finish by holding this position for ten seconds." And for more self-care tips, don't miss the 5 Things Taking a Hot Bath Does to Your Body, Says Science.
The Temple Exercise
This exercise comes from Gary Sikorski, creator of Happy Face Yoga, who created the exercise program for the study conducted by Northwestern Medicine. If you're looking to fight your crow's feet, try this, as explained by AARP: "Smile! Place your fingers together at your temples. Press lightly on the temples while you close your jaw, clenching your teeth together and moving your chin up. As you clench your teeth together, putting tension in the muscle as if you were trying to make your ears move backward, concentrate and visualize the temple region. Hold your teeth tightly clenched for 10 seconds. Next, clench down on your back teeth for a count of 10, feeling your temporalis flexing with each clench. Relax. Repeat this exercise three times."
The Chin and Neck Exercise
If you're someone who would like to smooth your chin and neck, Marie Claire UK advises this exercise: "Looking straight ahead, place the fingertips at the bottom of the neck and lightly stroke the skin downwards with the head tilted back. Bring the head back down to the chest and repeat twice more. Finally, jut the lower lip out as far as possible to pull the corners of the mouth down. Place your fingertips on the collarbone with the chin pointed upwards. Hold for four deep breaths." And for great self-care tips, don't miss these Dirty Hygiene Habits You Didn't Know You Had, Say Experts.
