She Strengthens

Get Ready to Flex Your Face: The Rise of Facial Fitness

In today’s era of self-improvement, it’s easy to get caught up in the constant pursuit of a healthier, stronger, and more radiant version of ourselves. With the latest wellness trends flooding our social media feeds and inboxes, it’s no surprise that facial fitness has emerged as a popular new approach to achieving glowing, youthful-looking skin.

The Science Behind Facial Fitness

Did you know that your face has 43 muscles, just like the rest of your body? It stands to reason that strengthening these muscles could lead to noticeable improvements in your skin’s tone and texture. Inge Theron, founder of Face Gym, was inspired to create her company after undergoing a facelift procedure that left her housebound for months. Her research led her to develop a non-invasive face-lifting solution that targets the muscles and facial framing, rather than just the skin.

The Facial Fitness Movement

Theron’s Face Gym offers sessions with professionals who work out specific areas of your face to achieve desired results, such as tightening, toning, sculpting, or de-puffing. Sessions range from $70 to over $200. But Theron isn’t the only one advocating for facial fitness. Koko Hayashi, anti-aging expert and founder of Face Yoga with Koko, believes that training and stretching your facial muscles is crucial for skin elasticity.

What Do Dermatologists Think?

While some experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of facial fitness in preventing wrinkles or improving appearance, others see its potential benefits. Janet Prystowsky, MD, notes that facial exercises may have tension relief benefits for the head and neck, but they shouldn’t be relied upon as a sole solution for anti-aging. Joshua Zeichner, MD, agrees that facial exercises can improve muscle tone, but they won’t address deeper skin issues.

Give Facial Fitness a Try

If you’re curious about facial fitness, you can start at home with simple exercises shared by Hayashi. Her three at-home workouts target specific areas of the face:

• Anti-“Gobble” Neck Stretch: Slowly look up and stretch your neck, imagining your chin being pulled from the ceiling. Then, stick out your pointy tongue as high as possible and hold for 10 seconds.
• Cheek Vibrations: Vibrate your lips and try to expand the vibration to your cheeks, relaxing your lip muscles and connected facial muscles.
• Corners of the Mouth Lift-Up: Smile with your upper teeth showing, then open your mouth and stick out your tongue. Slowly move your tongue to the right and left, repeating three to five times.

Remember to consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine, especially if you have underlying health issues. While facial fitness may not be a magic solution for anti-aging, it could be a fun and natural way to improve your skin’s tone and texture. So, go ahead and give it a try!