Face exercises, also known as "face yoga," are the latest wellness trend to take social media by storm. The face-sculpting workouts involve repetitive movements and massages targeting different muscles of the face. Many claim that face exercises — which you can easily perform from the comfort of home — can lift and tone the face, reduce signs of aging, prevent sagging and wrinkles, and generally improve facial appearance.
There are now an increasing number of devices and products to aid with face workouts, including "fitness" chewing gum that makers claim can strengthen and define the jaw muscles. These all sound like great endorsements, but do face exercises actually provide any benefits or are they just another overhyped beauty trend? Here's what the science says about face-sculpting workouts and what to know before trying these at home. First, a facial anatomy refresher: The face is composed of layers of skin, fat and muscle that sit on top of our skull, Dr.
Murad Alam, vice chair of dermatology at Northwestern University, told TODAY.com. The outermost layer of skin on your face, what you see and wash every day, is called the epidermis.
Underneath that is a thicker layer called the dermis, and underneath that is a layer of subcutaneous fat, explained Alam. Beneath the subcutaneous fat is "a series of fat pads, which are plump, fat-containing areas that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle ..
. to create the volume that gives our face shape,” said Alam. Below the fat pads.
