Facial muscles need exercise to stay firm and toned, just like any other muscle in the body. Because the muscles of the face are smaller than other muscle groups, the exercises take less effort and time. Taking 15 minutes in the morning and evening can do wonders for keeping the face toned. An added perk is the rosy glow from the extra circulation and blood flow to the muscles.
Forehead Lift
Place the index fingers directly above your eyebrows. Using your brow muscles, lift the eyebrows while keeping light resistance above the brows. Lift and hold for three seconds. Release and repeat for 15 repetitions. These can be done anywhere for a quick lift. They can be done at work while sitting at your desk during a break.
Smiling
Smiling is good for the face and for an emotional boost. Smiling firms the muscles and increases the range of motion in your smile, according to the California Dental Specialty Group.
With the lips together, stretch the corners of the mouth into a smile. Keep the lips in contact and hold for 10 seconds. Next, expand the smile laterally and upward exposing the edges of the upper teeth. Hold for 10 seconds. Increase muscle tension and widen the smile showing more teeth. Hold for 10 seconds. Smile as wide as possible moving the upper lip as far up as possible, exposing some gum tissue. Hold for 10 seconds. Relax to a half smile, still showing teeth, and hold for 10 seconds. Relax halfway and hold for 10 seconds, return to the starting position.
Form a full smile and place the index fingers at the corners of the smile using slight pressure. Hold the corners and close the smile halfway, keeping resistance at the corners with the fingers. Hold for 10 seconds. Try to close the mouth, but keep resistance with the fingers and hold for 10 seconds.
Reverse the order by starting with the lips together and the fingers at the corners. Smile halfway, exposing some teeth, and use the fingers to resist the muscle pull. Hold for 10 seconds. Next, expand the smile, still using resistance and hold for 10 seconds. Relax and smile.
Lower Face Lift
This exercise is for the lower jaw. The muscles under the chin are connected to the jaw muscles. Tightening the lower jaw tones and firms skin under the chin. Open your mouth wide, and roll your lips over the teeth, pulling the corners of the mouth toward the back teeth. Look upward, and smile. Place the index fingers at the tops of your ears, and, while using light pressure, push your face forward and your shoulders back. Hold for 30 seconds. Carole Maggio, author of "Facercise," teaches this exercise in her face-lifting classes.
Eye Opener
This yoga exercise targets the orbicularis oculi muscle, the muscle around the eyes. Exercising this muscle strengthens the muscle and widens the eyes.
Sit with the back straight and form an oval with the lips. Pull the lips over the teeth. Smile, turning the corners of the mouth upward toward the cheeks. Place the fingertips of both hands on the top of the cheeks just under each eye and hold using light resistance. Squint the eyes, lifting the lower eyelid upward, and hold for five seconds and release. Repeat for 10 repetitions
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