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Here’s the deal with anti-aging anything. There are a lot of creams, serums, and tools on the market that make grand claims without backing them up with any proof, and it’s way too easy to let yourself get swept up in the moment of wanting to change little things that bother you and wasting a whole lot of money and time in the process. If you do choose to modify your body in any way, it’s important to know what’s worth the money and what isn’t. Surgical procedures and things like Botox and fillers will temporarily smoothen, tighten, or fill out skin — but they come at a cost AND not everyone is keen on dealing with needles and some of the risks associated with these enhancements. Creams are a dime a dozen, but aside from a few reputable ingredients like vitamin C and retinol, you could be paying a lot for fancy filler ingredients and brand names.
One of the latest ways to enhance the look of your face doesn’t cost a cent — and it can actually relax you instead of stressing you out. Facial exercises take just a few minutes out of your day and are being hailed by some as a fantastically low-tech way to improve muscle tone. Are they 100 percent effective? Researchers at Harvard say there’s no way to really know — but the good new is they can’t hurt AND they won’t break the bank (or even touch the bank). According to Foreo, these are four of the best anti-aging facial exercises you can do anytime (even while you’re at the school drop-off or waiting at the Starbuck drive-thru).
Jaw Exercise
This one is said to help improve the tone of your jaw and you’ll feel a deep stretch in your neck, as well.
Tilt your head back and place your lower lip over your upper lip (stretching it as far up as you can). Hold this pose for 10 seconds and perform another 10 to 15 sets.
A Slimmer Face
Rounder faces are gorgeous. But if you have always wished for more tone in your cheeks, the chipmunk stretch is one that is said to help achieve a leaner face.
Tilt your head back while also pushing your chin forward. Suck in your cheeks as much as you can — yep, this is how the move achieved its “chipmunk” name. Now hold that pose for five seconds. Repeat the movement for 10 to 15 reps.
Defined Cheekbones
Cheek filler is one of the most common procedures, but it’s also become more common to see overfilled faces that look puffy. This facial exercise instead may give you a more sculpted look without invasive enhancements. Here’s how to do it:
While placing one finger over each of your cheekbones, lift the skin up toward your eyes. Create a long “O” shape with your mouth at the same time. You should feel this stretch in your cheeks and around your mouth. Hold for five seconds and then repeat 10 to 15 times.
Brows
Like cheek filler, brow lifts are also becoming a celebrity trend that has gained traction. This exercise may enhance your eye area for a fresh, wide awake look even after you’ve gotten five hours of sleep:
Place your index and middle fingers over your eyebrows and push the skin down. While you’re doing this, lift your eyebrows up and down, kind of like a surprised look. Do this 10 times for six sets.
