Most people don't realize that the face is made up of nearly 100 different muscles. The muscles of the face make it possible for you to smile, laugh, speak and eat. These muscles are just like any other muscle in the body and need to be exercised to maintain good muscle tone and strength. Good muscle tone also helps the skin which covers it to remain taut and supple. Sagging facial muscles lead to sagging skin, which causes wrinkles. To keep the face looking smooth and wrinkle free, perform facial exercises that help slow the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, mouth and nose.
Step 1
Tone the muscles around the eyes to prevent wrinkles by sitting with the eyes gently closed. Keeping the eyes closed, lift the eyebrows as high as you can while at the same time trying to pull the upper eyelid downward (using only your eye muscles, not your fingers). Hold the extreme point of the stretch for a count of 3 to 5 and then relax. Repeat this exercise about five times, performing once or twice a day.
Step 2
Exercise the eyes further. Place the middle two fingers of each hand gently at the outside corner of each eye and gently pull the skin toward the temple. Very quickly, blink the eyes, ensuring that they upper lid meets the lower lid. Do this exercise about 10 times. You should feel the muscles around the eye contracting as you perform this move. Do this exercise once a day.
Step 3
Firm the area around the lips by looking in a mirror and then puckering up, as if you're exaggerating a kiss. Now, try to touch your puckered lips to your nose. You won't be able to, but this is the movement you're trying to achieve. Hold the pucker for a count of 3 to 5 and then repeat. Do this exercise between five and 10 times once or twice a day.
Step 4
Tighten the cheeks to reduce the depth of the naso-labial fold, which runs from the side of the nose down alongside the mouth. Stand facing a mirror. Smile as broadly as you can, keeping the lips together. While smiling, wrinkle the nose. You should see your cheeks lift upward. Hold the extreme position for a count of 3 to 5 and then relax. Repeat this exercise about 10 times. You can do this exercise once a day.
Step 5
Strengthen the muscles of the cheeks by pretending you're blowing on a trumpet. With lips held together, fill your cheeks with air. Press the lips together tightly. You should feel the pressure in your lower cheeks and back near the jaw joint. Then, slightly relaxing the muscles, suck in the cheeks, like you're making a "fish face." Then, puff out the cheeks again. Do this exercise five times, holding each "puff" and "fish-face" for about three seconds. You can to this exercise several times a day if you wish.
Step 6
Tighten the skin along the lower jaw and upper neck to prevent wrinkles along the jawline and under the mouth. Lift the face toward the ceiling and pucker, as if you're trying to kiss something on the ceiling. Repeat this puckering move between 10 to 20 times, really feeling the pull in the chin and along the jawline. You can do this exercise several times a day if you wish.
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