You already know that regular physical activity is beneficial for your health. But why should your body have all the fun? Consider giving your face a good workout with facial exercises, too!
These help keep your skin young, firm, and refreshed. And, in terms of your smile, they strengthen the muscles around your mouth to amplify the power of your grin. Here are six easy facial muscle exercises to enhance your overall look.
Benefits of facial exercises
A study by JAMA Dermatology had middle-aged women engage in facial exercises for 20 weeks, revealing firmer skin and fuller upper and lower cheeks. Sounds promising, right?
A caveat – of course, face exercises won’t solve everything. If you want to lose weight, you can’t replace a healthy diet and regular physical activity with face-slimming exercises. Similarly, sun protection remains your best defence against premature signs of ageing. Nevertheless, incorporating facial exercises into your routine can be a valuable supplement to improve the way you look.
Beyond a slimmer, more youthful appearance, here are other benefits associated with giving your face a workout:
- Strengthened facial muscles
- Increased blood circulation
- Relief from muscle tension on the face and neck
- Improved smile appearance
Types of facial exercises
On her YouTube channel, Fumiko Takatsu, creator of the Face Yoga Method, shared exercises for achieving the perfect smile. Here are some of her recommendations, plus a few other easy facial exercises to try at home.
1. Baby bubbles
Some people bust out their best goo-goo-ga-ga when seeing babies. If you’re one of them, then you may find this workout a no brainer. Fumiko’s first facial exercise involves a similar degree of baby talk by blowing bubbles with your lips. “Ninety per cent of us did some (form of) facial exercise as a baby, so we’re going to retrain the lips to move like a baby’s mouth to add volume and colour to the lips.”
Start by putting one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Take a deep breath through your nose. As you exhale, make your lips vibrate like you’re blowing bubbles
2. Face lifting
Nasolabial folds or smile lines are the wrinkles that run from the nose to the mouth. Fumiko recommends massaging this area to loosen tight muscles and minimise the appearance of folds. Begin by making a fist. Then, using the knuckles of your index and middle fingers, push the area under the cheekbones. Work your way up to the ears for a soothing, lifting effect.
3. Happy cheeks sculpting
In the JAMA Dermatology study, one of the facial exercises respondents tried was a cheek-sculpting method. To do this, smile without showing your teeth. Purse your lips together, then lift your cheeks by smiling. With your fingers at the corners of your mouth, slide them up to the top of your cheeks, holding for 20 seconds. Repeat this process 10 times for an overall happier appearance.
4. Fish pose
International fashion model Monika Rofler is another smile expert who shared her own facial exercises with Medium magazine. To help you smile more naturally, she suggests striking a fish pose (just as an exercise, not at the camera).
Purse your lips forward as if to whistle or blow a kiss. Tighten the muscles on your cheek and hold for 15 seconds. Do 10 repetitions to firm up the muscles around the lips for a healthy, strong smile.
5. Wide smiling
Another facial exercise that will amp up your grin power is smiling widely. If you don’t feel the strain on your face, you’re not smiling wide enough. Repeat using the same time sequence of 10 reps, each held for 15 seconds.
6. Funny rabbit
The Silly Rabbit face workout tones your cheek muscles while increasing the flexibility and control of your smile. Here’s how to do it – While smiling, wiggle your nose until you feel the strain on your face and hold for five seconds. It may seem a little awkward, so if you want to LOL because of how silly you look, go right ahead. Your smile will thank you for the extra reps.
Numerous studies, including this one by the Madeconian Journal of Medical Sciences, suggest that confidence in your smile is directly related to confidence in yourself.
To boost your smiling power beyond facial exercises, develop healthy habits that work wonders for your grin. Stay consistent with your skincare routine for a glowing complexion that matches your radiant smile. And get fresh confidence by staying on top of your oral care.
Also, treat your crooked teeth so you can flash a stunningly straight smile! ClearCorrect dental aligners deliver a more discreet and comfortable approach to fixing misaligned teeth. It features revolutionary ClearQuartz that applies gentle but consistent pressure to unruly pearly whites. Now, that’s definitely something to smile about! Take our smile assessment to see if you’re a candidate.
Facial exercises offer a convenient way to maintain a glowing, healthy appearance. Specifically for your smile, they contribute to its strength by toning and sculpting the surrounding area. But to impact your smile in a more enduring and authentic way, remember that real improvement comes from within. Think of a happy moment, flex your facial muscles, and flash your pearly whites like there’s no tomorrow!
References:
Alam, M., Walter, A. J., Geisler, A., Roongpisuthipong, W., Sikorski, G., Tung, R., & Poon, E. (2018). Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging. JAMA Dermatology, 154(3), 365.
Face Yoga Method. (2020, April 15). Smile exercise that will help you create a perfect smile! [Video]. YouTube.
Hub, M. T. (2018, October 7). 3 exercises to make your smile more natural – MDL Talent Hub – Medium. Medium.
