Do Facial Exercises Make You Look Younger?
You constantly see people endorsing physical exercise as the key to keeping you fit and healthy, but have you ever heard of exercise for your face?
As crazy as it may sound facial exercises are becoming increasingly more popular and there is definitely reason for it. As well as being a calming activity to do, it can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. This means you can lessen the effects of ageing in your face, sounds like a win- win to us!
But what exactly are the techniques to make you look and feel 10 years younger?
1. FACIAL MASSAGES
Some call this ‘the natural facelift’. By stimulating the facial muscles with regular massages, you bring oxygen to and around that area. MUA Lorenzo Mattia swears by this technique as his beauty skincare saviour.
“After cleansing and moisturising, I use a good night serum because it really helps your moisturiser get deep into your skin cells. You’re going to wake up in the morning with baby skin. Next step is all about your technique:
• After you apply the serum, press your thumbs in the middle of your cheeks near your nose. Hold for five seconds.
• Then press your thumbs again into the apples of your cheeks.
• After this you massage upwards around the outside of your face.
• Repeat this routine three times.
I swear you’re going to have the highest cheekbones in town.”
Watch Lorenzo’s full routine here
2. STOP SCRUNCHING YOUR FACE
If you are a very expressive talker like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about when I say stop scrunching your face. Continuous creasing of the forehead, squinting the eyes and raising your eyebrows will not benefit you in trying to decrease premature ageing.
TOP TIP: Try to control your facial movements, especially in conversations, as well as wearing sunglasses during sunny weather to avoid squinting the eyes as much.
Now, I’m not suggesting you look sad all the time and have zero expression for life… believe me that is near to impossible. However, if there’s certain lines you want to prevent appearing then finding a perfect balance between your expression is a really good start! This advice is all based on personal preference, so this comes down to what is most important to you as an individual.
3. ADOPTING A GOOD SKIN CARE REGIME
Signs of aging can appear on the skin as early as your 20s, typically caused by lack of hydration and exposure to excessive UVA rays from the sun. Therefore, an important step for any anti-aging routine is making sure to moisturise after cleansing, (try doing this in the morning and evening.)
A moisturiser is amazing because it…:
• Hydrates your skin so it stays firm
• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
• Defends against damage from environmental stress
Look for moisturisers that contains Hyaluronic Acid, an ingredient holds moisture in the skin. We would also recommend a moisturiser that includes SPF as “90% of premature ageing comes from sun exposure ALONE” so SPF is your best friend in protecting you from any sun damage.
