Face Exercises Work

Hi lifesjourney. Some people have posted pics on this site and you can find them if you have a look at their profiles. You can also see what other comments they have made or threads they have started. Hope this helps. HB

Thank you, and the same to you VILLE331!

Hi Freeebird: I personally have not experienced that but perhaps it has to do with the program you are doing? I have come across people who talk of needing MORE from a program or who talk of needing to move to another program because they hit a plateau with the one they are doing and need more of a challenge or to build more. That has never made sense to me because to me, your face has a normal size and methinks that once you tone and build your muscles to what they were before or close to it, then maintaining that should be the aim...which I find I am able to do by just sticking with the program I am doing. I have never felt the need to seek out another program because the one I am doing seems to have achieved all it could. IMO, that usually means I am looking as good as I could possibly look and therefore going any further or pushing my muscles anymore would not give a good look. I mention this because the people who feel that they need MORE I suppose may be looking for programs that lead to overbuild. Perhaps something like what you may be doing? If you are doing a program with a founder, can you contact the founder/owner and ask for suggestions on what you can do about the overbuild ? I feel that is always the safest way to go. The program designer understands his/her program best and so would be able to tell why you are getting the overbuild and what exercises you may need to omit in order for things to go back to normal. I suspect it isn't the entire program giving you the overbuild but maybe some exercises target the same muscles and cause overbuild. I also think mixing and matching two different programs instead of doing one complete program, is another reason muscles may overbuild. That is because most exercises engage more than one muscle and depending on what program, a particular exercise may work chin and mouth, while another exercise from another program may work mouth and cheeks. So now you've worked your mouth twice...and if it is in the same way, then you may end up finding you overbuild the muscles that get overworked. But I think if you ask the designer of the program causing you this overbuild, you will get the best advice. Stopping the exercises altogether may seem like a good idea, but it may not necessarily be the right one. Also I can tell you from my own experience that not every exercise you do targets the muscles you think you are working so when you decide on your own to skip some exercises w/o direction, you may end up leaving out the wrong ones. I don't know if you read my posts in this discussion but I did a program that bulked up my face in a way I hated and gave me folds and puffy eyes I never had before in my 35 years of living. Using information I had read and advice I had been given, I thought working harder would get me past the ugly stage. It didn't. Even when I stopped the workout altogether, my face didn't return to how it was. In fact, when the bulkiness disappeared, I had more lines than ever. When I started another program, I thought focusing on the problem areas was the way to go, because that had been the conventional wisdom with that program that I had been doing that gave me issues. But that did not work. It was when I did the new program in full that my problem areas got fixed. The reason for this I believe is that a problem in one area may have more to do with slack muscles in another area than in the area you think is the problem. Facial anatomy is pretty complex so I try not to use guesswork to figure things out as far as working the face is concerned. I instead leave it to the pros to guide me. I think you should do the same. Maybe Honey Beee who seems to have become a pro in this can help. Perhaps send her a private message to get her attention. She may need to see your photos to tell you what to do, but from what I gather, she can usually tell from looking at people what it is they need to do. Maybe not so easily from a photo as from real life, but it's worth a shot. Otherwise, I'd try your program founder first. If you have just been doing a bunch of exercises you found online, or made up, then maybe Honey Beee can help. Best wishes...

I ve been doing facial exercises for almost 3 months now and have noticed that I've developed a line or indentation at the beginning of my right eye brow that extends up my forehead! I know I didn't have this line before starting either. Im pretty sure it's one of the exercises that's causing it. The rest of the program is wonderful and gives great results....but this line is really bothering me and the person who created this program assures me its not the exercises. Which I completely disagree with...I didnt have this line before starting the program! Maybe someone has a good facial exercise for getting rid of the 11s between the eyebrow that doesn't involve scrunching the eyebrows?

Hi freeebird. From what you have described it sounds like you have built up the muscles that lie on either side of your face (in the "cheek" area) but you have not paid attention to building up the muscle that lies between your nose and mouth (the upper part of the orbicularis oris). So it is a difference in thickness of each area that is giving you pronounced folds. Does that make sense? The "cheek" area is thick. The upper lip area is thin. Naturally the difference in thickness is going to cause some sort of demarcation (boundary line) to appear. I would suggest easing off the cheeks for a little while and concentrating on the lip area. Also please be aware that muscles can experience a temporary "pump". If you don't do the exercises for a week or two this "pump" will disappear. Hope this helps.

Nonie, you are very humble. X

Riverdance, the line is being caused by muscle imbalance. When you look in the mirror and execute the exercise are you contracting both sides equally? Are you doing the reciprocal of the exercise? When you are not doing the face exercises, is your face relaxed and neutral? or are you subconsciously holding a muscle contraction (frown) on one side of the face? Sometimes the strength of a muscle contraction is stronger or one side than the other. The muscle that works in the opposite direction is weaker and this is how lines, folds and furrows form. When you raise your eyebrows (the reciprocal of frowning) try to feel the stretch in the muscles in between your eyebrows and use your scalp muscles and the muscles that lie around your ears (temporalis) to raise the eyebrows by pulling the scalp back. Hope that makes sense.

Thank you so much honey beee and Nonie aka AD! Both very helpful with feedback. Firstly yes I am using a well known program.. it's CFF tho I didnt want to mention it at first and give the wrong impression to others about the program. I did email Carolyn as you suggested and she responded so quickly! The overbuild is definitely my fault i think i was a little too overenthusiastic this time around.. I was doing the program at least 4 times a week, not realising for my age group that 2 to 3 times is plenty.. lesson learned! Carolyn has kindly listed a number of steps for me to take to correct this.. includes stopping altogether for two weeks to start with. Thanks for the advice, 100% sure I'll be back on track in a few weeks!

Honey Bee, I am also using CFF program and there are three exercises that are supposed to work this 11 area. Carolyn states that one has to do all three exercises to get rid of these frown lines. Im not sure if you re familiar with her program but she has an eyebrow pull (where you make a frown with your eyebrows and slide your thumbs across the brow while frowning. The next one is the brow push (which where you place thumbs in the center of the brow pushing them up then in towards the where your 11 lines are, all while raising your eyebrows at the same time) the worry line smoother (this is where the 3 middle fingers go up between the eyes towards the forehead while making a frown then when going back down the forehead raising the eyebrows up) if this makes sense. When I started noticing this indentation, I started doing the exercises in front of the mirror to see if I was doing them wrong. I felt like the brow push exercise where I push the brow up and towards the 11s was the one causing the line bc immediately after doing that one, the line became more prominent. You re probably right about exercising both sides equally. I thought I was doing it equally but some pics of myself look like the left side is more defined than the right side. However, it's the right side that has the line/indentation. My facial asymmetry is a problem as well. As far as frowning subconsciously goes, I don't believe I have a problem with that. I think my face is pretty neutral, the majority of the time.

Hi Riverdance, I am not familiar with any face exercise program in any detail at all as I didn't buy any. I know Carolyn has a few free exercises she has posted on the internet and so have a few others which I would have studied when I first began looking into this stuff. To be honest with you, I cant remark on Carolyn's exercises or there efficacy because I don't use them but a few other people have said very positive things. From what you describe it really just sounds like muscle imbalance. I have this problem myself, my left side is significantly weaker. You have to focus on the weaker side.

Hi Bluedino: I am sorry for the late response. I am only now seeing your post and question. No I do not prefer the program I do over Eva nor do I prefer Eva's over the one I do. I really cannot compare them as they both gave me good results so I think either program would serve you well. The only reason I no longer do Eva's is because after 15 years of it never failing me, I made the mistake of letting curiosity get the better of me and tried a different program which messed my face up. I had no reason for doing this because Eva's program was still working for me. But you know how some people can't leave things well alone and just have to try everything? Well...the new program I tried gave me under eye bags which I never had before with Eva's program, and also big flabby cheeks and pronounced nasolabial lines which I also didn't have with Eva's program. Usually when you stop a program, your face is supposed to return to how it was before but mine didn't. The swelling up that the new program had given me subsided but that brought on lines and wrinkles I never used to have. I tried to do Eva's program to hopefully return my face back where it was before I tried something new, but it seemed as if Eva's program was unable to undo the unnatural damage created by this new program. I stress on "unnatural" because I didn't just age as one normally does with time, I created the problems I had with the new program. So it seemed as if when aging is not normal, then Eva's program couldn't undo it. So that is the only reason I started a different program--to see if it might be able to undo what Eva's seemed unable to undo. As far as the comments you have read that say face exercises cause wrinkles, it depends on the program. A well-devised program will not create wrinkles and so it is important to do your homework, ask questions, get evidence of what the program is capable of. Also it is a good idea to keep in touch with the author of the program you are doing to get feedback from him or her on your progress and also get advice on any changes you may need to make to a program. Sometimes customization is necessary. The worst you could do is go it alone and feel lost if things don't seem to be going right. When my face was going south, I moved heaven and earth trying to get help/answers to no avail...so I stopped; but that wasn't before trying out the initial suggestion that I was to work through the ugly stages. Now I do not believe you should have to go through an awkward stage at all. The only exception is, that sometimes as muscles build and push up on a wrinkle, the wrinkle opens up and looks bigger than before...but that is because it is en route to flattening out. That is the only "worse" I think is acceptable. So, be attentive to your face and if anything doesn't look right, drop Eva's team an email to make sure what you are seeing is OK. But also use your better judgment. You can always drop other face exercisers a private message with your photos to get their take on changes you are seeing as they can also help you know if everything looks normal (I'm only a PM away if you need me). But I think you will have a great experience. Which edition of Eva's book did you get, may I ask? What year was it printed? May I recommend that you do the Beginner's program as long as possible. That is what I did. I considered it laying as good a foundation as possible so that by the time I moved on to Intermediate, it was more or less because the Beginner's program had achieved the ultimate tone it was capable of giving my face. Another tip is do not keep looking for improvements but just commit to the program. Take a photo now when you are starting and then every 3 months take another photo. When you see yourself daily, it is hard to spot the tiny changes taking place but comparing photos really helps. Sometimes you may need the program founder to help you decipher the changes so make use of Eva's contact info on her website. The good thing with face exercises is they work so subtly that most times the only way you will know something is happening is when friends and family start to comment on how good you look. So take Nike's advice and "Just Do It!" and then compare photos taken a few months apart. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I hope you read the whole book before starting as some of the tips Eva gives on developing good habits are priceless. Best wishes....

Hi nonie Thanks for such a detailed and reassuring response. I think I've got the newest addition of eva,s book and DVD, although it says 2007, so maybe not! I'm still on the basic workout and agree this is a good foundation, it will be two weeks on Thursday, which the programme states. Would you recommend longer? It's early days but my mum commented how well I look, although I have just cut a fringe (bangs) in so that might be helping!

I went longer with the basic workout. I do not remember the original book giving such a short window for the Beginner's workout. I honestly remember doing it for months and only moving to Intermediate when I felt like I had accomplished all the Intermediate could accomplish. One of the first things I noticed, when I did Eva, was the thickening in my cheeks. I would be so aware of the improved tone in my cheeks when I smiled. I didn't have any sag or wrinkles so for me the changes were felt more than seen. I hope you took a before photo. Sometimes you don't realize how far you've come till you see yourself in photos. Others will also confirm this but there's satisfaction in seeing it for yourself. Oh and you probably did get the newest edition.

Do you find Eva Fraser's program to be more effective than Carolyn's facial fitness? My main concerns are deep parenthesis around my mouth, sunken cheeks, and dark undereye circles. I'm not seeing much difference from Carolyn's, but I don't want to waste more money.

Hi bribri. Hope you don't mind me butting in to a question you posed for Nonie (and which I cannot answer as I am not familiar with any marketed face exercise program). I had a look at your profile and found your picture which shows that your cheeks have flattened. The distance between your nose and your mouth is elongated and flat and your lips have a slight droop at the outer corners. From the picture I can actually see the outlines of some of your facial muscles. The outlines of the individual face muscles become visible when they lack strength and tone. I would suggest that your first step is to gain control (by becoming aware) of your face muscles. Because the muscles have not been used or challenged for so long it takes some time to gain this control. Go to a mirror. Now contract the right cheek muscle as hard as you can so that it gets lifted towards your eye. Try to do this 20 times. Believe me you will struggle with this basic exercise because you have never done this and your brain will not know how to send the right signal to the muscle in order to achieve this at first. Now contract the left cheek in a similar manner 20 times. If you do this every couple of days you will gain control over your cheek muscles and they will become fuller, it takes about 2 months to see a significant visible difference. The exercise will become easier and you will be amused at how difficult you found it initially. This simple exercise will put volume in your upper cheeks and this will have a knock on effect of improving the droop at the corners of your mouth and will reduce the smile lines to a certain extent. I think it is important that you start very slowly by doing this one exercise. The reason is because you have very poor muscle tone and if you try to attack to many areas at once you will become disheartened because of lack of progress. Trust me, 2 months of doing this one exercise every 2 days will make a huge difference. To emphasise, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTRACT THE MUSCLE AS HARD AS YOU POSSIBLE CAN. When you touch the muscle with your hand when it is in the contracted state you want it to feel like a rock. Initially it will be very soft even when contracted. But when you challenge the muscle, it will begin to grow thicker and stronger. Phew...long post. :)

It is very hard to do only one side at a time! Would you suggest stopping Carolyn's program completely for 2 months?

Bribri, yes it is hard to do because your brain has never had to do it and is not sure how. It will get easier. You absolutely must raise and contract each cheek separately. This will help you to get to know your muscles. The reason I say do this exercise over any other is because you will see a big difference in the appearance of your face in a short space of time because you are working several muscles at once. I don't suggest stopping Carolyn's program nor do I suggest continuing with Carolyn's program. The issue is "time". How much time do you have? My cheek lift exercise will take about 15minutes and I would like you to do them every 2 days. I do not know how much time you would spend on Carolyn's exercises and I feel that because she wants you to work the whole face perhaps you don't have sufficient time and you are becoming disheartened and this in turn will affect your commitment. I actually believe that all face exercises work regardless of program. Some of them may cause overbuild and adversely affect the balance (and therefore the beauty) of the face. And some of them do not create enough build so the improvements are minimal. I would say that you should do as much as time will allow with regards to Carolyn's exercises. Hope this helps.

I can do around 15 minutes Mon-Fri. Do you think this will help with the deep lines around the mouth as well?

The cheeklift will reduce the lines around the mouth slightly. But the nasolabial lines need to be tackled separately by improving the tone of the muscle that surrounds the lips. By working this muscle you will also end up with fuller lips. But I suggest you begin with just the cheeklift for now because you really need to concentrate on achieving a good strong contraction here. When you see the improvements you will get the motivation to improve other areas.

Hi bribri: Sorry for the late response. I see I am late to the party and you are trying something new, but I will answer your question anyway. I do not think Eva's program is better than Carolyn's and I do not think Carolyn's is better than Eva's. I believe in both programs and think you would do well with either. I cannot compare them because they both worked for me and I did them at different times of my life and for different reasons. I did Eva's program when I had no signs of aging. I did it to maintain my youthful face and not only did it do that, but it even gave me an eyelift so I ended up with a face that I was very pleased to have. I would still be doing Eva if I had not let curiosity get the better of me and tried a program that messed my face up and created problems that I seemed unable to fix with Eva. Now I am not saying that Eva's program does not fix sag or lines, but mine did not happen naturally but were brought on by my doing another program so perhaps that made a difference. I say this because Eva started her program when she was in her 50's and was able to undo NATURAL signs of aging and slow them down so that she looks amazing in her 80's. So I know her program is good both for maintenance and for improving tone on skin that aged naturally. I started Carolyn's program after it seemed nothing else was working to undo the damage from that program.Neither rest nor Eva's program seemed able to reverse the ugly changes from that program. And so I gave Carolyn's program a go and it succeeded in returning my face to how it was before the bad experience, and it continues to surprise me as subtle improvements continue to happen 7 years later. I have also seen it do the same to several people, some who had also had a bad experience with another program, and many who were simply aging naturally. So just like Eva's program, Carolyn's does reverse and slow down the signs of aging. So if you already have either program, I think you are good to go and don't think you need to spend any more money.