Nobody likes a saggy face. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and volume, which can lead to wrinkles, sagging cheeks, and a droopy jawline. While there is no substitute for a good skincare routine, you can also do some facial exercises to help keep your face looking young and fresh.
There are many different exercises you can do for your cheeks and jaw, but here are a few of our favorites:
The Cheek Lift
This exercise is simple but effective.
- Simply purse your lips and suck in your cheeks, then hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
The Jaw Squeeze
This exercise targets the muscles in your jaw and helps to tone and tighten them.
- Close your mouth and squeeze your jaw muscles together, then hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
The Eye Socket Lift
This exercise is a little more challenging, but it’s worth the effort.
- Close your eyes and lift your eyebrows as high as you can.
- Hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
The Chipmunk Cheek Squeeze
This is a great exercise to help add volume to your cheeks.
- Tilt your head back and push your chin forward.
- Squeeze your cheeks together as if you were trying to make a “chipmunk face”, then hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
The Puffer Fish Press
Beat wrinkles and sagging skin with this puffer fish-inspired exercise.
- Inflate your cheeks as much as possible, then hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Move air from one cheek to the other.
- Repeat 10 times.
Chin Ups
This exercise works your jawline and helps to define your chin.
- Sit up straight and keep your shoulders down.
- Place your hands on either side of your head, then slowly lower your chin towards your chest.
- Hold for 5-10 seconds, then slowly raise it back up.
- Repeat 10 times.
Jaw Dropper
This exercise is a great way to reduce wrinkles and sagging skin on your jawline.
- Open your mouth as wide as you can, then hold for 5-10 seconds.
- Repeat 10 times.
These are just a few of the exercises you can do to tone and tighten your cheeks and jawline. For best results, try to do these exercises 3-5 times a week. Not only will they help keep your face looking young and fresh, but they’ll also help improve your overall facial appearance.
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What Causes The Face To Sag?
There are many different factors that can contribute to facial sagging, including:
Aging
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and volume, which can lead to wrinkles, sagging cheeks, and a droopy jawline (9).
Smoking
Smoking can damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, which can cause it to sag (4).
Sun Exposure
Excessive sun exposure can cause your skin to lose its natural elasticity and lead to sagging (10).
Poor Nutrition
A poor diet can lead to a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, which can contribute to skin aging (6).
Stress
Stress can cause the muscles in your face to tense up and lead to wrinkles and sagging (3).
Read More: Wide Grip Push Ups Muscles Worked And Proper Technique
How To Prevent Facial Sagging
One of the most telltale signs of aging is the gradual sagging of the face. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to preventing facial sagging, a healthy diet and lifestyle can make a big difference.
Here are some tips on what to eat and how to live in order to help keep your face looking young and fresh.
Have A Healthy Diet
One of the most important things you can do for your face is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods are packed with antioxidants, which help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. They also contain vitamins and minerals that are essential for keeping skin healthy and elastic (6).
Exercise
In addition to eating a healthy diet, it’s important to get plenty of exercise. Exercise helps tone the facial muscles and keep them firm. It also helps increase blood flow to the skin, delivering vital nutrients and oxygen that are necessary for healthy skin (8).
Get Enough Sleep
Another important factor in preventing facial sagging is getting enough sleep. During sleep, the body produces growth hormones which help to repair and rebuild tissue. If you don’t get enough sleep, the body can’t produce these essential hormones, which can lead to premature aging (7).
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Quit Smoking
There are many reasons to quit smoking, and one of the most underrated is its effect on your appearance. Smoking can do a number on your skin, making it look older and less healthy (4). Here are some of the ways quitting smoking can improve your appearance:
- Your skin will be smoother and more elastic. The smoke from cigarettes causes wrinkles and other signs of aging.
- Your skin will be less likely to break out in acne or other blemishes.
- You will have less smoker’s breath.
- You will have whiter teeth.
- Your hair will look healthier and less greasy.
Of course, quitting smoking is not just about looks. The health benefits of quitting are huge and can be life-saving. But if you are looking for another reason to quit, know that your appearance will benefit as well.
Manage Stress
Stress can have a major impact on your health, including the appearance of your skin. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that can lead to skin problems like wrinkles and facial sagging (11).
There are several ways to manage stress and keep it from impacting your skin. One is to make time for yourself each day to relax and de-stress. This may include taking a hot bath, reading a book, or spending time outdoors. You can also try yoga or meditation to help you relax.
Another important way to manage stress is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. When you’re tired, your body is more stressed and less able to deal with everyday stressors. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
Finally, make sure to eat a healthy diet. Foods that are high in antioxidants can help protect your skin from the damaging effects of stress (13). Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and make sure to include some healthy fats like omega-3s in your diet.
Adopt A Collagen Boosting Skin-Care Routine
The best way to prevent wrinkles and facial sagging is to maintain a collagen-boosting skin care routine. This includes using products that contain ingredients like retinol, peptides, and antioxidants.
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that has been shown to boost collagen production (12). Peptides are small proteins that can help to repair damaged skin cells (2). Antioxidants help to protect skin from the damaging effects of free radicals (13).
A collagen-boosting skin care routine should also include regular exfoliation and moisturizing. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, which can make wrinkles more visible. Moisturizing helps to keep skin hydrated and elastic (14).
Drink Water Instead Of Sugar-Laden Beverages
Water is essential for the body to function properly, including the skin. Not only does water help keep you hydrated, but it also helps flush toxins out of the body. This can help reduce the amount of wrinkles and sagging skin on your face (5).
To get the most anti-aging benefits from water, drink at least eight glasses per day. In addition, make sure to drink plenty of water when you are spending time in the sun. This will help keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
If you are not a fan of drinking water, try adding slices of fresh fruit or cucumbers to your glass for added flavor. You can also drink herbal tea, which is a great way to hydrate your body. Just be sure to avoid drinks with caffeine, as they can dehydrate you.
Alcohol, soft drinks, and fruit juices should be avoided if you are looking to reduce wrinkles and sagging skin. These drinks contain high levels of sugar and calories, which can have a negative impact on your health – and your skin.
Alcohol is particularly bad for the skin, as it can dehydrate you and lead to premature aging (1). So if you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy, steer clear of alcohol.
Protect Your Skin From Harmful UV Rays
Finally, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. Sun exposure can cause wrinkles and age spots, as well as increase the risk of skin cancer (15). Use sunscreen whenever you’re going to be outside, and avoid spending too much time in the sun. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used every day, even on cloudy days.
The Bottom Line
Following these tips can help you keep your face looking young and fresh for years to come. Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of facial exercises, and protecting your skin from the sun are all essential for keeping your skin healthy and elastic. So start living a healthy lifestyle today and you’ll be sure to notice a difference in the appearance of your face.
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SOURCES:
- Alcohol and aging: From epidemiology to mechanism (2017, sciencedirect.com)
- Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression (2019, mdpi.com)
- Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging (2014, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Cigarettes Smoking and Skin: A Comparison Study of the Biophysical Properties of Skin in Smokers and Non-Smokers (2019, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics (2015, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging (2012, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Does poor sleep quality affect skin ageing? (2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Exercise-stimulated interleukin-15 is controlled by AMPK and regulates skin metabolism and aging (2015, onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- Facial aging trajectories: A common shape pattern in male and female faces is disrupted after menopause (2019, onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- Natural and Sun-Induced Aging of Human Skin (2015, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Psychological Stress and skin aging: a review of possible mechanisms and potential therapies (2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments (2019, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Role of antioxidants in the skin: Anti-aging effects (2010, sciencedirect.com)
- Skincare Bootcamp: The Evolving Role of Skincare (2016, journals.lww.com)
- Sun and Skin (2014, nih.gov)