8 facial exercises for every day

Author: Kristina Bondareva - facebuilding coach.
2016-05-04

Looking for videos online and unsure where to start with "facial" training? A simple and short set of exercises for all areas of the face has been specially compiled for you.

Before starting the exercises, be sure to:

1. Cleanse your face and wash it. If you are training in the evening: for dry skin, wash your face and apply a nourishing cream, then wait for 20 minutes before beginning your workout. For combination and oily skin, washing is enough; if there's no feeling of tightness, applying cream is not necessary.

If training in the morning, do so immediately after waking: for dry skin, wash your face and apply a nourishing cream, then wait for 20 minutes before starting your workout. For combination and oily skin, there is no need to wash your face. Perform the exercises, and then wash your face and apply your skincare regimen.

2. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.

3. If you are sitting, a raised mirror is necessary to see yourself well, avoiding slouching or leaning during the exercises.

4. Prepare some tissues since some exercises will require placing your hands in your mouth.

All exercises are repeated 20-25 times.

All exercises are shown in the video below:

1. FOREHEAD (this exercise helps eliminate horizontal wrinkles on the forehead, working the occipitofrontal muscle and its frontal belly).

Place your fingers above your eyebrows. Push your eyebrows up with effort while resisting with your fingers. Ensure that no horizontal wrinkles appear on your forehead during the exercise; try to relax and lower your shoulders while firmly holding the skin above your eyebrows.

After completing the exercise, tap your fingers on your forehead.

2. EYES (this exercise strengthens the orbicularis oculi muscle).

All exercises around the eye area should be performed at a calm pace since the subcutaneous fat layer around the eyes is very thin!

Fix the orbicularis oculi muscle around its perimeter: place the fingers of one hand along the brow ridge and the fingers of the other hand on the cheekbone. Press the skin firmly, and then squint your eye with all your strength. The skin around the eye should not wrinkle.

After performing the exercise, relax the orbicularis oculi muscle by opening your eyes as wide as possible and bulging them out, ensuring your brows do not raise upwards; place your palm on your forehead to help with this.

3. NOSE (this exercise strengthens the muscles and prevents the tip of the nose from drooping with age; it can also slightly reduce the width of the nasal wings).

Did you know that the nose grows throughout life? Notice your elderly relatives or acquaintances; as they age, their noses become larger and droop downwards, which occurs due to muscle weakening.

Simply move your nose, try to inhale through your nostrils, and shift your nostrils towards the center and downwards, keeping your lips relaxed. Place your fingers on either side of your nose.

Exercises for the central part of the face (three exercises to correct the nasolabial area).

4. "SNEER" (we are working the muscle that raises the upper lip and the wing of the nose).

Lift your upper lip without opening your mouth, just as a dog would "sneer." Correctly fix the skin with your hand: use your ring finger to press the base of the upper lip, positioning it under the nostrils, and place the middle finger above the nostrils, while the index finger is next to the middle finger. Firmly press your fingers, and begin to "sneer," lifting only the upper lip slightly to show your upper teeth. The forehead, bridge of the nose, and wings of the nose should not move; try to relax them.

After the exercise, puff out your upper lip to release tension from the muscle.

5. LIFTING "CHEEK APPLES" UP (we are working the major zygomatic muscle).

Form your mouth into an "O" shape, tensing your cheek muscles so that your cheek "apples" lift, while the corners of your mouth should not move; stretch them forward. Use your palms to fix the nasolabial area. After the exercise, you can puff out your cheeks to relieve tension from the muscles.

6. EXERCISES FOR THE CHEEKS (we are working the buccinator muscle).

Do not open your mouth wide; place your index and middle fingers behind the cheeks above the lower teeth. Your lower jaw should be relaxed downwards. Press your cheeks against your fingers from the inside as if you are inhaling air. Fix your upper lip with your thumbs, keeping your lips relaxed and not squeezing them with your fingers.

After the exercise, puff out your cheeks to relieve tension from the muscles.

EXERCISES FOR THE NECK AND FACE CONTOUR

7. Open your mouth, tilt your head back with your mouth open, bring your jaws together, and return to the starting position with your mouth closed. Do not tilt your head back too much.

8. Turn your head to the side, extending your chin forward, and draw a semicircle with your chin in front of you. Try to relax your shoulders; only the neck should be working.

After completing this set of exercises, relax your face. For ways to relax, read here.

P.S. I develop individual programs for face-building training and conduct classes via Skype. If you are interested – click here.