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Face Yoga for a Radiant Look
We all desire glowing and youthful skin. While skincare products and treatments work on the skin's surface, did you know you can also achieve a radiant complexion through facial exercises?
Face yoga, also known as face gym exercises, is a natural and effective way to make your face look more toned, lifted and glowing. It involves exercising with your facial muscles to increase blood circulation and improve the elasticity and texture of the skin. With consistent practice of facial yoga exercises, one can get freedom from fine lines, sagging and dull facial skin. This article explores several aspects of face yoga in detail.
What is face yoga?
Face yoga is a form of exercise that focuses solely on the face's muscles. It involves using one’s fingers to gently massage, knead, and stretch the face's muscles. These exercises stimulate blood flow and circulation to nourish the facial tissues and tone and strengthen these muscles.
Some common face yoga exercises include the following:
- Forehead smoothening
- Eye lifts
- Cheek lifts
- Jaw releases
- Lip plumps
- Neck stretches
Traditional Indian healing practices, such as yoga for the body, facial acupressure, and massage techniques, inspire these exercises. These involve manipulating facial muscles with the hands and holding light pressure at specific points to activate blood circulation and improve facial muscle engagement.The movements may feel strange at first. However, with practice, one can effectively target each muscle group in the face for a thorough workout.
Does face yoga work?
You may be sceptical that making facial movements can transform the look of your face. However, growing research shows that face yoga can effectively benefit skin rejuvenation.Some key highlights of the effects of face yoga include the following:
- A 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology found that face yoga can significantly improve facial elasticity and fullness of upper and lower cheeks among middle-aged women after 20 weeks.
- Research in the Journal of Anatomy revealed that facial exercises can increase the thickness and strength of facial muscles after 5 weeks. They can also help lift sagging facial skin.
Research studies have highlighted that facial yoga can help tone, tighten and rejuvenate facial skin and muscles with regular practice. These exercises can kickstart collagen and elastin production for plumper and more lifted skin. Face yoga can help one sculpt the muscles of the face and neck by working out all the muscles in these areas.
Benefits of face yoga
Here’s how face yoga can transform one's facial appearance:
1. Smoother skin texture
Face yoga boosts blood circulation in the delicate skin areas of the face. This helps transport oxygen and nutrients that facial skin cells thrive on. Over time, skin’s tone and complexion become refreshed, radiant, and glowy.
2. Firms sagging skin
Facial skin can lose elasticity with time. One can experience jowls, drooping eyelids, laugh lines, and loose cheeks. Face yoga can help one tone all the muscles under the skin, improving lift and firmness over time.
3. Reduces fine lines
Increased blood flow due to face yoga exercises nourishes the skin cells and boosts collagen production. Plump and supple skin can help make fine lines disappear over time. Face yoga can help prevent the appearance of new lines by strengthening the facial muscles.
4. Slimmer facial contours
One can sculpt a V-shaped facial appearance or any other facial cut with targeted face yoga exercises. Exercising the cheeks, jawline, chin and neck areas can help one enhance their definition.
5. Prevents double chin
Special chin and neck exercises in face yoga can help one strengthen the platysma muscles running down the neck. Toning these muscles provides excellent support to lift sagging skin under the chin and diminish the appearance of a double chin.
6. Fewer headaches
Many people experience less frequent tension headaches because of regular face yoga practice. Releasing clenched muscles around the temples, eyes, jaw, and forehead can help one prevent headache triggers.
7. More confidence
When one looks in the mirror and sees glowing and youthful-looking skin staring back, self-image instantly boosts. Face yoga can uplift one’s mood and self-confidence.
Face yoga tips for beginners
If one is new to exercising the face, there is no need to worry! Here are some top tips to quickly get a detailed idea of face yoga exercises:
- Start slowly: Don't overdo the facial yoga exercises in the beginning. Start with basic exercises for 5 minutes daily and gradually increase to longer sessions.
- Be gentle: Never tug, pinch or strain your facial skin and muscles. Move slowly and apply light pressure with your fingers. Relax the muscles between repetitions.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before and after facial yoga to keep the facial tissues supple for exercises and avoid dehydration.
- Use a serum: Apply a hydrating face serum after workouts when the facial muscles are warm. This helps the skin absorb nutrients to repair and rebuild. You can try using The Pink Foundry’s Waterlight Gel Moisturiser 72 Hour Hydration, which offers hydration for 72 hours.
- Take photos of progress: The gradual changes to your face shape and tone can be challenging to recognise day-to-day. Take monthly pictures to compare.
- Persistence with practice: Remember to complete your new facial yoga exercises. Consistency is key to reaping skin-firming rewards.
Also read: What Is Skin Hydration & How to Hydrate Skin
Face yoga techniques may be more beneficial for your facial health
Unlike regular facial workout programs, face yoga is a gentle form of exercise for the face. Other methods, like Face workouts, often use special tools and vigorous and intense massaging techniques. These tools can be effective for facial toning, but it is also easy to overdo them and irritate the skin. Face yoga protects the delicate facial skin while still providing a thorough workout. The yoga-inspired movements are slow, controlled, and target specific facial muscle groups. One must use their fingers to lightly stretch, smooth, and knead the muscles in and around the face and neck. For improved results, one should consider using The Pink Foundry’s Super Clarifying 12% Niacinamide Face Serum for All Skin Types after these exercises to maintain skin health and increase strength over time.
Conclusion
Face yoga empowers one to take their skincare into their own hands. Instead of relying solely on skincare creams or costly procedures, one should opt for DIY facial yoga for a more youthful and radiant complexion with simple and natural facial exercises.
Practising face yoga for just 5-10 minutes daily can help one reap its muscle-firming and collagen-boosting benefits. Over time, facial yoga can transform the texture and contours of the skin and improve its glow.
