Stop Frowning! How Facial Postures Age Your Skin

How Does Your Scrunch Affect Your Skin Ageing?

Facial posture is not just about how you hold your head in selfies (although that's important, too!). It's the small ways you maintain your face's position throughout the day. 

What happens to your skin and muscles with these frequent postures? When coupled with gravity, the repetitive expressions relentlessly pull on your skin and muscles without you noticing. This can wreak havoc on your youthful appearance. 

Repetitive frowning, squinting, or even sleeping on your face can weaken specific muscle groups, causing the skin they support to lose its elasticity. This, in turn, leads to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging – the hallmarks of skin ageing.

The three crucial factors that cause these are;

1. Repetitive Expressions

Expressions like furrowed brows during concentration or constant squinting in harsh sunlight etch themselves into your skin. They deepen your existing wrinkles and even create new ones.

2. Action of Gravity

As you age, collagen( protein in your muscles that provides structure, strength, and support ) production slows. So gravity takes these chances to pull down your skin even more. That's when you get jowls, sagging cheeks, and droopy eyelids.

3. Muscle Weakening

Like any other muscle in your body, your face muscles too weaken when you do not use it enough. When muscles lose their original tone and tightness, they contribute to wrinkle formation.

These structural changes in your face will occur from different facial postures.

What Facial Postures Can Accelerate Skin Ageing?

Here are some of your facial expressions that can accelerate skin ageing.

1. Frowning

Growing creates creases on your forehead horizontally. These frown lines eventually give you those dreaded "elevens" between brows.

2. Squinting

Do you squint a lot because you don't want to wear spectacles? Then, think twice. Not only are you harming your eyes, but you are also giving yourself crow's feet.

3. Raised Eyebrows

If you habitually raise your eyebrows repeatedly when you stare at your screen, then know that it can give you horizontal forehead wrinkles.

4. Chewing With Your Mouth Open

Chewing with your mouth open takes its sweet time, slowly weakening your jaw muscles. You will not even notice it! Practise good chewing habits to avoid a visit from jowls.

5. Sleeping on Your Face

Sleeping in, your head in your pillow, all cosy, sounds fun! But know that the position will definitely give you face wrinkles.  Pushing your face into the pillow for hours at a stretch compresses the skin, particularly around the cheeks and chin.

6. Slouching

Reading those news articles on your cell phone every morning? Take a look at your jawline. When your head juts forward, it strains the neck muscles and pulls down on the jawline, accelerating the formation of wrinkles and sagging.

So, isn't it high time you took care of your facial postures to stop skin ageing?

How Can You Correct Your Facial Postures?

Let us banish those wrinkle-inducing postures. It doesn't require drastic measures. Here are some simple tips and techniques to add to your natural wrinkle remover routine.

1. Be Aware of Your Expressions

The first step is becoming more mindful of your facial expressions. Throughout the day, take a moment to check in with your face. Are you frowning while concentrating?  Squinting at your computer screen?  Gently relax those muscles and find a neutral expression.

2. Adjust Your Facial Postures

Remember gravity and muscle weakness? Good posture does all it can to combat gravity. Stand tall with your shoulders back and head held high. This takes the strain off your facial muscles and prevents sagging.

3. Get Your Sleep Right and Sleep Tight

While catching those Zzz's is comfortable and a happy place, your sleep position can also impact your skin. Swap out your cotton pillowcase for a silk or satin one to reduce friction and prevent sleep lines if you sleep on your face. This change will be a natural wrinkle remover from your face. But it's best to train yourself to sleep on your back – it's the most beneficial position for maintaining a youthful appearance.

Practise Regular Face Yoga Exercises

Yes, you read that right! Facial yoga and face toning exercises are targeted to strengthen and tone facial muscles. These exercises improve circulation, boost elasticity, and combat the visible signs of ageing.

Check out the best face yoga exercises to target your posture-related skin changes.

Forehead Lines

Can't stop squinting your eyes, which gives you those forehead lines? Make this common ageing concern with a forehead smoother face yoga exercise for wrinkles on the forehead.

How to Perform a Forehead Smoother?

• Place your palms flat on your forehead, fingers spread wide. 
• Gently press upwards and outwards towards your temples, creating slight resistance.
• Hold for 10 seconds, then release. 
• Repeat 5 times. 

Tip: Focus on raising your eyebrows using your muscles, not your forehead.

Crow's Feet

Do you wish to wash away those stubborn lines around your eyes? Wash away crow's feet with this natural wrinkle remedy - an eye-brightening face yoga move!

How to Perform Eye Brightener Exercise?

• Place your middle fingers on the outer corners of your eyes, applying gentle pressure. 
• Smile gently, crinkling only the corners of your eyes (think of a genuine smile). 
• Hold for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10 times. 

Tip: Don't squint your eyes while performing this exercise.

Nasolabial Folds (Laugh Lines)

Your laugh lines speak loudly of your happy and loveable character. But you won't love it as much when they appear deeper, right? Here's a cheek lifer exercise that is your best facial treatment for ageing skin at home. 

How to Perform Cheek Lifter Exercise?

• Place your index fingers on the corners of your mouth and your thumbs on your cheekbones.
• Smile widely, then push upwards against your fingers and thumbs, creating resistance.
• Hold for 10 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10 times. 

Tip: Focus on lifting your cheeks with your muscles, not pulling at the skin.

Marionette Lines

Marionette lines are often stubborn and make you look sad. Don't worry, though, because you can now learn chin-up cheek lifter face exercises for wrinkles around the mouth.  

How to Perform Chin Up Cheek Lifter Exercise?

• Pout your lips slightly and lift your chin towards the ceiling. 
• Place your index fingers beneath your lower lip and apply gentle upward pressure. 
• Hold for 10 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10 times. 

Tip: Engage your jaw muscles while lifting your chin, not just tilting your head back.

Read More about how to get rid of marionette lines with the help of face yoga in our previous article ‘8 Face Yoga Exercises To Treat Marionette Lines’.

Sagging Jowls

Those sagging jowls are a telltale sign of ageing, but there's hope! This face yoga exercise will help tighten and tone your jawline. Your jowls will be no more seen, and your face will look more sculpted and defined.

How to Perform Jaw Sculptor Exercise? 

• Puff out your cheeks and hold the air for 5 seconds. 
• Then, purse your lips and clench your jaw, feeling the tension in your jawline. 
• Hold for 5 seconds, then release. Repeat 10 times. 

Tip: Ensure you're not clenching your teeth while performing this exercise.

Here are more tips to add to your face yoga remedy for wrinkles.

General Tips for Safe and Effective Face Yoga Postures 

• Be mindful to perform these face yoga exercises on clean, dry skin.
• Always be gentle! Avoid harsh pulling and tugging on your skin.
• Engage your targeted muscles efficiently, and don't create more wrinkles during the movement.
• Perform appropriate breathing techniques along with the exercises for added benefit to your mind and soul.

And as always, consistency is the key! Aim to perform these exercises daily for optimal results.

Facial Postures to Minimise Wrinkles During Your Skincare Routine

Combining your facial yoga exercises with your regular skin routine will yield the best results. Connect with our ayurveda experts to find out what skincare routine with homemade remedies for wrinkles will work best for you!

Whatever skincare routine you may add, you must maintain your facial posture even during skin care to prevent wrinkles from forming.

Here's how to be mindful of your expressions while pampering your skin:

Do Not Frown!

Consciously relax your brow while applying products.  Think of a calming, happy expression.

Why Squint?

Here's something you may not realise you are doing: Whenever you reach for your skincare product on the top shelf, you squint. Ditch the habit. Use a stool to access the products and avoid straining your eyes and hands.

Skip the Scrunch!

Do you scrunch your nose when you cleanse? Being too harsh on your nose will cause wrinkles in the bridge. Gently pat or wipe your nose clean instead of scrunching.

Stretch Your Chin!

Tilt your head slightly forward and keep your chin up when applying moisturiser or other products. This creates a taut canvas for applying products.

Bonus Tip: 

Always apply your beauty products in upward strokes. This is an additional practice or exercise for toning the neck and chin. This promotes better product absorption and helps to lift and firm your skin subtly.

Conclusion

So, ditch the frown lines and furrow your brow no more at the thought of ageing!

Practise facial exercises in your routine and maintain good posture. A little awareness and effort go a long way in keeping your skin looking and feeling its best. Now go forth, conquer those wrinkles, and radiate confidence from the inside out!