A few weeks ago, I posted a poll in my Facebook group “The Glow Club” asking my members what was their biggest concern when it comes to ageing. The largest response was Marionette Lines.
What are Marionette Lines?
Marionette line (or melomental folds) are the creases that run from the corners of the mouth to the chin. The name ‘marionette’ comes from their similarity to the vertical lines on the mouths of string puppets.
Most of us will get marionette lines as we get older as the skin around the mouth is thinner than other areas on the face and collagen and elastin production in the skin begins to slow down, but our genetic make-up will dictate how severely they will affect us.
Typically, they will start to appear as we hit our 40’s but they can sometimes be seen in our 20’s & 30’s.
Other factors that can cause them?
There are several factors that can deepen marionette lines:
- They can be hereditary
- Sun damage
- Facial expressions (particularly pursing the lips)
- Severe stress
- Smoking
- Poor diet
How face yoga can help:
By using controlled exercise and massage on a daily basis you will begin to see a reduction in the depth of the marionette lines.
Exercise will strengthen and tone the muscles in this area and in turn this will tighten and tauten the skin reducing the lines.
Massage brings fresh blood and nutrients into the area feeding the skin, encouraging collagen and elastin production and cell renewal. I will also release tension around the mouth and chin which helps to reduce the tense expressions we hold that cause the lines over time.
Give these a try:
Exercise 1
Pull your mouth into an ‘O’ shape and then starting and the jaw line tap upwards along the marionette line to the corners of the nose. Tap for between 20 and 30 seconds.
Exercise 2
Again, starting a on the jaw line, pinch along the line moving upwards to the nose. Again, repeat for 20 – 30 seconds.
Watch this little video to follow along: https://youtu.be/kvWfhAbvb5A
Other ways to combat marionette lines:
- Stay hydrated – keeping your skin hydrated will help it to retain its elasticity.
- Eating nutrient dense diet – fill your plate with anti-inflammatory foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains.
- Sleeping well – studies suggest the lack of sleep is associated with the development of lines and wrinkles so getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep is a great help
- A good skincare routine – cleansing and moisturising your skin morning and evening will help to keep the skin hydrated, encourage cell renewal and promote collagen and elastin production.
- Reducing stress – when we are stressed our facial expression tense and tighten, over time holding these positions can cause lines to deepen
- Stop smoking – not an easy thing to do but smoking causes premature aging and constricts the blood flow to the skin.This means that the skin doesn’t get the nutrients and oxygen it needs to produce collagen and elastin.
How to include Face Yoga in your world
I have recently opened the doors to my membership programme – The “In the Glow Face Yoga” Academy. If you would like to start a daily practice, check the link for more information on how to sign up https://bit.ly/ITGFYAcademy
2 responses
Thanks for the article!
You’re welcome x