Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.

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In June 2017 I published an article titled “Facial Exercises - Do They Work? Of Course They Do” in which I provide a general discussion about facial exercises.

Today I write about the facial exercise program that I began using in 2002 at 43 and continue to use today at 60.

In my mind, maintaining overall health and fitness with strength training, stretching, and massage is beneficial for the skin, fascia, muscles and bones of the face. I originally found facial exercise books at used book stores and at the library. Later, I found Deb Crowley and the FlexEffect (FE) Facial Resistance Training program on the Internet and knew that I had found what I was looking for.

The body is efficient. When one part of the body is not being used, no extra muscle, skin or tissue fiber are needed and cell renewal slows. When one part of the body is used more, cell renewal speeds up. For example, think about the body’s ability to create a callous when practicing the guitar. When the finger tips press on the guitar strings, the tender skin tissue responds by generating thicker, stronger skin tissue to withstand the new activity over time. That is one example of how you may prompt the body to promote collagen production. This concept applies to muscle and bone growth as well.

A little bit about Deb Crowley, the inventor of FE. In 1970, Deb began teaching Facial Isotonics where a muscle is contracted against a weight. After she became a body builder in 1978, she applied her knowledge of muscle mechanics to invent the FE program. Deb studied muscle insertion points, short and long muscle fibers and all things muscles to convert Facial Isotonic exercise to Facial Resistance Training involving concentric and eccentric muscle contractions to develop FE.

Deb thought that the FE training that she had developed was THE way to keep facial muscles and the associated skin healthy over time. She later realized that FE alone was not enough, after she observed a decline in her own skin health. Deb found that bone atrophy plays a large role in changing facial structure over time so she developed the Bone Flex Remodeling technique using Jolting and Pressure Reps to remodel bone by increasing facial bone density. Further, Deb developed special skin stretching techniques to promote collagen production. The Skin Remodeling routine uses a Cross Stretching technique to promote collagen and increase skin elasticity. In 2010, Deb published the Jolting and Pressure Reps and Cross Stretching techniques in her 3rd edition of the book titled “FlexEffect Facialbuilding®”.

You’ve heard it before, if we do not practice weight bearing exercises bone density declines. This impacts facial bones as well. This is really important and I wrote about it in my August, 2019 blog article titled: “Build Facial Bone Strength and Maintain Your Facial Profile and Contours”. The skin drapes over the bone, muscle and fascia, so it is vital that the structure and tissue beneath the skin be maintained for overall facial skin health and appearance.

Did you know that collagen promoting advanced skin care treatments including laser and micro-needling promote collagen by causing micro-injuries to the skin? This induces a biological healing cascade that promotes collagen production. Deb’s research for the 3rd edition of her FE program showed that the Cross Stretching method provides more collage production than standard advanced skin care practices.

I am not affiliated with FlexEffect. I have purchased the FlexEffect Facial Resistance Training 2nd edition and the FlexEffect Facialbuilding® 3rd edition.

I am a bonafide FE program user and advocate. After I purchased the 2nd edition of the FE program in 2002, I read the book cover to cover, memorized most of the 40 exercises and committed to the program. It took me about 30 minutes to complete the routine. I practiced FE five times per week for about a decade. I later cut back to three times a week, then once a week and as life got crazy busy and sometimes exhausting, about once a month in recent years. The book also includes facial massage techniques; I practice these about once a week.

Of course, I purchased the 3rd edition ASAP. I watched the video once, quickly glanced at the training images and continued to practice the original 40 FE resistance training exercises. I did not make the time to read about or memorize all the new and great techniques.

Fast forward to late 2019. In recent years, I realized that my reduced training schedule had resulted in facial muscle atrophy. I decided to ramp up my personal FE training and read the 3rd edition in detail.

Wow! Once again, I am impressed with Deb’s theory, research and details to easily change up your facial exercise routine, maintain facial bone density and promote collagen and skin elasticity.

After all these years, I am still practicing the same 40 exercises that were published in the 2nd edition. I never seriously practiced the alternative FE exercise instructions provided in the 3rd edition including Rapid Reps, Ten-Second Training (Intensity Training) and Negative Training. Although I attribute my facial muscle loss to my reduced training schedule (which plays a role) I’ve never switched up my FE exercise routine. It is time to change things up and let me tell you it feels great!

Deb writes that it is important to practice all variations of the FE exercise routine, to address the issue associated with the “neuromuscular system adapting to specific movement patterns”. Muscles adapt to exercise and it is important to change an exercise routine to maintain muscle strength. Deb provides a Negative Training routine that I rarely practice because I do not have it memorized (as easy as it is). After reading the 3rd edition I learned that Negative Training promotes the greatest muscle growth. Guess what I will be doing in 2020! You got it, I will take the time to memorize and practice the alternative FE exercises, Jolting and Pressure Reps and Cross Stretching.

The FE program provides options to complete daily exercises in 10 minutes or 20 minutes and a schedule to alternate Jolting and Pressure Reps and Cross Stretching for a comprehensive facial skin, muscle and bone health program.

I adore facial exercise and feel that it is more important than special serums, lotions, creams and masks that we rely on. I plan to always practice FE exercises and massage. I strive to maintain strength and to remain limber throughout life and that includes my head, face and neck muscles.

If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or get my book “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare”

Take good care of yourselves and Happy New Year! xo

Deborah

This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.