Give your face a work out

Make-up artist Maggie Hunt has worked with A-listers famous for their pore-perfect skin including Joanna Lumley and Kate Winslet. Here she offers some facial exercise tips, developed in association with the Pond's Institute to keep skin looking toned and youthful

Just as physical exercise helps keep the body firm and toned, facial exercise and massage will tighten and tone facial muscles which improves lines, puffiness and sagging. A great time to do facial exercises is while you are cleansing and moisturising. Facial massages on top of a good cleansing and moisturising routine will tighten up skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

When you press or squeeze any part of the body, it increases circulation to that area. The face responds particularly well to touch as it is packed with small, sensitive muscles. The gentle pressure of a facial massage can loosen up the muscles and allows them to learn to slide back into place more readily after being tensed. With repeated facial exercise and massage, the face will be left looking relaxed, and therefore younger. Massage also stimulates circulation to the face so the complexion will be toned and glowing.

A great way to exercise and massage skin is the tapping method which helps the lymphatic nodes to drain any congested areas and eliminates toxins:

  • Begin by tapping quickly and lightly under the chin, alternating with the backs of hands working along the chin and jaw line, this will help tighten this area and boost circulation.
  • Move up to the jaw line and tap along, towards the ears, up the face and around the mouth going clockwise and anti-clockwise.
  • Tap along the eyebrows and around the cheekbones. Do not tap around the eyes, as the skin here is too delicate.
  • For the forehead tap backwards and forwards starting each time at the pressure points on either side of the temples.
  • Place fingertips or knuckles under the cheekbones and move back towards the ears with anti-clockwise movements.
  • While massaging skin, it is important that you use the soft pads of the fingertips.