Keep that youthful glow and tone in your face by exercising the muscles of the head and neck. All muscles atrophy when they are not used, including the facial muscles. Facial exercises consist of the yoga, isometric and light resistance workouts. For maximum toning and firming benefit, perform these exercises as part of your morning and evening facial routines.
Under Eye Toner
The orbicularis oculi muscle is the area just under the eyes that forms the hollows. This exercise reduces puffiness and diminishes hollows by firming the lower eyelids.
Place the middle fingers at the inner corners of the eyes and the index fingers at the outer corners and apply light pressure. Roll the eyes up and squint with the lower eye while lightly holding the eye corners. Tighten, hold, then release and repeat for 10 repetitions. The last repetition should be held for a count of 40 seconds. This is an exercise from Carole Maggio, author of "Facercise."
Neck Firming Exercise
The platysma, trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck are toned with this exercise. The neck and jaw muscles are connected. Working the neck muscles exercises the lower jaw and builds muscle in the neck to help support the head.
Lie on the floor, grab your neck with both hands and lift your head off the floor using the front muscles of the neck. If done correctly, you should feel the contraction of the muscles with the palms of the hands. Repeat for 30 repetitions. Next, move the arms to the sides of the body, lift the head off the floor slightly, about a quarter-inch, using the front neck muscles. Rotate the head from side to side. Work up to 30 repetitions.
Cheek Firmer
This yoga exercise works the cheeks. Puff the cheeks out as if you are playing a trumpet. Transfer the air from one cheek to the to the other for as long as possible, Then, release the air by blowing. This will firm the cheeks and keep them strong. Annelise Hagen, author of "The Yoga Face," teaches this exercise in her facial yoga classes in New York City.
Face Lift Exercise
The California Dental Specialty Group recommends this exercise to keep the muscles in the face toned. One reason muscles sag is lack of use. This exercise works the quadratus labli, the sheet of muscle running from the side of the nose to the upper lip.
This is a two-part exercise. Open the mouth slightly, flare the nostrils and wrinkle the nose while drawing the upper lip as high as possible. Relax and repeat 10 times. The next part is done by placing the fingers on the top part of the cheeks just under the eyes, open the mouth slightly, curl the upper lip and hold for 10 seconds. Relax and repeat for 10 repetitions.
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