Deborah Tosline wrote and published Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare in 2015. Deborah's education and work experience is in science, where hypotheses are tested through observation and experiments. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and ecology. Her approach to skin care is based on that scientific background, a love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.
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By Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator (Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator) [CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Facial Exercises (FE). Do em?

Proponents hold them in high regard (as they should) for lifting and firming facial tone. Opponents blame them for stretching and degrading facial tone. Some doctors promote them and others admonish them.

What is true? Logic.

Exercise the body = strengthen muscles. Stop exercise = lose muscle tone. You can see it. The same thing happens with the face. Eating and talking do not strengthen facial muscles. Instead, the facial muscles are worked unequally, resulting in facial lines.

Muscles in the body connect bone to bone. Facial muscles connect bone to muscle and/or skin. When facial muscles sag, the overlying skin sags too. When facial muscles are firm the overlying skin is supported.

There are about 57 muscles in the face and neck depending on how you count.

Here’s the thing. Facial muscles are itsy bitsy teeny weeny. Once they atrophy or shrink, due to lack of use, they will require consistent exercise before they will be large enough for you to feel and begin to see a difference. The longer one waits to begin FE, the longer it takes to rebuild the teeny tiny muscles. When facial muscles are atrophied, it may require several seasons to see results. But hey, that is better than the alternative, which includes further muscle atrophy and sagging skin.

Plastic surgery fixes lax muscles only temporarily. Without exercise, those pulled taught muscles will continue to shrink and sag. No cream will firm skin that overlies sagging muscles.

The only option? A few simple FE integrated into a holistic wellness routine.

Why would FE NOT work?

Muscles cannot build and the body cannot regenerate properly under a poor quality lifestyle including:

· processed foods

· sodas and fruit juice

· lack of nutrition

· inflammatory diet

· lack of cardio exercise

· lack of flexibility

· exposure to synthetic chemicals

· sun exposure

· negative attitude/perspective

FE will build muscles under a holistically healthy lifestyle including:

· whole, nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory foods

· organic foods whenever possible

· alkaline based diet

· daily walking

· daily/weekly stretching

· weekly strengthening

· avoidance of synthetic chemicals

· mindfulness meditative practice

· weekly sauna to remove toxins

· lymphatic dry brushing

· think and act with kindness

What are you waiting for? There are many FE programs available. Most are isometric exercises. Resistance facial training works a contracted muscle against the weight of the fingers to promote muscle growth.

I’ve used FlexEffect Facial Building developed by Deborah Crowley from about 2002.

By the way, a contracted muscle increases circulation 10 times, resulting in fantastic looking skin.

For healthful beautiful skin, it’s time to embrace facial exercise.

Take good care of yourself and for more skin care tips get my book "Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare" xo Deborah

Oh gosh, not a fan of selfies. March 2, 2017 Posting this selfie to show effects of facial exercise. If I did them more often muscles would be stronger. 58 years.