We cannot stop the inevitable aging process that is a natural part of life, but the good news is that we can take positive steps to maintain a healthy and radiant appearance. In addition to protecting our skin from sunlight and maintaining a healthy diet, using face exercise is a great way to improve the elasticity of skin and stop wrinkles in their tracks.
Exposure to UV light is the primary cause of premature aging of the skin. Too much time spent in the sun or on sunbeds is harmful to your health and will dramatically accelerate the appearance of wrinkles. We should protect our skin by using a sunblock with an SPF of at least 30, or a daily moisturizer containing added sun protection. Aging skin can also be held at bay by eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet and drinking plenty of water to keep skin hydrated and radiant.
An effective weapon against aging skin is face exercise or face yoga, a method that is said to tone the facial muscles by repeating specific movements. Fans of the technique claim that it can wipe years off the appearance of your face if the exercises are repeated regularly throughout the week. You can even do these facial poses sitting at your desk! Why not try the 'Puffer Fish'? You simply puff out your cheeks, making your mouth as small as possible, then tap gently on your cheeks with your fingertips for thirty seconds. You could also try the 'Owl'. This pose involves making two C-shapes around your eyes with your fingers. Relax your forehead and open your eyes wide. Repeat this three times and hold for ten seconds. Finally, raise your eyebrows as high as you can and hold that pose for five seconds. There are lots of different face exercises that target specific areas of your face and can help refine sagging jaw-lines, laughter lines and crows-feet.
If we can tone and refine the muscles of our bodies through exercise, then surely we can also put our face through its paces? Indeed, devotees of the technique are so convinced by the results achieved, that many are turning away from cosmetic procedures such as botox and other injectable wrinkle treatments. Skin with plump, underlying muscle is less likely to sag or wrinkle. Perhaps we should all start pulling faces when sitting at our desks?