THE FACE YOGA CONTROVERSY
Face Yoga began getting widespread attention within the past couple years as companies formed to provide facial exercise training, vloggers flocked to YouTube to demonstrate the techniques, and celebrities opened up about their use of exercise to maintain their youthful looks. At first glance, it makes sense: exercise is good for the rest of your body, so why not your face? However, many dermatologists remained skeptical. Wrinkles such as smile lines can form as patients make the same facial expressions over and over. The more they scrunch up their face, the deeper their wrinkles. In these cases, botulinum toxin injections, including Botox, can help relax the underlying muscles to smooth the look of wrinkles. To many dermatologists, purposely
HOW TO PERFORM ANTI-AGING FACIAL YOGA
Of the 32 different exercises in the study, the researchers described how to perform two in particular:
The Cheek Lifter
To perform this exercise, open your mouth and form an “O”. Position your upper lift over your teeth, smile to lift your cheek muscles, then place your fingers lightly on the top part of your cheek. Release your muscles to lower your fingers, then lift back up. Repeat lowering and lifting your cheeks multiple times.
The Happy Cheeks Sculpting
To perform this exercise, first, smile without showing your teeth. Purse your lips together, smile to force your cheek muscles up, place your fingers on the corners of your mouth, and slide them up to the top of your cheeks. Hold this position for twenty seconds.
HOW FACIAL EXERCISE WORKS
As skin ages, elasticity decreases as collagen and elastin production within the skin slows. Not only that, but fat pads between muscle and skin start to thin, affecting face shape. With less fat volume supporting the skin, it becomes saggy, giving the face a droopy, aged look.
The researchers believe these facial exercises work by targeting the muscle. With exercise, these muscles become bigger, making up for the lost facial fat. The bigger muscles are better able to fill out the face, restoring lost volume and lifting and tightening the skin.
SO FACE YOGA REALLY DOES WORK, RIGHT?
Not so fast. Although the study did seem to find facial exercises dropped three weeks off apparent age, there were some limitations. The study was quite small, especially after many of the participants stopped exercising. The researchers acknowledge future studies would have to confirm the results with more participants and a wider range of ages and demographics.
It may come down to being careful about particular exercises. Certain exercises can help strengthen muscles responsible for lifting skin. However, following the wrong advice can lead to exercises that have a negative effect on skin, such as frowning or clenching teeth. It would be best to find trusted sources for exercise information.
Still, others swear by the opposite to facial exercise: facial rest. Some dermatologists, and their patients recommend keeping a resting face with a neutral expression throughout the day. Furrowing your brow can create and enhance forehead wrinkles, but resisting the urge to furrow may help keep skin looking smoother, longer. Some people pride themselves on their ability to keep a neutral expression and wrinkle-free skin.
Team Rejuvee