The 6 Most Useful Anti-Aging Facial Exercises
Between time, gravity, and an assortment of other factors, the skin of the face is prone to aging. As we age, the skin on our faces naturally begins to lose its elasticity, causing it to become more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. While there are multiple ways to treat this subtle shift, such as through cosmetic procedures or nutrition, exercise can be an excellent tool to help tone and tighten the muscles of the face.
By working the facial muscles, you can work toward keeping the skin smoother and tighter as you age, allowing you to move through the years gracefully and beautifully. In this blog, we’ll explore a handful of the most useful anti-aging facial expressions, including cheek-lifting, brow-lifting, and chin-pressing exercises.
6 Facial Exercises to Ward Off the Effects of Time
There are dozens of techniques and methods to preserve firm, tight, and youthful-looking skin. One way to ward off signs of age is by implementing regular facial exercises. While these exercises can’t undo existing signs of age, they can help tone and tighten the face to ward off signs of aging and minimize an aging appearance.
These anti-aging face exercises include:
1. Cheek Lifter Exercise
The cheek-lifting exercise is designed to hone in on the muscles of your middle and lower face. Start by forming an open “O” with your mouth, moving your upper lip to cover your teeth. Contract the cheek muscles by smiling (try to keep your mouth in the “O” shape). Hold for a few seconds, then release the contraction.
Repeat ten times, lifting and lowering the cheeks. If you haven’t tried this exercise before, you might be surprised at how much it engages the muscles of your face. You might even be a bit sore after the first session or two!
2. Cheek Sculpter Exercise
Much like the cheek-lifting exercise, the cheek-sculpting exercise hones in on the cheek muscles. To do it, smile without showing your teeth. Keep your mouth closed, purse your lips together and smile. This forces the cheek muscles to raise in a contraction.
Hold the pose for 20 seconds, then release. Repeat 2-3 times or as many times as you feel comfortable.
3. Au Naturale Eyebrow Lift Exercise
The eyebrows often begin to droop and sag with age. So, to combat those effects, try the eyebrow-lifting exercise. To do it, press two or three fingers under each eyebrow, forcing your eyes to open.
While you hold your eyebrows up with your fingers, smile and attempt to push your eyebrows down using the muscles of your face. As you do, close your eyes and roll your eyes to look up. Hold the pose for 20 seconds, then release. Repeat as desired or 2-3 times.
4. Chin Press and Extension
Like the face, the neck is prone to signs of aging. The chin press and extension can help work toward keeping the muscles and skin in the area toned and tight.
Start with the chin press, which helps stretch the muscles through the back of the neck. Tuck your chin back toward your throat, using your finger to press your chin back. It’s a double-chin-inducing pose that isn’t particularly flattering, but do your best to hold the pose for a few seconds. Release the pose and move into the extension.
Extend your chin upward, tipping your head back to elongate the neck muscles. You should feel a stretch in the muscles in the front of your neck. Don’t push the stretch—instead, extend until you feel a pull through the muscles in your neck.
Repeat the combination 3-5 times or as many times as you’re comfortable doing so.
5. Facial Massage
A facial massage, while not technically an exercise for your face, can be a great way to combat signs of aging. In all reality, this is more of an exercise for your arms than it is for the muscles of your face, but it can be a great tool to ward off the effects of time.
You can massage your face with your knuckles or a tool, like a gua sha, using gentle but firm pressure. The massage can help reduce tension in the facial muscles, which can contribute to wrinkles and fine lines. It can also boost circulation to the area, reduce puffiness, and improve skin elasticity.
Gently massage each part of the face with clean hands or a clean facial tool. Apply a small amount of your favorite serum, oil, or moisturizer to your hands or the tool to ensure smooth movement across the skin.
Start with the lymphatic area, massaging in wide circles from under your ears to down your throat and back up along your jawline. Next, move onto the lower area of your face. Gently run your fingers along your jaw muscles, massaging back toward your ears and down your neck.
Gently massage the cheekbones and under-eye area, moving from the nose toward the ears. The area under the eyes is more delicate, so be gentle. Lastly, massage your forehead. Run your fingers along your brow bone at an upward angle. Press your fingers along the plane of your forehead, starting in the middle and working outward with each hand.
Focus on each area for a minute or two, using gentle pressure to massage the muscles of those areas.
5. Bubble Face Exercise
The bubble face exercise can help keep the muscles of your lower face toned. It can also help keep the skin in the area tight and youthful-looking.
Start in a comfortable position, either seated or standing. Inhale deeply, filling your lungs with air. Hold the breath in, letting the air puff out your cheeks. Hold the pose as long as you feel comfortable doing so, then blow out the breath slowly.
Repeat the process up to 10 times, holding each breath before slowly exhaling.
Other Factors That Contribute to Signs of Facial Aging
Multiple factors contribute to signs of facial aging, some more impactful than others. These factors include:
- Sun exposure: This is a big one. Sun exposure can degrade collagen and elastin, making the facial skin prone to wrinkling.
- Facial expressions: Everyday facial expressions, such as smiling, frowning, and squinting, can cause fine lines and wrinkles on the face, particularly where the skin folds.
- Muscle loss: Muscle mass and tone naturally decrease with age, which can lead to a drooping appearance as the skin drapes more loosely on the face.
- Weight loss: Dramatic weight loss, particularly later in life, can contribute to loose skin that may cause an aged appearance. Maintaining a consistent, healthy weight through regular training can help keep the skin of the face firm and toned.
- Nutrition: Your diet plays a major role in how your body ages, including your skin. A well-balanced diet full of antioxidants can slow the aging process, helping preserve more youthful-looking skin later in life.
Tone and Tighten Your Skin (and Body) With Regular Exercise
While time will eventually take its toll on the body, incorporating facial exercises into the daily routine can be an excellent way to combat signs of aging and keep your facial muscles toned and tight. A few minutes a day helps keep those muscles active, which is integral in preserving more youthful-looking skin. With consistency and effort, you can work toward keeping the skin of your face more radiant, toned, and firm.