Facial Exercises Guide » Facial Fitness

How To Avoid A Gaunt Face As You Age

Cecil — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:48:39 +0000

Your Face Or Your Body?

There is an old adage that suggests as we age we have to choose between our face and our body.

What this refers to is the idea that if we want our bodies to remain slim and toned as we age, we have to sacrifice our faces.

And there is possibly some truth in this notion.

Basically as we get older if we remain very slim our faces can become gaunt looking, as low-weight usually shows up on the face first of all.

Some people even use this idea as a good reason to gain a few pounds as the years progress.

The reasoning being that carrying a few extra pounds helps to plump up the face, smooth out the skin and minimize the appearance of gauntness and wrinkles.

To Fill Or Not To Fill?

But what if you want to stay slim and toned as you age but don’t want your face to take on a gaunt appearance?

Well, many celebrities resort to cosmetic fillers to fill out the face. These fillers are usually injected into the area around the cheekbones to give the face a plumper, more youthful look.

They work to a certain extent, however they can be quite obvious and end up giving you the look of somebody who has had ‘work’ done on their face.

Many tabloid newspapers and gossip columnists have become expert at spotting those celebrities who have had facial fillers in an attempt to hold off the aging process.

The look has been dubbed the ‘pillow face’ by the press and certainly once you become familiar with this process it does become easier to spot who has had this type of work done.

The results can look good but more often than not fillers can give a person the ‘hamster cheeks’ or ‘chipmunk’ look!

So if you are concerned about your face looking gaunt as you age, perhaps you are naturally slim or maybe you have recently lost a substantial amount of weight, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to improve the problem?

The good news is that you can plump out your face without the need for expensive cosmetic treatments that require regular upkeep and may spoil your looks rather than enhance them.

A Two-Part Plan For Plumping Up A Gaunt Face

A facial exercise plan combined with a skin-boosting diet is one of the best natural regimes you can follow if you want to plump up a gaunt face.

Below is a list of the top 5 skin foods to include in your diet.

The foods on this list have been chosen for their ability to improve the condition of your skin, helping to keep your complexion looking smooth, plump and glowing.

1. Water – Water is the absolute bedrock for beautiful skin helping to keep you hydrated from within whilst plumping up your skin at the same time. Aim to drink 6 to 8 glasses of pure water per day.

Not only will water help plump out your skin it will also help to improve the problems of dry skin and a sallow complexion.

2. Salmon And Other Oily Fish – Skin experts recommend eating salmon or any of the other oily fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines) around 3 times per week. You’ll be rewarded with plumper looking more youthful looking skin.

Salmon in particular contains high levels of skin-plumping omega 3 oils and is also an excellent source of lean protein – vital for any healthy diet.

You can expect to see an improvement in your skin after around 6 weeks if you eat oily fish 3 times per week.

3. Nuts And Seeds – Nuts and seeds are excellent skin plumping foods as they contain high levels of beneficial good fats. They also contain lots of healthy minerals and anti-oxidants that are good for your skin.

Don’t overdo the nuts and seeds if you are trying to lose weight, however a handful of each once a day will go a long way in helping to achieve that all-important youthful complexion.

4. Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes pack a skin-boosting punch because they are loaded with vitamin C – the vitamin responsible for smoothing out wrinkles.

Vitamin C facilitates collagen production and the more collagen your skin produces the less gaunt and sallow your skin will look.

5. Lycopene Rich Foods – Foods containing lycopene can help to improve the tone, texture and plumpness of your skin.

Choose from tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya and pink grapefruit to gain the skin-boosting benefits of lycopene.

Facial Exercises For Targeting A Gaunt Face

Try out the following facial exercises that target the problem of a gaunt face.

When performing these exercises, unless otherwise instructed, make sure you are sitting in a straight-backed chair, keep your shoulders relaxed but do not slouch.

Many experts recommend that you practice facial exercises in front of a mirror so that you can watch yourself and perfect your technique.

Exercise 1

▸ Close your mouth firmly but without tension or ‘clenching’
▸ With your mouth closed blow air into your cheeks to fill them out
▸ Hold for a count of 5
▸ Repeat 10 times

Exercise 2

▸ With your lips slightly parted imagine a line running from the corner of each mouth to the lobe of the corresponding ear

▸ In a series of 5 small pulling moments move the corner of the left side of your mouth out towards your left ear lobe

▸ Hold each move for a count of 5 – to a total of 25 counts over the course of the exercise

▸ Relax and repeat on the right side

▸ Repeat 3 – 5 times on each side

Exercise 3

▸ Suck your cheeks in

▸ Now smile so you can feel the inside of your cheeks resting on your teeth

▸ Hold for a count of 10

▸ Repeat 5 – 10 times

Facial Exercises For Youthful Good Looks

If you are interested in finding out more about how facial exercises can help you to maintain a youthful appearance then take a look at the 30 Day Face Fitness Formula.

This eBook reveals all the secrets and techniques you will need to help gain a younger looking face with a healthy glowing complexion.

Face Lift Versus Facial Exercise – Why The Natural Way Is Better

Cecil — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:59:18 +0000

Want To Look Younger?

We all know that eventually the signs of aging will show up on our faces.

None of us can escape time and even those blessed with excellent genes or those who have meticulously followed all the anti-aging advice to the letter will end up with some degree of sagging and wrinkling somewhere along the line.

When faced with an aging reflection in the mirror one of the first solutions that will spring to mind is cosmetic surgery. Face lift surgery is surely the one, final answer to the problem of facial skin aging?

Well it is certainly one of the answers to the problems of an aging face, however as we all know it comes with a high price tag attached to it.

This not only refers to the financial cost but also to the price an individual pays in terms of surgery and satisfaction.

For many people the high cost of this cosmetic procedure immediately rules it out as a viable option. For others, who may have the money to pay for a face lift, different questions will come to mind.

For example some struggle with the idea of undergoing an unnecessary medical procedure all in the name of vanity.

Some will worry about the results and others may be concerned that by having a facelift they are setting themselves up for a future dedicated to the expense and pain of further cosmetic procedures to keep the original one looking good.

A Natural Face Lift?

Many people, due to their financial situation, simply cannot even consider face lift surgery. So what face lift alternatives are there for people who can’t afford cosmetic surgery but still want to look good as they age?

One of the easiest and most effective forms of non surgical face lift comes in the form of facial exercise.

These exercises target the muscles of the face and can help a person to restore the firmness of their skin, get back its glow, fill in lines and creases and address or prevent skin sagging.

So let’s take a look at the various pros and cons attached to face lift surgery and facial exercises – the non surgical face lift

Face Lift Surgery – Pros

1) If you have the money a face lift is a relatively quick way to improve the look of your face.

2) Many people who have face lift surgery do look younger than their years. However results can vary.

3) After the initial surgery recovery is relatively quick (around 2 weeks) although the full effects of your procedure may not be seen until around 6 – 9 months later.

4) Despite the physical discomfort involved, you will not have to make any ‘effort’ yourself to achieve this result.

You do not have to put time into maintaining the look at first, although many people who have a face lift in their 50s will have another in their 60s.

Face Lift Surgery – Cons

1) The cost – this is an expensive procedure and one face lift may not be enough. In 10 -15 years time you may begin to see skin sagging again and require another nip and tuck.

2) Side effects of a facelift include:

• Pain
• Swelling and bruising lasting up to a month after the procedure
• Altered skin sensations such as numbness
• Scarring
• Changes to your hairline.

3) You will be putting your body through an unnecessary anesthetic and medical procedure. Complications can occur such as:

• Infection
• Skin numbness
• Damage to facial nerves
• Hair loss around the scars created by the procedure
• Deep vein thrombosis or blood clot brought on by the anesthetic

4) A surprising number of people are dissatisfied with the results. While they may feel that their sagging skin has been corrected many feel that their skin now looks pulled, stretched and unnatural.

This can be a particularly common problem around the eyes.

5) A facelift can address sagging skin however it can’t alter the loss of fat and collagen under the skin.

Costly facial fillers and wrinkle removing injections may still be required to achieve the desired look.

6) Face lifts unfortunately do not look natural. It is easy to tell who has had one and this becomes more evident the older you are.

You may have a tight, smooth face but your hands, neck and chest will give you away. Is it maybe better to age well in a more natural way?

Facial Exercises – Pros

1) Facial exercises help you to address the problems of skin aging naturally.

This may not give the immediate dramatic results of a cosmetic face lift but you will improve the tone and texture of your facial skin in the way that works best for the face you have been born with.

You’ll look younger but still look like yourself.

2) Facial exercises are simple and easy to perform; what’s more you do not have to spend a lot of money to learn how to do them.

Once you have learned a facial exercise program you have a powerful anti-aging system for life under your belt.

3) Facial exercise not only tighten sagging skin they help to improve the appearance of the skin. Renewed blood flow and oxygen reach your skin when you exercise and this includes when you exercise the face.

Facial exercises address firmness, wrinkles, sagging and the color and tone of your complexion all in one go.

4) There’s no need for any pain! Facial exercises can be performed safely in the comfort of your own home. No knives, no stitches, no anesthetic just a little effort on your part each day.

5) Some facial exercises target the loss of fat and collagen from beneath your skin that occurs as a part of the aging process.

It is possible to plump up hollow cheeks, plump up lips that have thinned with age and fill out the nasal-labial lines that occur from nose to mouth.

6) Facial exercises encourage you to accept the aging process rather than fight against it totally.

None of us can win the war against aging, even the best face lifts look somewhat unnatural, but with facial exercises you can look your very best whatever your age in a way that suits your face.

Facial Exercises – Cons

1) A natural face lift does not come without some effort on your part. You will need to be patient and spend time learning and performing the exercises.

2) Facial exercises have a cumulative effect. This means that unlike a cosmetic face lift you won’t see the results of your efforts immediately.

With time however the changes to your face and skin tone can be quite dramatic.

Naturally Younger Looking Without The Pain

Many people who practice facial exercises successfully are regularly told they look younger than their age.

A facial exercise program encourages you to work with the face you have, rather than try to stretch it beyond all recognition in a flawed attempt to look younger.

Facial exercises = more beautiful, graceful aging.

At only a fraction of the price of a cosmetic face lift, the 30 Day Face Fitness Formula gives you all the exercises you’ll need to know to tighten up your skin and gain a healthy, younger-looking glow.

The Effects Of Weight Loss On Your Facial Skin and How Facial Exercises Can Help

rodney — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:21:49 +0000

Weight Loss and Your Skin

If you have managed to lose excess weight recently then very well done to you!

Weight loss can do wonders for your body and for your skin if you have been following a healthy, nutritious diet to lose weight.

However there is a common problem that can occur when a reasonable amount of weight and fat is lost from the body.

Many people who lose weight feel fantastic about the way their body looks but they may be less happy about the effects weight loss can have on their faces.

Weight loss can leave you with a face that appears older. This is because fat plumps out the skin. When weight is lost skin that may have stretched because of weight gain has nowhere to go and this leads to sagging of the skin.

On the face this is particular noticeable around the bottom half. So jowls may appear and your neck may develop the dreaded ‘turkey neck’ look.

If you only needed to lose a small amount of weight then it’s possible that you have not experienced the problem of facial aging from weight loss. It usually only occurs when a lot of weight is lost.

Rapid Weight Gain

Another way facial aging is accelerated is when weight gain occurs too quickly.

If we rapidly gain weight our skin is less able to adapt, stretch marks can occur and the skin may be damaged, sagging and hanging in loose folds. With slower or gradual weight gain the skin stretches overtime and is less likely to be damaged.

As we are all aware wrinkles form as a natural part of the aging process however rapid weight loss can accelerate the formation of wrinkles. As fat cells are lost the ‘cushioning’ effect they provide is also lost and as well as sagging this can lead to creasing and wrinkling.

So What Can You Do?

Firstly rapid weight loss and weight gain are to be avoided at all costs but if you suffer from facial sagging as a result of rapid weight loss or weight gain you may be wondering if you are stuck with a sagging face forever.

Regaining the weight isn’t an option so what can you do to improve the tone and condition of your skin?

Facial Exercises Can Help You

This is where facial exercises can really work their magic. Facial exercises tone and strengthen all the muscles of your face and neck. Blood circulation improves which in turn helps to plump out the skin and improve the appearance of the complexion.

Three of the most common facial skin problems that occur after weight loss are:

Wrinkles (crow’s feet) around the eyes become more prominent
Jowls appear
The neck sags and creases giving a ‘turkey neck’ appearance

Here are some FREE facial exercises to help you improve the appearance of your skin after weight loss. For all exercises sit or stand in a comfortable position keeping your back straight and shoulders back but relaxed.

Facial Exercises for Eye Wrinkles

It is difficult but not impossible to minimize the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. Facial exercises that target this area work on lifting and toning the orbicularis oculi muscle that surrounds the whole eye area.

By exercising this area you can prevent drooping eyelids and brows, a problem that instantly ages your appearance.

The increased blood flow to the area that occurs when you exercise your face muscles will also help to ‘plump up’ the eye area.

When you exercise the eye area it’s important to be very gentle as the skin here is thinner than in other parts of the face and very delicate.

Exercise 1

This exercise strengthens the muscles around the eyes helping to lift and tone.

Close your eyes
Place the index finger of both hands onto each eyelid (left to left, right to right)
Squeeze the eyes as tightly as possible and count to 5
Now remove your fingers and open the eyes as wide as possible
Next rapidly move your eyes from side to side 5 times – do not move the head just the eyeballs
Relax the eye area and repeat 5–10 times

Exercise 2

This exercise directly targets the crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes

Place the middle and ring fingers over the outside corner of each eye where crows feet wrinkles occur
Very gently pull the corners of the eyes outwards towards the temple to a count of 5
After the count of 5 close the eyes tightly
Repeat 5-10 times

Facial Exercises for Jowls

The appearance of sagging jowls is a common problem that occurs with weight loss. The following exercises target the jowl area helping to firm up, lift and tone this area.

Exercise 1

This exercise helps to reduce jaw line sagging and bagginess.

With one hand hold the jowl on one side of your face with the middle and index finger – left hand to right jowl and vice versa is the most comfortable way to do this
With your other hand use the padded area at the base of your thumb on the palm side to lift the skin in this area upwards
Start in the middle of the chin and work along the jaw line out towards the ears
Repeat 3 times
Repeat on the other side

Exercise 2

This exercise is more of a massage technique than a facial exercise but it can be quite effective for jowls as it encourages the effective circulation of lymph throughout the body. This can reduce sagging and puffiness along the jaw line.

Place your index and middle fingers behind the ears
Massage gently in a downwards direction, circular motion

Facial Exercises for the Neck

The skin of the neck is, like the skin around the eyes, very delicate. This area is prone to creasing and a crepe-like appearance but weight loss can aggravate the problem.

Exercise 1

This exercise works on the front of the neck to combat the dreaded ‘turkey neck’ effect.

Tilt your head back and look upwards to a point in front of you and not directly above your head
Push out your lower lip and bring it up over the top lip towards the nose so you feel a stretch in the jaw and neck muscles
Hold for a count of 5.
Release and relax your head back down
Repeat 5-10 times

Exercise 2

This exercise targets the throat, upper neck and jaw line to promote a lifting effect.

Tilt your head upwards towards the ceiling

With your lips together pucker the lips as if about to give a kiss
Push your lips out further and maintain the kissing action
Hold for a count of 10
Relax and lower your head back to centre
Repeat 5 times

More Help to Recapture a Younger Looking You

It can be devastating to find that with weight loss comes facial aging. For once you have a younger looking body but you may have been left with an older looking face.

However help is at hand with the 30 Day Face Fitness Formula which is packed full of facial exercises that can help you to firm up your skin and say goodbye wrinkles and sagginess.

Facial Exercises for a More Attractive Nose

rodney — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:07:17 +0000

Love the Nose You Were Born With

When it comes to the nose there’s not a great deal that can be done with the one you have been born with.

Chubby cheeks and double chins can be refined by losing weight and facial exercises can help to lift, shape and tone the whole face, however it would seem that there is nothing that can be done naturally to reshape the nose…

The only option for radically reshaping the nose is cosmetic surgery and for many people this isn’t a possibility because of the financial cost or because they simply do not want to put themselves through unnecessary surgery.

Your Nose as You Age

As we age almost all parts of our bodies are affected by a lifetime of gravity and this includes the nose.

The nose may begin to droop as a part of the aging process and the tip can appear to bulge more so than it did in the past. This bulging of the nose is generally more of a problem for men.

Many people have heard the myth that the nose is the one part of the body that keeps growing all of our lives.

Thankfully this is just a myth but gravity can change the appearance of the nose as we age and this may be why some people believe that the nose keeps on growing throughout our lifetime.

As it is with the skin on other parts of the face and body, collagen and elastin break down as we get older. Skin begins to lose its suppleness and strength and gravity takes its inevitable toll.

Help Is On Hand

Many people wonder if it is possible to reshape the nose with facial exercises and the good news is that it is possible. Results will be subtle but many people have managed to change the shape of their nose with a dedicated facial fitness program.

What’s more refining the nose with facial exercises leaves you with the nose you were born with – you will still look like you with just a better shape to your nose.

Cosmetic surgery for the nose doesn’t always improve the face in the way a person hoped for and some people are left disappointed, not to mention out of pocket, after shelling out lots of money for cosmetic nose surgery.

Facial exercises can help to improve the shape of the nose, tone the skin in this area and help you to maintain a youthful appearance.

Exercise 1

Alternate nostril breathing is an ancient exercise for the nose that is found in many yoga practices.

An article in the New York Times in 2007 suggested that alternate nostril breathing could sculpt the nose and make a wide nose appear narrower.

This is a wonderful and calming breathing exercise that is easy to perform.

1. Sit comfortably in a straight-backed chair

2. Put your right thumb to the right side of your nose and close off the right nostril.

3. Breathe in through the left nostril to a count of 3 and hold for a count of 1

4. With your index finger close off the left nostril while releasing your thumb from the right nostril and then breathe out through the right nostril

5. Try to exhale for double the amount of time you inhaled, so in this case for a count of 8 – you can reduce the counts to a 3:6 ratio if preferred

6. Breathe in through the right nostril and then close with the thumb for the same count as before

7. Release the left nostril and breathe out through it again doubling the count from 4 to 8

8. This is one set and you can repeat the sets up to 10 times

Exercise 2

This exercise helps to narrow and refine the nose.

1. Put your middle fingers into the inside corners of either eye

2. Put your ring fingers directly besides the middle fingers on the sides of your nose

3. Now wrinkle your nose and feel the muscles in the area tense up

4. Try to ‘smooth out’ wrinkles by sliding your fingers down each side of the nose for a count of 5 but do not unwrinkled your nose – keep the muscles tense

5. Repeat up to 10 times

Exercise 3

The nasolabial folds are the lines that run from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth, they become more apparent as we age.

Facial exercises that target these lines can also help to improve the appearance of the nose.

1. Put the index and middle fingers of both hands on either side of your mouth

2. Gently pull your hands outwards to stretch the skin in the direction of your ears

3. Holding the stretch and pucker your lips into a pout

4. Hold the stretch and pucker to a count of 10

5. Repeat 10 times

Improve the Shape of Your Nose – Improve Your Whole Face

Facial exercises are an easy, fun and effective way to reshape your face and look the best you can whatever your age. There are exercises to target all the problem areas of the face that show the signs of aging.

What’s more facial exercise brighten up your complexion as well as firming up your skin.

The 30 Day Face Fitness Formula program shows you how you can easily achieve a brighter, younger looking face through facial exercises.

Facial Massage Techniques to Aid Your Facial Fitness Program

rodney — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:28:14 +0000

Massage For A Younger Looking You!

If you want to enhance your facial fitness program learning facial massage techniques is one sure way to speed up the improvement process.

It’s easy to learn facial massage techniques and it’s something you can do at home without the need to spend money visiting a beauty salon.

Facial massage can be extremely beneficial for your skin but learning the correct techniques is important. It is possible to damage the skin by using the wrong techniques so here we take a look at the best way to perform massage for the face.

The Benefits of Facial Massage

Before we begin lets look at why massaging the skin on your face can improve your complexion and skin tone.

1. Massage Helps To Relax The Muscles Of The Face

Tense facial muscles can impair the flow of blood and other fluids to the skin’s tissues and this in turn may reduce the amount of nutrients your skin receives and prevent the removal of waste products.

Massage promotes healthy blood circulation and the removal of toxins and other waste products from the skin. Without adequate blood flow and waste removal your complexion can look dull, gray and puffy.

2. Face Massage Restores the Skin’s Suppleness

With practice it’s possible to locate areas on the face where tissue may be restricted. When you massage your face you can gently break up elastin fibers and collagen and this helps to improve your skin’s elasticity. This also promotes a ‘lifting’ effect.

3. Products That Enhance Your Skin Will Be Delivered More Effectively

Massaging the face with a natural homemade oil or balm encourages the skin to absorb any active ingredients you have included in your self-made beauty products.

If you have chosen essential oils or herbs that are known to be good for the skin or for the prevention of wrinkles this is an excellent way to ensure that your products really work for your skin.

Important Information before You Begin

a. Before performing any kind of face massage it is important to always remember to be gentle. Do not drag the skin in all kinds of direction or pummel the delicate skin of your face roughly. Follow these techniques and use a light touch – especially around the eyes.

b. Use an oil or moisturizer to perform the following massages – one that contains pure, natural ingredients is best and all the better if you have made it yourself as you will no exactly what the product contains.

c. If you are allergic to nuts avoid nut-based oils and if you have very oily skin it may be better not to use any lotions or moisturizers.

d. Do not use massage on yourself or anyone who has cancer, any other serious illness or an active infection as this can encourage the spread of malignant cells within the body.

How to Do Facial Massage

Technique 1

This massage will help to revitalize your complexion and give you a healthy glow – it will also relax you. What’s more the effects are cumulative so if you perform this massage regularly you’ll soon notice a big difference to your complexion.

This first technique works on improving blood flow and circulation to your face and encourages the removal of built up toxins.

1. With clean hands turn your hands palms upwards and sweep upwards from the neck, via the chin to the tip of the chin using both hands alternately. Start in the middle of the neck and then move to each side, sweeping upwards to cover the whole neck.

You can perform this technique for 1 – 3 minutes and it should feel like you are ‘enlivening‘ and ‘invigorating’ the skin by increasing circulation to the area and getting the blood flowing

2. Next form a V with the middle and index fingers of one hand. Place your index finger above your lips and your middle finger below your lips. Glide your fingers from this position outwards towards the ears. Repeat on both sides up to 20 times.

3. Closing your eyes place your hands over your eyes, left hand over left eye, and right hand over right eye. Keeping the hands flat and not cupped apply firm pressure to the area and hold for 5 seconds.

With light pressure still applied slowly sweep your flat hands outwards from the eyes to the sides of the face and into the hairline to soothe the scalp. Be very careful not to drag the delicate skin around the eyes.

Go back to the original position and this time glide the hands upwards over the forehead and through the top of the head/scalp. This should feel very soothing. Perform for 1 – 3 minutes.

Technique 2

This thorough massage targets the whole face and will also encourage the removal of waste products from the skin. Performed regularly you will see a brighter and more glowing complexion.

1. Begin with the same technique from Technique 1 but use slower, gliding strokes and use your fingertips and not your hands. From the collarbone work upwards with alternate hands over the neck and up under the chin, stay in the centre however this time. Repeat ten times.

2. Move to the jawline and with your finger tips sweep upwards from jaw, over the cheeks, over the eyes, over the forehead and into the scalp in one continuous movement. Be careful not to drag the skin. Repeat five times

3. Using your middle and ring finger gentle massage in circular movements from the bridge of the nose, out along the eyebrows, around the cheekbone and back to the nose. The area you are targeting is the obicularis oculi muscle that surrounds the eye. Repeat 5 times.

4. Place the index fingers at the sides of the nose and the thumbs of each hand under the jawbone. Glide your index finger and thumbs out over the cheekbones and jawbones respectively and simultaneously.

You should feel gentle pressure in the whole cheek area. Glide out towards the hairline and repeat five times.

5. To finish use your fingers to gently tap the skin of the face all over for 10 – 20 seconds to stimulate blood flow to the skin.

Afterwards

When you have finished either massage technique remove any excess oil left over on your face or neck with dampened cotton wool and plain water – you can apply your regular moisturizer afterwards.

The Power of Two

Combining face massage techniques with a facial exercise program is an excellent way to improve the texture of your skin and give you back a healthy glow. When using massage and facial exercise together it is possible to see a noticeable improvement in your skin quickly.

The 30 Day Face Fitness Formula Program gives you all the knowledge you need to exercise the muscles of the face and with these massage techniques under your belt too, you will soon be on the way to a more vibrant, younger looking you.

Bodybuilding for Your Face – Facial Exercises for Men

rodney — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Men Want To Look Good Too

Guys who want to look their best as they age are increasingly viewing facial exercises for men as a viable alternative to invasive cosmetic surgery.

Many people wrongly assume that facial exercises are just for women but the fact is they are good for anyone, male or female.

The basic physiology of the face is the same for both sexes and this is why face exercises can work as successfully for men as they do for women.

Perhaps the notion of vanity also factors in the reason people assume face exercises are purely the domain of women. Men are not supposed to be so pre-occupied with their appearance although this view is now thankfully changing.

Men vs. Women In The War Against Aging

It is unfortunately almost always true that men seem to age better than women. Men generally get fewer wrinkles than women as they age and there are a number of reasons for this based on scientific facts.

Men Have Thicker Skin – The top layer of a man’s skin is around 25% thicker than women’s skin. A woman’s thinner skin leaves her more susceptible to wrinkling.
Men’s Skin Has Higher Collagen Content – Collagen is an extracellular protein found in the skin and men produce more of it than women do. Quite simply more collagen equals less wrinkling. Women are also at a disadvantage as the onset of menopause results in the further loss of collagen and their skin becomes even thinner as they age.
Men’s Skin Is Oilier – Men’s skin produces more natural oils that help to protect the skin from dryness and keep it supple.

Men and Cosmetic Surgery

So it seems that men do have an advantage over women as they age but this does not mean they are completely off the hook, sagging and drooping can still occur and jowls and double chins can easily appear.

Research suggests that men are reluctant to go the whole way and indulge themselves in cosmetic surgery for the face as they age.

Certainly some men are using anti-wrinkle injections to smooth out craggy facial wrinkles but a lot of men still see cosmetic surgery as a ‘female thing.’

Face Exercises for Men

Of course plenty of men still want to look their best and firm and tone their faces. Facial exercises are a quick and easy way to improve the overall appearance of your face and complexion.

What’s more face exercises can be performed privately so no one need know your secret should you be concerned about appearing vain! As we all know the gossip columns regularly poke fun at male celebrities who have had obvious work done on their faces.

Face exercises are simply an extension of working out – view them as bodybuilding for the face! We all know the benefits that working out has for our bodies so why not perform exercises for your face to keep it as toned and honed as your body?

Facial Exercise vs. Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic procedures may seem like a quick fix to the problem of an aging face and many people look good after a facelift. However your skin still ages even when you have had work done so you may find you need to repeat an expensive procedure 5 years down the line.

Too much Botox or filler on top of a face lift can lead to an odd distorted appearance and this can be very obvious to they eye – especially when work has been done on a male.

You may have a smooth complexion but bulging, puffiness and the ‘wax dummy’ look are all too common with facial cosmetic procedures for men.

Plus men look better with a bit of character to their faces as they age. Call it wisdom, call it experience but nothing beats an older gentleman with a bright and lively complexion and a few character lines here and there.

It is simply facial sagging, drooping and puffiness that need to be worked on and this is where facial exercises for men become a powerful alternative to cosmetic surgery.

Appearance Is Important

Older men who look good with powerful looking, toned features are more likely to fit in socially and in the work place. Rightly or wrongly looking tired and droopy with a permanent browbeaten expression can affect the way people think about you.

Women have known this for years, which is why the world has a booming beauty industry aimed at women. We are all judged on appearance so looking the best you can is important for anyone – male or female.

How Men Can Look Younger the Natural Way

Face exercises can help any man achieve a commanding, younger looking face and boost his confidence in all areas of life.

The 30 Day Face Fitness Formula shows you how to get firmer and stronger looking features easily and naturally with no need for expensive and painful cosmetic procedures.

Top 10 Anti Aging Tips

rodney — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:01:51 +0000

Live Well, Age Well

Anti aging tips are a consistently hot topic, but so often many features on anti aging seem to recommend a whole host of beauty products and procedures that will end up costing you a lot of money.

What’s more lots of people are looking to live as natural a life as possible and don’t want to put chemically treated products on their skin or inject their bodies with toxic wrinkle injections or fillers.

Here we give you the best anti aging tips to help you get beautiful skin and maintain your youthful glow.

1) Follow an Anti-Aging Diet Plan

An anti aging diet is your number one tip for achieving youthful glowing skin. You are what you eat and a poor diet will show up on your face.

Dry skin, spots and fine lines can all be caused by a diet that is lacking essential vitamins and minerals, healthy fats and lean protein. Excellent nutrition is vital if you want to have good skin.

Include lean protein like oily fish and white meat in your diet or pulses, beans and legumes if you are vegetarian.

Fresh fruit and vegetables should make up a large part of your diet and choose whole grains such as brown rice, which is packed with B Vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and dietary fiber.

Other excellent whole grains include bulgur wheat, couscous, oat bran, millet rye and quinoa.

2) Drink Green Tea

A wonderful anti aging food, or more accurately drink, that is often overlooked is green tea. Who’d have thought a simple cup of tea could be so good for you?

Green tea is packed full of skin-friendly antioxidants that help to prevent the skin from aging prematurely.

What’s more green tea moisturizers and salves (which you can make at home yourself) can help to maintain skin elasticity, reduce skin damage caused by the sun and soothe inflammatory conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis.

3) Get Juicy

Juicing is synonymous with good health and longevity and has been practiced by naturopaths for many years. Freshly made fruit and vegetable juices are an excellent way to pack in more vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that keep you in good health and improve your skin.

All you need is a juicer to get going and you can use any left over pulp from the fruit and veg in your anti aging diet plan by adding it to soups, stews or sugar-free desserts.

4) Snack On Superfoods

One of the best anti aging secrets for improving your skin is to include superfoods in your diet. Packed full of nutrition superfoods include phytonutrient rich blueberries, goji berries, raw Brazil nuts and bee pollen.

You may not want to snack on them but fermented foods are also part of the superfood group and can be added to your regular diet.

Sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir and sough dough bread all contain cultures that increase nutritional uptake and restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut by improving digestion. If you can learn how to ferment your own foods – even better!

5) Avoid the Sun

You’ve heard it before but it is SO important if you want to maintain line-free glowing skin as you age. Sunlight is beneficial for the skin and we need it in small doses so our body’s can make enough Vitamin D, however too much sun will damage the skin irreparably.

It goes without saying that tanning beds and booths are a complete no-no. Avoiding excessive sun exposure outdoors is vital and it is best to avoid the sun altogether when the UV rays are at their strongest between 11am and 3pm.

Sunscreen should be applied regularly to any exposed areas of skin and a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses are recommended to protect the delicate facial skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

6) Stop Smoking

This is another tip we have all heard before but again it is vital to avoid smoking, as nothing will age your skin faster.

Cigarettes produce carbon monoxide that limits the amount of oxygen reaching the skin. Over time this reduction in oxygen will lead to thinner skin, more wrinkles and a leathery appearance.

Smoking also destroys Vitamin C and this is a vitamin that your skin really needs. Vitamin C is responsible for skin repair and renewal – if your body does not have enough of it then quite simply the tone and texture of your skin will deteriorate.

7) Make Your Own Natural Skincare Products

Many skincare products contain a whole range of strange sounding ingredients and it is natural to be concerned about what you are putting onto your skin.

Preservatives and additives found in some beauty products can cause adverse reactions and may even accelerate skin aging.

One way to avoid this problem is to make your own natural beauty products at home. This way you can sure what is going into them.

There are plenty of easy to find ingredients in your kitchen that can be used to make products such as yoghurt, honey, oats, sea salt, sesame oil, fruits and vegetables.

8) Have a Sauna

Saunas and steam rooms are an excellent way to detoxify your skin and get yourself some relaxation at the same time.

The heat in the room causes you to sweat releasing toxins and other impurities and this cleansing effect has a beneficial effect on your skin as well as on your general health.

A sauna will help to hydrate and add moisture to your skin while also increasing the blood flow and circulation to your skin; giving you a complexion that not only looks good but also feels refreshed and rejuvenated too.

9) Don’t Run

This may come as a surprise as running is often cited as a healthy activity. Exercise is good for your skin as blood flow and circulation are increased whenever you exert yourself, however running is not the best form of exercise to take part in if you want to maintain youthful looking skin.

Runners may have a trim body but running can accelerate the aging of facial skin. Many serious runners develop a haggard look as they age due to a loss of subcutaneous fat.

Running also cause the skin to be consistently raised up and down by the pounding motion and this can cause the skin’s elastic fibers to become damaged.

The combination of fat loss and loss of skin elasticity can show up all too quickly on the face creating a prematurely aged appearance. Cycling, swimming or fast walking will give your skin all the benefits of exercise without aging your appearance.

10) Remember To Have Fun

Life is for living and it’s important to remember to have fun. Stress and life’s problems can all too easily build up, so remember to take time out to do the things you enjoy and spend time with the people who are important to you.

We have all seen older people who are living their lives to the full and no matter what their age, their enjoyment of life shows up on their faces. Nothing is more aging than a stressed out, serious demeanor so relax, have fun, explore your passions and enjoy your life.

Anti Aging Secrets for Looking Younger the Natural Way

As we mentioned natural skincare products are an inexpensive and easy way to maintain vibrant youthful skin.

The Naturally Skinsational eBook unlocks the secrets to making the best anti aging home remedies for your skin.

Top 3 Reasons to Avoid Botox

rodney — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:08:21 +0000

A Miracle Solution for All Your Skin Aging Problems?

Anti-wrinkle injections may seem like the quick-fix answer to the problems of aging skin however new studies suggest that Botox side effects could be more of a problem than previously thought and may even accelerate the aging process.

Many people want to look the best they possibly can for their age and it’s understandable that opting for the cosmetic surgery route, if you can afford to, is for some the obvious choice to make.

When Botulinum Toxin, or Botox as it is widely known, arrived on the cosmetic surgery scene in the early 1990s it seemed like the miracle solution to the problem of skin wrinkles. However over time the side effects of Botox are becoming more and more intriguing and apparent.

The side effects of Botox fall into one of two categories, these are:

Initial side effects that appear directly after the treatment.
Cumulative side effects that appear as Botox is used over a period of years.

Altering the skin on your face with cosmetic procedures is a game of Russian Roulette – you just do not know what you could end up with. And you may be unfortunate to wind up with a far worse face than one that has a few expression and laughter lines.

The following highlights the top 3 reasons to avoid Botox injections.

1) Botox Side Effects

The Botox website lists a number of unpleasant side effects, some of which can be life threatening. These include problems with swallowing, speaking and breathing.

Other Botox dangers include what the website describes as ‘the spread of toxin effects’. This refers to how Botox injections could affect areas of the body further away from the site of your anti-wrinkle injections.

Initial side effects that can occur immediately or 24-48 hours after having Botox injections include:

Headaches
Neck pain
Dry mouth or eyes
Swelling at the site of injection
Drooping of the eyelid or mouth
Muscle weakness or loss of strength affecting the whole body
Blurred or double vision
Changes to voice including hoarseness or loss of voice
Problems speaking and saying words clearly
Breathing and swallowing difficulties
Loss of bladder control

Of course many people who have Botox injections do not experience these problems or may only experience some slight discomfort after the procedure however the simple fact remains that we do not know enough about the side effects of Botox in the long term.

2) Botox May Affect Your Ability to Communicate Effectively

Two new reports about Botox side effects have contained further interesting information. Psychology professor David Neal from the University of Southern California recently published a report in the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science that found Botox could affect the ability to understand the emotions of other people.

The research showed that Botox users became less able to read other people’s emotions because they cannot mimic other people’s facial expressions. This ‘mimicking’ of facial expressions is important because it forms a part of how we decode what other people are feeling.

The so-called signs of aging like crow’s feet and a furrowed brow are in fact an important part of how we communicate and understand each other.

For example crow’s feet become more pronounced when we smile genuinely or if we want to express disgust. When our brow wrinkles it can indicate that we are worried or afraid. Human communication is a very subtle thing and having an entirely blank, emotionless face could hinder our rapport with other people.

The results of this study reflect those made in another study conducted at Columbia University in 2010. Published in the journal Emotion psychologist Joshua Davis found that Botox could decrease a person’s ability to even feel their own emotions, suggesting that facial expression is a vital part of what is considered to be our emotional experience.

3) Botox Could Speed Up the Aging Process

Another recent study published in the United Kingdom by Dr Darren McKeown found that using Botox at too early an age could actually speed up the aging process.

Botox advocates have long been reassured with the notion that the treatment used over time can act as a preventative to wrinkles. This has resulted in increasingly younger people opting for Botox injections as a way to ward off the dreaded wrinkles.

Many experts view this as ‘madness’ because young people generally don’t have wrinkles; they have facial expressions that produce lines when they interact. When their faces are still they don’t have permanent wrinkles.

However McKeown’s research suggests that there is no evidence to suggest that Botox will act as a preventative measure against skin aging.

It also finds that using Botox over a long period of time can cause muscles to waste away and that this could eventually lead to a more drooping and aged look, especially around the eyes.

Certainly the celebrity gossip columns have cottoned on to this and we are now seeing cruel stories in the press pointing out certain celebrities who appear to have overdone the Botox over the years and who are now paying for it with an oddly aged appearance.

These celebrities don’t necessarily look younger – they just look like 40 to 50 years olds who have obviously had ‘work’ done.

The Natural Way to Look Younger

So with all this in mind it appears that the side effects of Botox may be more sinister than initially thought. The miracle solution may not be such a miracle after all and people are now waking up to this fact.

There are so many things that can be done naturally to improve your skin’s complexion and tone the face and these include a healthy diet, a natural skin care regime and face toning exercises.

With these three simple tools under your belt you can look the best you can for your age whilst also maintaining facial expressions, your ability to communicate effectively with others and still look like you!

More and more people are shunning costly cosmetic procedures for natural methods that help to improve the texture and tone of the facial skin.

The 30 day Facial Fitness Program can help you to achieve a younger looking face safely and naturally with no unpleasant side effects.

Facial Exercise To Firm, Tone and Prevent Sagging Skin

rodney — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:55:21 +0000

The Problem of Sagging Skin

When it comes to sagging skin on your face gravity and aging are your two worst enemies.

When combined these two forces can leave you with a sagging face that makes you feel as sad as your face may look.

However all is not lost and there are several things you can do to improve the problem of sagging facial skin before you rush off to book an appointment with a cosmetic surgeon.

The Causes of Sagging Skin

Skin sagging is generally caused by the aging process and unfortunately gravity, two things none of us can prevent, however it can also be caused by losing and gaining weight, particularly if you have lost weight rapidly.

Gravity – Simple every day activities such as standing, sitting and walking in an upright position when combined with the downward pull of gravity will cause skin to sag.

The effects of gravity only begin to really show once we reach our mature years but basically gravity begins to work from the beginning of our lives.

Aging – As we age collagen and elastin in our skin starts to breakdown leaving us with looser skin that begins to droop. Collagen and elastin are the components in the skin that are responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness.

The breakdown of these two skin components is also responsible for the formation of facial wrinkles. Aging also causes the muscles in our face to become weaker so they are no longer able to support the skin on our face and this results in more visible sagging.

What Can I Do To Prevent Sagging Skin?

No matter how well you eat and how much exercise you take a sagging face will really age you so it makes sense to make a few simple changes that will help to firm and tone your skin and give you a confidence boost.

The usual advice is appropriate again here and that is to avoid smoking, damage from the sun and rapid weight loss.

1) Avoid Smoking – Smoking restricts your blood vessels and reduces the blood flow to your skin, depriving your skin of oxygen and other essential nutrients. This can make your skin dry and gray looking.

Smoking may also speed up the breakdown of collagen in your skin leading to the earlier formation of wrinkles and premature sagging of the skin.

2) Avoid Sun Damage – Prolonged exposure to the sun and sun burn damages your skin cells and speeds up the process of skin aging, causing premature sagging and the formation of wrinkles.

3) Avoid Rapid Weight Loss – This is another matter of simple gravity. If you lose weight too quickly or have lost a lot of weight the skin will sag where the fat cells once filled out the layers just beneath the skin’s surface.

The face is often the first place to show weight loss and sagging cheeks and jowls can be a problem for anyone who has lost a lot of weight.

Facial Exercise to Prevent a Sagging Face

Facial exercises are an excellent way to improve the tone and texture of your skin. Just 10-15 minutes of exercise twice a day, morning and evening, can help to firm up your skin and prevent sagging.

And the good news is that these exercises are also corrective so if you are experiencing facial sagging already you will begin to see improvements if you are prepared to put in the time.

Sit in a straight-backed chair to perform the exercises, do not hunch over but keep your shoulders relaxed. It can help to perform the exercises in front of a mirror.

The following are 3 facial exercises that will help with the problem of sagging facial skin.

Exercise 1

Try this exercise to prevent or rejuvenate sagging cheeks and assist the lifting and firming of the cheeks.

With your mouth closed, lips pressed together comfortably smile as widely as possible
Keep smiling, aiming to reach your ears with the corners of your mouth
Now wrinkle your nose, you should see and feel your cheek muscles moving upwards
Hold for a count of 5
Repeat 5 – 10 times

Exercise 2

You can use this exercise to help improve or stop skin sagging in the chin area.

Place the palm of your hand under the chin and let your fingers lightly touch your nose
Open your mouth as wide as you can
Apply light pressure to your chin
Slowly push your chin up until your mouth is closed
Repeat 5 – 10 times

Exercise 3

This is an excellent exercise to try to lift the brow and upper eyelids, another area that is prone to drooping and sagging.

Open and widen your eyes as much as possible without wrinkling your forehead
Focus on a point in the distance
Hold for a count of 10
On release you should feel a rush of warmth and circulation in your forehead
Repeat 5 – 10 times

Facial Exercises Made Easy

Avoiding the obvious elements that damage the skin like smoking and sun damage and performing face exercises can help to stop you skin from sagging.

A firm looking face with a healthy complexion is desirable for anyone and can be achieved naturally and without the need to resort to expensive surgery.

The 30 Day Facial Fitness Program can help you on your way to achieving a younger, more toned looking face and help prevent sagging skin associated with the aging process.

Face Yoga To Rejuvenate Your Looks

rodney — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:49:23 +0000

Many people share the goal of wanting to age well and with face yoga as part of your anti-aging regime you an help yourself to realistically achieve this goal.

Facial yoga exercises differ slightly to other facial exercises as they have their basis in traditional yoga techniques and teachings and sometimes incorporate breathing exercises.

Why Perform Yoga For The Face?

Over time, as we age, the collagen and elastin levels in our skin begin to diminish leading to a more haggard and older appearance. Drooping and sagging may occur, wrinkles appear, the complexion can become duller and puffiness can be found in areas under the eyes, chin and jaw line.

Face yoga exercises can help to prevent the signs of facial aging and also help to restore and rejuvenate a face that is already showing the signs of aging.

Face yoga is a positive and natural way to improve your looks and with regular practice you can maintain and re-establish the contours of your face and regain a healthy, youthful glow.

We All Have To Put Our Best Face Forward

Your face is the one part of your body you cannot hide and it is used as your primary source of communication, so having a face that looks as good as possible helps us to feel confident. We all want to feel that whatever our age may be we still look the best we possibly can.

Facial yoga helps to promote self-esteem and self-confidence because it is a proactive way to take care of your appearance without having to resort to expensive surgery. The cumulative results of a tighter, toned face and a more vibrant complexion will also add to your confidence.

The Benefits Of Face Yoga Include:

Improved circulation to the face resulting in an improved complexion both in color and texture
Improved appearance of problem areas such as jowls, hollow cheeks, puffy eyes and double chin
Toned facial and neck muscles
Facial tension is relieved and this can improve headaches and neck pain
Promotion of self confidence and self esteem from the results of a better facial appearance

Yoga Exercises For Face Rejuvenation

As with yoga for the body, yoga for the face works on building muscle strength, stamina and flexibility. Just as you would work out and tone your biceps, triceps or abs so too can you exercise your face and neck muscles.

Without exercise muscles become flabby and weak in any part of the body, so it makes sense to keep the muscles of your face exercised to keep this part of your body looking toned and healthy too.

3 Facial Yoga Exercises

Exercise 1 – Lion Pose

The lion pose stretches the jaw by working and toning the platysma muscle that helps to move the front of the neck/throat.

Performing this exercise will prevent wrinkling of the neck skin and also helps to relieve tension in this area.

Kneel on the floor and sit comfortably back on your heels
Put your hands on your knees
Breathe in through your nose
As you exhale open your mouth wide but comfortably wide
Stick your tongue out
Stretch the tip of your tongue down towards your chin
Say ‘ahhh’ open your eyes wide and look upwards
Repeat three to five times

Exercise 2 – Clenched Teethed Smile

This face yoga exercise helps to improve and increase circulation to the facial skin and aids the release of facial tension.

Clench your teeth together
Open your lips as wide as you possibly can and smile with your teeth still clenched
Feel the stretch in your cheeks, chin, mouth and neck
Hold this position for a count of five
Repeat three to five times

Exercise 3 – Lower Face Stretch

This facial exercise offers multiple benefits. It gives the muscles of your shoulders, neck and jaw a stretch and also reduces the appearance of sagging jowls and double chins. As an additional bonus it can help to improve your posture.

Sit comfortably with your back straight
Bend your left arm up over your head clasping your right ear with your left palm
Bend your head to the left and gently apply pressure to your right ear with the palm of your hand.
Maintain this position for a count of ten
Repeat on the opposite side
Repeat three times on each side

When combined with a healthy diet, face yoga or any facial exercises are an easy way to improve your appearance. This is an entirely natural route to looking good and will leave you with an improved appearance that does not look artificial.

For anyone who wants to look good the natural way the 30 Day Facial Fitness Program can show you how to perform facial exercises in an efficient and effective way so you an achieve the results you want easily and quickly.