Facial exercises are often thought of only for anti-aging purposes. Drooping jowls, wrinkled foreheads and lip lines can sometimes have men and women alike practicing facial exercises. But, as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes, facial exercises are helpful for those suffering from Bell's palsy, a temporary paralysis of facial muscles, and can help rehabilitation patients after an accident or surgery. Five facial exercises done each day can improve your facial muscles, reduce the look of aging and keep you feeling young.
Forehead
Work on the facial strength in your forehead by making a frowning face so that your brows are knit together and you look as if you were scowling. With your index finger, push down in between your eyebrows as if you are pushing your brows into a deeper frown. Then, try to raise your eyebrows against the pressure and release. Complete this exercise 10 times, FitnessHealthZone.com says.
Lips
Fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth are often a sign of weakened skin and facial muscles. Try exercising your lips by pursing them as if you are going to kiss someone, Oklahoma State University says. Purse them out and then pull back into a smile several times. Then, pull your lips in as if you are saying a word that starts with "m." Stop when you start to feel your lip muscles fatiguing.
Chin
Droopy jowls are telling of someone's age, but as you age, your skin begins to lose elasticity and sag. Ward off drooping by exercising your chin area daily. Start by looking at the ceiling so that you feel your neck begin to strain. Pull your bottom lip over your top one, as if you are trying to touch your nose with your bottom lip, and then release. Complete this exercise at least 10 times each day to see results.
Eyes
If you notice that your eyes feel tired at the end of the day, it could because your eye muscles are beginning to weaken as you age. Exercise the muscles in your eyes by shutting them as tightly as possible. While your eyes are shut, try to look up and down without engaging the muscles in your forehead. If it seems too challenging, shut your eyes less tightly and try again. Complete the up-and-down motion 10 times.
Cheeks
You can test the strength of your cheek muscles by completing this exercise, WomanJuntion.com suggests. Puff your cheeks out as far as they can go, and see how much pressure from your fingers it takes to replace the air into the rest of your mouth, without blowing the air through your lips. At first, you'll likely find that it is fairly easy to push the air out As you become stronger, you should be able to resist a little more each time.
Member Comments