Here is the theory – facial muscles are attached to the skin that covers them. As
the muscles are exercised, they become more toned, pushing out the wrinkles,
producing a rounder, firmer face.

In fact, there are several theories:

As muscles are tensed during exercise, they relax afterwards, producing a smoother
overall look to the face.

During exercise, blood is pumped closer to the surface of the skin; this improves
tissue oxygenation which maintains elastin. Elastin is a protein that allows the
tissues to resume their natural shape after stretching or contracting.

So it follows that post exercise, the tissues beneath the skin will form a more
naturally formed and healthy constitution.

During exercise, fluid is pumped into the tissue beneath the surface of the skin,
plumping out fine lines and wrinkles.

Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow are reported to be exponents of “facial yoga,”
the stars’ term for facial exercises. They carry out these unusual exercises on a
daily basis.

So what are facial exercises?

Facial exercises are activities to exercise certain facial muscles to enhance their
strength and rigidity. They focus on different areas of the face, such as the eye,
the labial fold area (at the side of the nose) and the cheeks.

Results are said to improve the sagginess of the skin on the cheeks, jowls and neck
area, while smoothing out lines and wrinkles around the mouth, eyes, forehead and
brow.

This is not an instant fix; it’s more a long-term approach to work in progress. The
theory suggests that the more exercises you do and the longer you keep them up, the
more you stand to benefit from them.

Does it work?

Dr. Murad Alam, the chief of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery at Northwestern’s
Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and Fellow of the American Academy of
Dermatology, states that there is no official medical research into the field of
facial exercise.

His philosophy is that a healthy complexion is a reflection of total wellness both
inside and out, including lifestyle choices, intake of proper nutrients and the use
of respected skin care products.

We should be mindful of the fact that the signs of aging are caused by numerous
factors that none of us can escape from, such as:

• Sun damage
• Depletion in collagen
• DNA
• Lifestyle choices
• Environment
• Diet
• General health and exposure to diseases

Therefore, it’s plain to see that staying younger is not as simple as carrying out
a few eye squints and cheeky grins everyday. And while there is anecdotal evidence
supporting the theories above, the point is that it is anecdotal, i.e., it is not
scientifically proven.

So, beware of companies trying to charge you for DVDs and videos showing you how to
conduct your exercises. What’s more, if you constantly crease up your face to
practice your exercises in the wrong way, there’s a chance that they may increase
the incidence of wrinkles.

The aging process is inevitable. How rapidly it progresses is within your control to
some extent, depending on the factors mentioned above. Without a doubt, there are
far more tried and tested choices you can make that will bring about proven benefits
to your appearance and overall health, such as increasing your water intake, eating
a balanced diet in moderation and leading an active lifestyle. Ultimately, it is
down to the individual to decide which of those choices is most suitable for them.

About the Author:
Victoria Strander writes about the latest trends on enhancing and
preserving beauty on her blog TheBeautyRules.com. Topics such as ?Rhinoplasty – Nose Surgery? is one of the many she writes about.

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