Facial exercises can really make a difference

The muscles on the face are unique as they are all joined onto the skin which means facial exercises really can make a difference to the way the skin looks - and you can make a difference fairly quickly.

There are many tempting solutions to get rid of wrinkles or smoothe out facial lines, but these involve either surgery or invasive needles and chemicals.

Facial exercises have the same effect : naturally smoothing out wrinkles and bringing a sparkle back to your eyes.

Facial expression such as frowning, smiling and squinting can, over time, contribute to lines and wrinkles developing around your eyes and lip area.

It's a sobering thought to realise that those lines may only be noticed as one goes into our forties and fifties but they actually start away back in our twenties.

Genetics are a lot to do with how we age but pollution, the sun's rays, chemicals and smoking have a lot to do with premature ageing. Scientists now say that smoking can add 10 years to the way we look. Mind blowing!

Facial exercises can help but it's only part of the jigsaw. Eating certain super foods can combat anti-ageing to a degree. Green tea and pomegranates are full of antioxidants which help us fight free radicals.

As well as taking antioxidants internally you can also apply them straight onto the skin. Creams to buy for are full of vitamin E, Vitamin A or Vitamin C and have a sun factor to prevent sun damage. Why not relax with our green tea face mask?

Exfoliate your skin regularly. Use a circular movement while exfoliating to tone muscles and improve circulation. Exfoliating your skin will remove dead skin cells, resulting in a brighter and lighter complexion, giving you that healthy look.

Carry out these movements daily for 10 minutes. We recommend 5 minutes in the morning and a further 5 minutes in the evening.

Do each of our facial exercises 5 times each :

These eye exercises will help to smoothe any lines and open up the eye area giving you a youthful appearance.

• Exercise 1 : Take your forefingers and place just below the eyebrow. Pull upwards gently, then blink rapidly.
• Exercise 2 : Take your forefingers and place below the eye where you feel the socket. Squeeze upwards gently towards the eye, and release.
• Exercise 3 : Take your forefingers and place at the corner of your eyes, now stretch back towards ears, while squinting, before releasing.

These neck exercises will help smoothe any lines out but remember your neck needs hydrated and protection from the sun's rays, so apply a moisturiser with a sun protector daily.

Do each of our facial exercises 5 times each.

• Exercise 1 : Put your head back so as to stretch your neck and hold for the count of 5.
• Exercise 2 : Put your head back so as to stretch your neck and open your mouth wide and gulp.
• Exercise 3 : Crunch your face up then release, opening your eyes and mouth wide as if to roar.

Lip exercise to improve lip lines.

With your mouth open, say "uh, ee, oh."

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