— SKINCARE
— FACE
Does Facial Yoga Cause Wrinkles? Dermatologists Say Yes.
Cleopatra was well known for her beauty. And she went to great lengths to enhance her looks.
Historians say she bathed in donkey’s milk, crushed beetles for blush, and exercised her face daily to prevent her skin from sagging.
We might not use donkey’s milk anymore, but women are still exercising their face muscles… it’s called facial yoga.
If done regularly, it’s supposed to firm and lift sagging skin.
One exercise includes raising your eyebrows as high as possible, holding them in position for 5-10 seconds before releasing, and repeating at least 5 more times.
And I see why people think it works…
You work out your body to build and tone muscles, why can’t you do the same with your face?
Many women love it, and swear it can make you look 10 years younger.
Even the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, credits facial yoga for her contoured look.
However, there’s NO evidence that facial yoga does anything to help lift saggy skin.
In fact, it may be doing more harm than good.
Here’s why…
Over time, the elastin and collagen in your face decrease, and your face loses volume. The loss of these proteins is what causes sagging skin. But do facial exercises really do anything to help?
Not according to Dermatologist Dr. Flor Mayoral, who recently reviewed the evidence and concluded that “facial yoga does nothing to tone sagging skin.”
But what IS clear about facial yoga is this…
Facial yoga actually CAUSES wrinkles!
Repeated muscle movements over time weaken your skin’s elasticity. This results in expression wrinkles – like crow’s feet, laugh lines, and forehead creases
And that’s exactly what facial yoga is: repeatedly stretching your facial muscles!
Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel, chief of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Boston University School of Medicine, states: “The truth is that many of our facial wrinkles come from excess muscle activity,” Spiegel says.
Dr. Mayoral, like many dermatologists, agrees and suggests that “excessive muscle activity is known to contribute to wrinkling of facial skin.”
Not to mention, participants have reported painful cramps and locked jaw after just one session of facial yoga.
Clearly, the ‘cons’ outweigh the ‘pros’ with facial yoga… and, as a skincare specialist, I don’t recommend it.
If you’re interested in doing everything you can to help your skin stay firm and youthful, there’s an alternative.
It helps by addressing the REASON your skin gets saggy in the first place.
A natural way to protect the elastin in your skin…
Collagen and elastin are the two main proteins responsible for keeping your skin looking young.
Collagen is responsible for your skin’s firmness and suppleness, while elastin is what allows it to stretch and bounce back.
So, how can you protect these proteins as you age?
Researchers at Kingston University did a study to find which plants are most protective of the structural proteins of the skin.
The results blew them away…
They discovered that out of all the plants tested, white tea had considerably the most benefits.
Results showed white tea actually prevents the breakdown of elastin and collagen, supporting the body’s natural elasticity.
“We were testing very small amounts, far less than you would find in a drink,” Professor Naughton said.
In other words, drinking white tea regularly could protect the elastin in your face, and prevent further sagging.
And if all that weren’t enough, white tea is rich in EGCG — an anti-aging antioxidant known to increase cell turnover and fight wrinkles.
To gain the health benefits, make sure to drink at least 1-3 cups per day.
Here’s how you can incorporate white tea into your busy schedule..
1.Mid-day boost
Instead of reaching for a second cup of coffee at 2pm, opt for white tea. It has less caffeine than green and black, but still manages to give you a lift in the middle of the day.
If you’re in need of an extra boost, I suggest doing a combination of half green tea and half white tea — so you’re still getting the benefits!
2.Make ahead of time
If you’re as busy as I am, it can be difficult to find the time to brew a pot of tea. I suggest making a batch the night before.
Steep the leaves (loose or bagged) around 3 minutes, then remove. Steeping much longer may result in bitterness and astringency. Allow tea to cool, and put in a pitcher or carafe to enjoy the next day.
3.Carry tea bags in your purse
I like to carry individual white tea bags in my purse. This makes it easy to have a cup when having a meal out with friends or family. All you have to do is order a cup of hot water!
These are just a few ways that you can enjoy white tea while protecting the elastin in your skin.
I know it isn’t always easy to research the effectiveness of beauty trends. But that’s what I’m here for — to get the TRUTH about skincare.
Facial yoga seems like it could repair sagging skin, but when you research the science of it, you find out that repeated muscle movements are the EXACT cause of wrinkles.
You deserve to have younger-looking skin without being disappointed by another failed skincare fad.
So, if you have any questions about what’s actually good and bad for your skin, leave a comment and ask me!
Enjoyed this article? Make sure to share with any friends wishing to have younger looking skin!
