BellaSugar

Facial Yoga Gets Put to the Test

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:03:27 -0800

Facial yoga is the trend that, despite not really taking off, keeps coming back. The idea is that by controlling your facial muscles and limiting movement, you can reduce the look of wrinkles, sagging, and so forth. A year ago, about half of you said you thought it was ridiculous to think that changing your facial movements would reduce the number of wrinkles. Now, some experts have weighed in.

The verdict? Relaxing your forehead and practicing smiling without crinkling your eyes might prevent crow's feet. But other facial yoga movements could actually intensify lines, and all the stretching in the world won't help firm a sagging chin or crepey neck. If you're truly concerned about preventing facial lines, minimizing your expressions might stave them off for a while. As I've said before, though, I'd much rather earn some wrinkles through laughing than be stone-faced and wrinkle-free.

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What Do You Think of Facial Yoga?

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:34:25 -0800

Wrinkles are inevitable. Or are they? Some yoga instructors are teaching facial yoga classes, claiming that a few movements produce results along the lines of "natural Botox." The exercises, which include making kissy faces and puffing out the cheeks, sound odd - but some practitioners swear by the results. What do you think?

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Lovely Links, 9/6

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:11:14 -0700

Beauty Snob tries out this luxe $200 Zelens cream.
The Beauty Brains answer the question, Can Chinese lipstick kill you?
We Love Beauty loves primers so much, they've created a primer roundup. (Or is that a primer primer?)
Jezebel reports on facial yoga. It's as odd as you'd imagine.
Now Smells This gives their verdict on Usher's new fragrance.
Ms. New Beauty has a little fun with Olay's new foaming cleanser.
Miss Matilda reviews Cynthia Rowley's Avon collection in Beauty Product Junkies.
Kiss and Makeup has a cute video showing how clip-on hair extensions work.
Ooh, Off the Rack is gettin' saucy! They're asking which Simpson sister wears the smoky eye better.

Tips For Battling B****face

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:00:01 -0700

I just found a story on bitchface, an unfortunate affliction that affects so many of us. When people ask you why you look so angry/upset/bitter-while you're feeling anything but those things-that's bitchface.

Without using the term, the article talks about how your face could be sending the wrong message-in effect, projecting an unhappy persona even if you're completely content. This has happened to me before; people have asked me why I'm so "serious," but I suspect that's only because I'm not walking around with a huge grin on my face. And then, of course, are the strangers who'll say, "Can't I get a smile? Let me see a smile!" (I usually give them a simpering grimace.) In reading the story and thinking about bitchface in general, it makes me wonder: Are men told to smile more as well? Do they worry about having "jerkface"? Somehow, I think the answer is no.

If you are prone to bitchface-and are uncomfortable with that-the story has a few suggestions. One doctor echoes the advice I once received from a dermatologist: If you don't want wrinkles, don't make any facial expressions. (Um, okay.) Otherwise, there are a few simple, non-surgical bits of advice. To find out what they are, read more

Get relaxed. Any activity that promotes relaxation, such as yoga, tai chi, guided imagery, hypnosis or breathing, “leads to a net response of decreased muscle tension, which can make meaningful differences” to a face that looks stressed, worried, angry or tired, says clinical psychologist and dermatologist Dr. Richard Fried.
Arch your brows. Damone Roberts, who's opening a brow-centric salon in Manhattan, says a full, gently rounded arch gives the softest, friendliest look. Be sure to pluck stray hairs, and use brow gel to keep hairs from hanging into your eyes.

Brighten your eyes. Roberts recommends using a concealer a shade lighter than the skin under the eyes, then applying mascara and eyeliner applied to the top lashes and lids only.
Magnify lips. To make thin lips seem plumper, Roberts says, place lip liner similar to the lips’ natural color just outside their natural lines; top with matching lipstick. (Personally, I don't like liner that goes outside the lip line, but your mileage may vary.)

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