Facial Exercises Guide » facial exercises

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.

Rejuvenate Your Face with Facial Exercises for Droopy Eyelids

rodney — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:39:37 +0000

Paris Hilton with a drooping left eyelid

Drooping Eyelids?

The eyes have it, or so the say, but the fact remains that as we age the skin around our eyes is one of the first places to show the signs of aging.

Droopy eyes can give your appearance a ‘tired all the time’ look that may not reflect your overall state of health or your positive attitude towards life.

Nothing will age you more than tired, droopy looking features and people may even perceive you to be sad or miserable when in fact you feel perfectly fine!

What Causes Droopy Eyelids?

As the skin around the eyes loses elasticity you may develop droopy eyelids or sagging eyelids, with loose folds of skin on the upper eyelids exacerbating the problem.

Muscles around the eyes also slacken as we age and this may cause the fatty tissue that surrounds the eyes to expand and bulge forward. This in turn gives your lower eyelids a ‘baggy’ appearance.

Oxidative stress is another major cause of skin sagging. It often occurs as a result of a poor diet that is too high in processed foods, fat and sugar and lacking in fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat sources of protein.

The result of a poor diet can show up around the eyes as sagging eyelids, dull pallor and puffy eye bags.

The best way to tackle oxidative stress is to eat a healthy diet that contains a high amount of raw foods that are rich in anti-oxidants.

Give Yourself A Non-Surgical Eyelid Lift – Facial Exercises For Droopy Eyelids

Our eyes are such an important feature when it comes to our appearance because they provide a focal point for others when we communicate with them. Unfortunately time and gravity are no friends of the eyes.

It makes sense then that many people want to improve and rejuvenate the skin around the eye area.

Luckily facial exercises can help us to achieve the younger looking appearance we all want so much. Drooping eyelids can be prevented and improved with facial exercises that target the upper eyelids and eyebrows.

The Connection between Droopy Eyelids and Droopy Eyebrows

Something that can accelerate the appearance of droopy upper eyelids is the fact that as we age, our eyebrows also begin to sag and drop down the face.

Weakened forehead muscles are responsible for the sagging of the eyebrows. Performing facial exercises that use the upper eye muscles can strengthen this area and improve drooping of the eyelids by naturally lifting the eyebrows.

How to Do Facial Exercises

Perform facial exercises either standing or sitting comfortably, keep your shoulders relaxed and try not to create any tension within your body.

Practicing in front of a mirror is a good way to see which muscles you are using and to make sure that you are targeting the correct facial muscle groups.

Exercise 1

To Strengthen The Forehead And Lift The Eyebrows

1. Relax your forehead

2. Place your three middle fingers from each hand under each eyebrow with the pads of your fingers lined up along the lower part of the eyebrow

3. Relax the palms of your hands down towards your face – no need to keep them sticking out at an angle

4. Gently push your eyebrows upwards with your three fingertips

5. Push as high as possible and then gently extend the stretch outwards towards the temples, keeping your eyes wide open

6. Hold this position for a count of five

7. Next push down with your forehead muscles to create a resistance with your fingertips and hold for a further count of five

8. Relax and then repeat the exercise 5 – 10 times

Exercise 2

To Strengthen The Muscles Of The Eyebrow Area

1. Raise your eyebrows as high as possible

2. Open your eyes as wide as possible and hold for a count of five

3. Slowly lower your eyebrows and relax

4. Repeat 5 – 10 times

Exercise 3

To Strengthen And Tone The Delicate Eyelid Area

1. Close your eyes

2. Place the index finger of each hand across each eyelid

3. Keep your elbows lifted and out to the sides of your body

4. Apply gentle pressure with the pads of your index fingers to your eyelids

5. With pressure still applied try to open your eyes to a count of five

6. Repeat 5 – 10 times

The Upper Eyelids

The levator palpebral muscle controls the upper eyelids and targeting this muscle is very important if you wish to prevent and improve the appearance of droopy upper eyelids.

Exercise 4

To Strengthen Droopy Upper Eyelids

1. Place your index finger under your eyebrows so you can feel the brow bone

2. Holding firmly slowly close your eyes

3. You should feel a gentle pull from the eyebrow through to the eyelid

4. Now squeeze the eyelids more tightly together to create a stronger pull

5. Hold for a count of five

6. Relax your eyes and repeat 5 times

Exercise 5

To Lift The Upper Eyelids

1. Gently place the four fingertips on each hand just below the eyebrows

2. Slowly push up until you can feel the brow bones beneath the pads of your fingers

3. To a count of five gradually move your upper eyelids downwards until your eyes are closed

4. Hold for a count of five then gradually release your lids to a count of three

5. Relax your eyes and then repeat 5 times

Open Up Your Eyes for a More Youthful Appearance

Eye exercises along with a healthy lifestyle, wholesome diet and adequate rest can really help to improve the appearance of the skin around your eyes.

The 30-Day Face Fitness Formula Program gives you lots of techniques and helpful hints to help you target this common problem area.

What’s more the program offers plenty of advice and practical exercises you can learn to improve the tone and appearance of your whole face.

Facial exercises are a simple, effective and inexpensive way to stay in charge of the way your face ages over time.

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.

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.

Facial Exercises to Prevent Stress Wrinkles and Lines

rodney — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 05:27:41 +0000

Stress

Stress is generally viewed as something that is bad for our health on many levels but it’s important to know that there is a difference between good stress and bad stress.

Good stress – A certain amount of stress can challenge us and help us to use our problem solving skills.

Nervous energy can be channeled positively into achieving goals and accomplishing tasks.

When we come through a stressful situation we may find that we have grown in wisdom and maturity – we can become stronger, more knowledgeable and better equipped to handle life’s stresses and strains in the future.

Bad stress – Chronic ongoing stress however is not so good for us and if it goes on for too long can lead to ill health.

Too much stress can make us feel out of control and exhausted and may lead to medical conditions such as high blood pressure.

Stress and Your Body

When we are stressed our bodies produce more of the ‘fight or flight’ hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. These are the hormones that prepare your body for physical exertion by increasing the heart rate and releasing fatty acids and glucose into the bloodstream.

For our hunter-gatherer ancestors this was a necessary function as it helped them when fighting rival tribesmen or when faced by wild animals.

However there’s not much need for this now and excessive amounts of unreleased stress hormones circulating the bloodstream can lead to premature aging of the body and the skin.

Symptoms of Stress

If you are suffering from ongoing stress you may experience some of the following common symptoms:

High blood pressure
Panic attacks
Hyperventilation
Skin problems – spots, eczema, psoriasis
Headaches
Insomnia
Depression
Loss of appetite or increased comfort eating
Hair loss or poor condition of your hair
Loss of libido
Irritability
Loss of sense of humor or feeling less sociable
Confusion, forgetfulness and clouded thinking
Low self-esteem

If you have any of the above symptoms it is important to consult your doctor to find out if you have any other underlying problem however there is much you can do yourself to cope if your symptoms are a direct result of stress.

Self-Help for Stress

There are lots of ways you can manage the stress in your life, such as talking things over with a supportive and trusted friend, family member or colleague or trying to delegate more if it is work that is the cause of your stress.

Other Stress-Busting Tips Include

Exercise – Any form of exercise will increase the production of the naturally occurring feel-good chemicals known as endorphins in your body. Swimming, running, cycling, walking in fresh air, the gym or any other sport or physical activity you can think of will help.

Massage – If you can afford it getting a massage is a wonderful way to relax and release built up tension. If you have a willing partner who will help you out by giving you a massage all the better!

Yoga – Yoga is a relaxing way to release stressful emotions and bodily tension. The exercises stretch your body and work on the internal organs promoting peace and harmony of mind, body and spirit.

Avoid Caffeinated Drinks – Caffeine is even more of a problem than usual during times of stress as it is a stimulant and can raise your heart rate and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and worry. Stick to herbal teas and other caffeine free beverages.

Eat Stress-Busting Foods – The amino acid tryptophan can be helpful in the production of serotonin a chemical produced in the brain that produces feel-good emotions.

Tryptophan is found naturally in turkey, peanuts, tofu and sesame seeds and is absorbed by the brain more efficiently when eaten with foods rich in carbohydrates.

Opt for low fat, sugar and salt free crackers, whole grain bread and rice combined with a trytophan rich food for a healthy snack. High quality peanut butter or tahini (sesames seed paste) on toast is ideal.

Stress and Your Skin

As mentioned earlier high levels of fatty acids and glucose can remain in the bloodstream because our response to stress is different to that of our ancestors – in other words we no longer need to run for or fight for our lives.

This can prematurely damage the skin via a process called protein glycation. The process of protein glycation occurs when excess glucose in the body binds to proteins causing the skin to become damaged as collagen fibers and other connective tissue is affected.

Stress and Your Face

Chronic stress can affect your skin in a number of ways and this can affect how you look. Feelings of anxiety and tension will be held in your face and the presence of stress may lead to other skin damaging problems such as insomnia.

Lack of sleep inhibits the renewal and repair of your skin cells and can give you a dull, pale complexion.

Furthermore when we are stressed we are more likely to turn to those well-known skin enemies overeating, alcohol and cigarettes as an emotional crutch.

Overeating can lead to facial weight gain and puffiness and sugary and fatty foods, which are the most comforting when we are stressed, can lead to a dull or spotty complexion.

Some people find they can’t eat when they are stressed and may be missing out on essential nutrients, this will show up on the skin. Rapid weight loss resulting in skin sagginess may also be a problem.

Facial Exercises and Stress

It is important to tackle the source of your stress in the first place and try out the recommended tips for improving the way you deal with stress.

If however your face is showing the signs of stress facial exercises can be very helpful when it comes to preventing and minimizing stress wrinkles and lines.

For Stress Wrinkles around the Eyes

The thin delicate skin around the eyes is one of the first areas to show the signs of stress wrinkles. This exercise works on the orbicularis oculi muscle that surrounds the entire eye and can help to repair and prevent crow’s feet.

Sit comfortably or lie down
Place the index and middle fingers over the crow’s feet
Close your eyes and at the same time very gently pull the corners of your eyes out towards your hairline
Hold for a count of 5
Repeat 10 times

For Stress Wrinkles on the Forehead

Stress wrinkles will also show up on your forehead particularly if you frown often. The following two exercises will help you to target the forehead and brow.

Forehead Exercise 1

This exercise uses resistance to get your forehead muscles working.

Sit comfortably in a straight-backed chair and close your eyes
Place one or two fingers lightly over your eyebrows
Gently apply pressure with your finger
With pressure still applied raise your eyebrows
Hold the raise for a count of 5 then release
Repeat 10 times

Forehead Exercise 2

This exercise will also help to minimize and prevent forehead wrinkles.

Lie flat on your back on a bed
Hang your head over the edge of the bed
Open your eyes wide and raise your eyebrows as high as possible
Hold for a count of 5
Release and repeat 10 times

More Help for Stress Wrinkles and Lines

If stress is showing up on your face, facial exercises can help to improve and repair any damage. What’s more practicing facial exercises is fun and when you see the results you’ll get a boost to your self-confidence.

The 30 Day Facial Fitness Program shows you how to perform facial exercises that can target the problem of stress lines and wrinkles and give you back a healthier looking, happy face.

Facial Exercises for Frown Lines

rodney — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:55:06 +0000

Don’t Worry Be Happy

Frown lines are the wrinkles that occur between your eyebrows and around the corners of the mouth and lips.

A frown line generally appears when we express negative emotions such as anger, concern or of course when we frown.

They are usually first seen as two vertical lines in between your eyebrows.

Locating the Frown Muscles

The muscles we use to frown are called the corrugator supercilli muscles and if we are worried or want to express our concern these dynamic muscles are the ones we contract to convey that emotion.

The corrugator muscle is a horizontal portion along the forehead that is responsible for pulling our eyebrows inwards and wrinkling the forehead vertically.

Over time and with frequent use this muscle is responsible for the two vertical skin creases that appear between the brows and extend above the height of the brows.

Frown lines are sometimes referred to as glabella lines and these are the second set of lines that form in this area, appearing obliquely but separately from the vertical frown lines.

As we age, years of making the same facial expressions – combined with the general thinning of the skin associated with aging – contribute to frown line formation.

The frown lines develop into permanent creases that remain visible even when we aren’t expressing any emotion. Frown lines between the eyes are usually the first to appear, followed by frown lines around the mouth.

Filling the Gap But At What Cost?

Some people resort to Botox or fillers to resolve the problem of frown lines but for many people this isn’t possible. Not everyone can keep up with the expensive costs related to these treatments and many more people simply do not want to fill their faces with chemical substances.

Your face cannot be hidden and if something goes wrong with a surgical procedure you may be left with devastating results that could affect your confidence and indeed your whole life.

Plus many of us simply want to look the best we can for our age, frozen features cannot express everyday emotions such as love, concern and happiness and so the natural approach to aging becomes the obvious path to take.

Soothing Frown Lines the Natural Way

There are a few easy and simple things you can do to help prevent the formation of frown lines.

1) Use Sunscreen And Wear Sunglasses – Applying a sunscreen that is suitable for the face is the best way to avoid sun damage to the delicate facial skin.

Sunglasses worn when you are in bright sunlight will stop you from frowning and squinting when the sun is in your eyes, repeatedly scrunching up your face as a result of sun glare can accelerate the formation of frown lines.

2) Eat Healthily – We are what we eat and a healthy diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals will go a long way in helping to keep your skin younger looking.

Fresh fruit and vegetables combined with lean protein and healthy grains will help to maintain your general health, as well as the health of your skin. Vitamin supplements can also be useful as can making sure you drink enough water to keep your skin looking plump and hydrated.

3) Avoid Stress And Get Enough Sleep – Our skin will suffer if we do not get adequate sleep. Sleep rejuvenates the skin so aim for 7 to 8 hours per night.

The signs of stress can show up on our skin prematurely aging us so try to avoid stress and practice soothing techniques such as meditation or yoga if you are prone to stress.

4) Massage Your Forehead – Massing the forehead and the part of your face near to the brows can help to relieve any tension and stress in this area that may be showing up on your face.

By simply giving yourself a quick facial massage you can soothe tired looking skin and help yourself to feel better in general. Use an oil blend specifically suited to the facial skin for added benefits. Here’s how:

Begin with the scalp as this is an area prone to tension. Place your fingers on your scalp and make firm but gentle circular movements.
Next place the palm of your hand along the top of the hairline and tilt your head forwards and look down. Your hand acting as slight resistance. You should feel a slight stretch in the skin on your forehead.
After this place your thumbs on your temples and your index fingers on the temples on either side of your head. Gently push your thumbs outwards and your index finger upwards to stretch the skin.
Finally place fingertips from both of your hands above and below one of the lines on your forehead. Very gently pull the skin so it becomes taut over the line.

5) Exercise Your Face – Facial exercises are a simple, natural and effective way to help reduce frown lines. Practiced over time they can lift and tone your skin and prevent further lines and wrinkles from forming.

Facial Exercise for Frown Lines between the Eyes

Place the index and middle fingers of both of your hands directly above your eyebrows
Very gently push the brows downwards but at the same time use the muscles of your forehead to try to raise the eyebrows
Use your fingers to increase the resistance but be careful not to drag your skin too much
Repeat 10 times and perform 5 sets of 10

Facial Exercise for Frown Lines around the Mouth

With your mouth closed pull the upper and lower lips in slightly but don’t purse the too much – keep the mouth relaxed
Blow air inside your mouth so it fills the area surrounding your mouth – don’t puff the cheeks with air
Hold for a count of five
Repeat 10 times

Facial exercises are an easy way to improve the appearance of frown lines that occur between the brows or around the mouth.

The 30 Day Facial Fitness Program shows you further exercises to help this common problem area and also many other exercises that will help you to tone, lift and revitalize your whole face.

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.

How Do Facial Exercises Work?

rodney — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:36:11 +0000

A Natural Face Lift

Many people share the ambition of remaining as vibrant and youthful as they grow older but also want to age as naturally and gracefully as possible.

Some people opt for the cosmetic surgery route but at a great cost to their finances and sometimes unfortunately to their health. This route also forces you on to an expensive ‘merry-go-round’ of endless procedures because most cosmetic work needs to be updated.

Results may initially be pleasing but the problem of looking like you have had work ‘done’ is not an attractive prospect for many. Let’s face it! You can spot someone who has had facial surgery quite easily, particularly the older they are.

The results can look unnatural with tight faces that distort the facial features being a particularly problematic look.

Facial exercises provide a genuine, natural alternative to cosmetic surgery, a non-surgical facelift if you like. They are the perfect option for people who want to look fantastic as they age but still want to look like they have the face they were born with.

The Natural Route

You may be concerned as to how facial exercises work, if they can work and the science behind this subject.

Facial exercises help to build the underlying muscles of the face and this in turn helps to replace some of the fat, collagen and volume that is naturally lost in the face as we age.

Exercising the facial muscles tones and lifts the skin because your facial muscles are attached to your skin. The result is a firmer, lifted look and a brighter complexion. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are also minimized as the skin plumps up.

With facial exercises the results are cumulative and it is never too early or too late to start improving your face the natural way.

Facial Exercise Can Improve Your Looks

There are 57 muscles in the face that we use to help us talk, eat and express emotions. As we age the muscle fiber in our bodies tends to atrophy or become weakened this can lead to drooping and sagging of the face.

We all know that exercising the muscles of the body will lead to a firmer appearance and improved skin tone – we can visibly see the results of a regular exercise program for the body. So it stands to reason that you can achieve these results for your face by exercising this group of muscles as well.

Fat Cells

Under the skin there is an area of fat known as the subcutaneous layer, this also tends to diminish as we age and contributes to the reduction of the firmness of our skin. This loss of fat can give our appearance an older and more tired look.

Facial exercises subtly enlarge the facial muscles restoring a fuller and therefore more youthful look. They also help to increase the circulation of the blood thus allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin cells. Increased blood circulation also ensures that any toxins and damaged cells are removed.

The result is the other pleasant side-effect of facial exercise not only do these exercises tighten and firm the skin to create a younger looking appearance they also help to give your skin that attractive, clear and dewy glow.

The Muscles of the Eyes

The eyes are one of the first areas to show signs of aging with the formation of ‘crows feet’ wrinkles around the eyes, drooping eyelids and hollowing or bags beneath the eyes.

The orbicularis oculi (the muscle surrounding the entire eye) and the levator palpebrae superioris (a thin muscle found in the upper eyelid) can be exercised to increase blood flow to the area and tone the eye area helping to smooth out and open up this area.

The epicranius muscle enables you to lift your eyebrows. Strengthening and toning this muscle helps to tone the upper eyelid, give your eyebrows a more arched appearance and helps them to sit higher on your face. The result is a brighter eyed more alert appearance.

The Muscles of the Mouth

The orbicularis oris muscles surrounds your entire mouth and exercising this area can help to plump up your lips and cheeks. While the bucinator muscles found on either side of your face just under the cheek also help to firm up the cheek area.

The triangularis menti muscle extends from the mouth to the lower jaw and if you have a drooping mouth that gives you a sad expression this is the muscle to exercise. Exercising this area can help to lift the corners of your mouth.

The Muscles of the Chin and Neck

The neck is another area of concern as we age. This area is often neglected in skin care regimes with people moisturizing their faces religiously but forgetting to keep the neck adequately hydrated. The dreaded turkey neck is a dead giveaway when it cones to aging.

The platysma muscles are located on either side of the neck and exercising this area can help to tone and smooth the skin in this area.

Exercise Your Face And Get The Look You Want

Your muscles and connective tissue are given a workout with facial exercise and this leads to the skin tightening and wrinkles smoothing out. Fresh oxygen to your skin cells gives your face a youthful glow so as you can see facial exercises provide a complete ant-aging program for your skin.

To help you locate the correct muscles and achieve optimum results the 30-Day Facial Fitness Program shows you clearly and simply how to give your face a work out to help regain or preserve your youthful looks.

Facial Exercises for Jowls

rodney — Sat, 28 May 2011 10:19:36 +0000

Put Your Best Face Forward

Facial exercises for jowls provide a natural alternative to a cosmetic face lift. With specific types of jowls exercise you can redefine your jaw line and create a more youthful, smoother and firmer contour.

This is good news for those of us who do not have an endless supply of money to spend on spa treatments or who cannot afford cosmetic surgery to correct sagging jowls.

Your Face Is Their Fortune

The fact is that everyone of us will age, not one of us can escape or halt the aging process. However we can slow the process and improve on what we have without having to resort to a face lift, cosmetic fillers and injectables or chemical peels.

Cosmetic procedures are costly, can be painful, need to be continually kept up with and the results are debatable.

Sometimes cosmetic procedures go wrong – we have all read the disaster stories and seen the photos – and sometimes, cosmetic surgery just makes people look, well… weird… to put it frankly.

Subtle face lifts done on younger patients (within the 40-50 age range) may look reasonably good however after the late 40s we can all spot someone who has had a face lift and/or has a face that has been injected full of fillers.

These people don’t necessarily look younger they just look like older people who have had cosmetic work done. No one is fooled.

The truth is facial exercises work with what you have and won’t cost you thousands of dollars. This is not good news for the plastic surgery business

Why People Are Avoiding Cosmetic Procedures

Fortunately there seems to have been something of a backlash against cosmetic procedures for the face in recent years. People are finally waking up to the fact that a stretched, expressionless face is not such a good look after all.

Your face tells your life story, expresses your emotions and conveys empathy to others, in other words you use your face to communicate.

Many actors and actresses are now shunning cosmetic procedures, particularly muscle relaxing injectables, because being unable to express emotion via the face interferes with the quality of their acting performances.

The Natural Way to a Vibrant Youthful Face

Facial exercises are the obvious alternative to cosmetic procedures as they work to build the underlying muscles of the face. This muscle building helps to replace lost fat and collagen, also making up for lost volume.

Facial exercises also provide the added bonus of rejuvenating your skin and giving it a more luminous glow.

Sagging underneath the chin and jaw line, sometimes referred to as a slack jaw line, is a common complaint. Sagging jowls can make us look older and more tired than we are however facial exercises that give jowls definition can go a long way in helping to tighten this problem area.

What’s more face exercises for jowls and the jaw line may help people who suffer from Temporo-mandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). These exercises tone and strengthen the muscles of the jaw helping to alleviate the muscles soreness and pain related to this condition.

Understanding the Muscles of the Jaw

Muscles of the lower face and jaw include:

The massetter. One of the muscles of mastication, used for chewing.
Pterygoideus externus. A mastication/chewing muscle that also enables you to open the mouth.
Pterygoideus internus. A mastication muscle that enables you to close the mouth.
Platysma. This band of thin, broad muscular fibers located under the skin on either side of the neck, enables you to push your lower jaw down.

Working these muscles using facial exercises for jowls you can tone, tighten and lift your jaw line.

A toned jaw line is desirable for both men and women but this area is prone to sagging, usually as we enter our 40s or 50s, and this is the time when the dreaded jowls are most likely to develop.

Jowls Exercise to Lift Your Looks

The following exercises will help to firm and tone the jaw line. Remember that to see results you will need to practice regularly and notice the gradual, sometimes subtle changes to your face that will occur with time and practice.

The good news is that facial exercises are preventative as well as corrective so it’s never too early to start practicing these exercises to keep away a sad and saggy tired looking face.

Sit in a straight-backed, comfortable chair to perform the exercises and practice in front of a mirror if it helps.

Exercise 1

Jut your chin out
Keep your head forward
Press your lips together
Lower your jaw
Push your jaw forward
Hold for a count of ten
Repeat five times

Exercise 2

Tilt your head backwards comfortably
Make a chewing action by imagining you are chewing food
Keep your lips together but not pressed too tightly
Chew for a count of twenty
Repeat another two or three times

Exercise 3

Place your fingers just below the jaw line
Tilt your head backwards
Curl your bottom lip over your top lip
Turn your head to one side
Tighten the cheek muscles and shut your eyes tightly
As you turn slide your fingers up along the jaw line
Repeat for each side five times

Face Up To the Facts

Exercising the facial muscles gives the skin an entirely natural facelift because the muscles of our faces are attached to the skin, by building and plumping up these muscles we can also minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Many people are now realizing that it isn’t necessary to resort to costly cosmetic procedures, subject our bodies to unneeded surgeries or fill our faces with strange chemical substances to look good.

Facial exercise a healthy nutritious diet, regular physical exercise and adequate rest will go a long way in keeping your face looking at it’s best. Remember we cannot help getting older but we don’t have to look older.

To make facial exercise easier to understand and to be able to perform exercises correctly the 30-Day Facial Fitness Program provides an easy walk through guide of all the facial exercises you need to tone and firm the skin and give your face a desirable, healthy glow.