Danielle Collins has developed a range of Face Yoga techniques to help smooth wrinkles and lines.
To help smile creases around the eyes: Circle the Eyes Massage
First place your middle fingers at the beginning of your eyebrows. Start to gently tap around your eyes following the top of your eyebrow and then continue under your eye just at the top of your cheekbones. Then continue to the inside corners of your eye. Then repeat, going in the opposite direction, making little tapping motions. Do six times. Then with your index fingers very gently stroke just under your eyes from the nose outwards 4 times. This will help with boosting the collagen and elastin around the eye area, therefore smoothing lines and wrinkles. It will also help boost the circulation and help with lymphatic drainage, therefore reducing puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.
To help smile creases around the mouth and cheeks: Collagen Boost Massage
Gently tilt the head back and use all the fingers to tap all over the face. Start at the neck and slowly work all over the face, spending more time on areas such as the nasal labial lines, the cheeks and around the eyes. This is even more effective if used with a good quality natural serum, high in antioxidants, as it will help the product penetrate deeper in to the middle layer of skin, therefore helping to reduce free radicals that break down collagen and elastin and to also boost circulation. As you tap you will be helping to plump and firm the skin, therefore smoothing lines and wrinkles. Gently titling the head back also strengthens the neck, jaw and cheek muscles, firming and lifting.
To smooth forehead lines: The Owl
Make a big C shape with your thumb and index fingers. Place your index finger just above and parallel to your eyebrows and your thumbs on your cheeks. Start to pull down with the index fingers while trying to raise your eyebrows and making the eyes wide. Hold for two seconds, relax and repeat again. Now do three more times. Then hold this position for ten seconds. This will firm up the forehead, reducing lines and wrinkles.
To give the face a break from smiling: Swan Neck
Although we don’t want to stop smiling, there are times, when we can just rest the face and relax it and this gives the face a chance to smooth and recover from smile lines. Begin looking straight ahead with your chin level. Turn your head to the right so that it is even with your right shoulder and then tilt your head backwards. Hold for six to eight seconds really relaxing every face muscle and holding a neutral expression. Return your head to the forward position with your chin level. Turn your head to the left, even with your left shoulder. Tilt your head back and hold for six to eight seconds – repeat up to three times. Whilst you do this, make sure the eye and mouth are in a neutral position. This also lifts and tones the neck muscles therefore firming lines and wrinkles on the side of the neck and face.
- Face yoga to help smooth lines - 18th May 2017