With age, facial muscles lose tone, skin becomes less elastic, thinner, and dehydrated. We can't sit back and watch these changes in our appearance. Now is the time to intervene and begin the fight to maintain our attractiveness.
Gymnastics for facial muscles and skin
Our “secret weapon” is daily facial muscle and skin training, which helps maintain a youthful appearance. With specialized muscle exercises, we can normalize facial circulation, which nourishes and renews the skin.
As an example, I'd like to share some exercises I've been doing for several years. The maximum number of repetitions for each exercise is 10, but I recommend starting with 2-3 and then adding one repetition each day. All exercises should be performed without holding your breath, exerting as much effort as possible, and holding the tension for 8-10 seconds.
1. Place your fingers on the inner tips of your eyebrows at the bridge of your nose. Press down on the skin, but very lightly, so the pressure is even and gentle. Continue applying pressure, trying to move your eyebrows toward the bridge of your nose. Relax the skin, but don't remove your fingers. This resistance-overcoming exercise trains the skin on the bridge of your nose and helps prevent wrinkles and creases from anger or frowning.
2. Place three fingers of both hands on your forehead, with your ring fingers resting above your eyebrows. Apply gentle pressure. Slowly lift your eyebrows, feeling how you overcome resistance (the pressure should be even and gentle).
3. Using the pads of your index fingers, gently press down on the skin at the outer corners of your eyes. The skin around your eyes is particularly delicate and thin, so it's important not to overdo it. Overcoming the tension, lift your upper eyelid as far as possible. Then place your fingers on the inner corners of your eyes and repeat the same exercise.
4. The following exercise can be performed several times a day on its own, separate from the rest of the routine, as it not only tones the muscles but also relaxes the eyes. Keep your back straight and your head level, without tilting. Open your mouth as wide as possible, look up as if looking at the ceiling, and blink frequently for half a minute.
5. Keep your face relaxed, lips closed but not pressed. Place the pads of your middle fingers on the corners of your mouth and press them. Apply more pressure than on the corners of your eyes or forehead, as the skin in the nasolabial triangle is somewhat thicker and more elastic. Purse your lips and loudly “smack” the air. Keep your fingers in your mouth.
6. Keep your lips tightly closed, but not pressed. Inhale deeply through your nose and puff out your cheeks. Exhale gradually, then in bursts. Keep your lips closed throughout the exercise.
7. Inhale through your nose and hold your breath for 4-5 seconds. Using the fingertips of both hands, press the corners of your mouth again and exhale through your mouth as if blowing on something.
8. Inhale through your nose, puff out your cheeks, and begin to roll the air around inside your mouth like a ball. Keep your lips closed. This exercise can be repeated several times a day, whenever possible.
9. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, smacking your lips and making a “disgruntled horse” sound. This exercise can be done separately from the routine and repeated several times a day. It helps remove wrinkles from the upper lip.
10. Keep your neck straight and don't lower your head. Firmly tense your neck muscles and begin to push your lower jaw forward. Once you've pushed it as far forward as possible, move your jaw left and right. Keep your head and neck straight throughout the exercise; don't tilt them!
11. Cup your cheeks with your palms so that the ridges under your little fingers cover the corners of your mouth and press down on your lips. Your fingers are clasped and resting on your cheeks. Without lifting your palms from your cheeks, begin to smile as widely as possible. Keep your lips closed and try to overcome any resistance.
There are many different exercises for strengthening facial muscles. The main criterion for choosing one should be that facial aerobics should engage as many muscles as possible. Everyone can find the right exercises based on their facial features.
One more tip: check how many pillows you use for sleeping. If you have several, use only one to prevent your face from slumping at night and causing a double chin. If you've already developed one, the following procedure can help: wet a towel, twist it into a loose rope, and gently tap your chin with it. Repeat this 10-15 times. You'll notice a difference in a couple of weeks.
Facial skin care
Since each of us has our own characteristics and problems associated with facial skin, I will allow myself to give some general recommendations on skin care and maintaining it in good condition.
The main thing when caring for your facial skin is regularity.
In the morning, it's essential to use products to cleanse, nourish, and protect your skin. Cleanse your skin with lotions or toners. Then, apply baby massage oil to moisturize your face. Spread a thin layer of the oil over your entire face, excluding your upper eyelids. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes. During this time, you can gently massage your forehead, bridge of your nose, the skin around your eyes, and your nasolabial folds. Then, gently pat your face dry with a tissue. This will moisturize your face throughout the day. Afterward, apply your day cream and foundation. When you apply powder, you'll feel how it settles seamlessly onto your face, concealing wrinkles rather than emphasizing them.
Evening face and neck care includes cleansing and nourishing the skin. Throughout the day, dust, containing airborne impurities, settles on the skin's surface. Therefore, more time should be devoted to cleansing than in the morning. After this, apply evening cream to the face and neck, removing any excess with a cosmetic tissue after an hour or an hour and a half.
In addition to daily facial care, you need: cleansing of dead skin cells with a scrub (this can be done once a week) and masks, which are done 1-2 times a week.
It is always important to remember that any cosmetic procedures are only beneficial if applied correctly, taking into account the anatomical structure of the skin.
In particular, the direction of the skin lines, the least stretchable areas of the skin, should be taken into account. All cosmetic procedures—cleansing the face and neck, applying creams, makeup, and masks—are performed from the bottom up along these lines.
The directions of the skin lines are as follows:
• along the lower jaw: from the middle of the chin to the earlobes;
• on the cheeks: from the corner of the mouth to the ear canal, and then from the middle of the upper lip and the side surface of the nose to the upper part of the auricle;
• around the eyes: from the inner corner along the upper eyelid to the outer corner of the eye, and then along the lower eyelid to the nose;
• on the forehead: from the middle of the forehead to the temples in the direction of hair growth on the eyebrows;
• on the nose: from the bridge of the nose along the back of the nose to its tip, from the back of the nose along its lateral surfaces.
Never press hard on your face and neck when washing, and avoid using rough washcloths that could stretch the skin. It's best to dry your face with a soft towel.
Let's briefly summarize. Regular exercises to strengthen the facial muscles are an essential part of caring for and maintaining healthy facial skin. Daily skin care includes cleansing, nourishing, moisturizing, and protecting against environmental factors. Don't forget about deep cleansing and masks, too.
And most importantly: look in the mirror more often! There you will see a beautiful woman who is timeless.