Are there exercises specially for toning up your face

A. Yes, there are facial exercise routines which have been specially designed to tone up the face.

Q. Why do we need to exercise our faces
A. Each of us moves our face in a set pattern of expressions. As we get older, our faces are less efficient at moving and get 'stuck' in a few expressions. And wrinkles are caused by the tension caused by facial muscles contracting - exercising allows them to relax.

Q. Are facial exercises effective
A. Experts say they are - as do the thousands of people who follow them. That's because, unlike body muscles, the 57 facial muscles are small and directly attached to the skin. So when you exercise the muscles you exercise the skin and results can be seen quickly.

Q. How often do you have to do them
A. Most facial experts recommend two or three hours a week.

Q. Don't facial exercises cause wrinkles
A. No. Ten minutes of facial exercising doesn't compare with the number of times you laugh or frown in a day. Done correctly, they boost the skin's circulation and tone up muscles, making you look younger.

Q. Are they only for mature faces
A. No, you can start at any time - the younger you are, the less work you have to maintain your facial muscles.

Q. Where can I find out more
A. For the Facercise course of facial exercises, click here.
To find out about Eva Fraser facial training books and videos, click here
For facial exercises by email, click here

Some facial exercises - repeat them all several times

• Double chin
• Stick your bottom lip out and point your chin at the ceiling. Pull the corners of your mouth down until you can feel the tendons in your neck flex.
• Say 'ee' and squeeze your cheek, jowl and neck muscles as tightly as you can. Keeping the tension, slowly relax your mouth.
• Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling. Pucker your lips and stretch them forward as if you were trying to kiss the ceiling. Hold for a count of 10, then relax, and bring your head back to normal.
• Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling. Open your lips and stick your tongue out as if trying to touch your chin with the tip of your tongue. Hold for a count of 10 then relax.
• Eyes
• Shut your eyes and roll your eyeballs around inside the sockets, from top to bottom and from side to side.
• Press two fingers on each side of your head, at the temples, while opening and closing your eyes rapidly.
• Keep your eyes closed and relaxed, then lift your eyebrows and stretch your eyelids down as far as possible. Hold for a count of five then relax.
• Lips
• Purse your lips together and then point then towards your nose and hold for 5 then relax.
• Pucker your lips slightly and then try to bring the corners of your mouth together as close as possible. Hold for 5 then relax.
• Frown lines
• Frown as much as possible and try to lower your eyebrows over your eyes, pulling the brows towards one another. Then lift your eyebrows as high as possible while opening your eyes as much as possible.

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By Sheena Miller