Tools vs. Facial Exercises (esp. for Rosacea)?
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skincare Tools & Do-It-Yourself Skincare

Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:17 pm

I've searched & haven't found quite the advice I'm seeking. :(

Here's my dilemma: I want to do facial exercises, but the only system I've invested in so far (LouLou's) consists mostly of exercises where one 'grabs' the skin of the face. I tried twice, and both times I flared my rosacea just enough to be concerned (so far, I don't get broken caps, but they seemed imminent!). I really don't want to risk it - many of us Rosaceans find that 'rough handling' is a bit more than we can take. The only exercises I'm doing now are the neck & eye exercises. Those are well & good, but I'd like to prevent the facial sag, IYKWIM?

I'm 40, and so far no sagging (praise the deity!), but I figure it's easier to prevent/slow it than to reverse it down the road. So what do you all suggest?

Since LouLou's Ageless system is an offshoot of another ... I don't know how many of the others rely heavily on grabbing the skin. Is there a system that offers a lot of exercises with a different approach? Or am I out of luck on exercising?

Which brings up the other part of my question: what about some of the tools that get raves here? Is there a recommended tool (or tools) that would be a decent compromise? What would work in lieu of facial exercises to stimulate/work the muscles/tone the face, without putting the health of my poor, sensitive rosacea skin at risk?

My skin is sensitive, yes, rosacean, yes, not usually prone to broken caps, but very prone to redness & Papule breakouts ... but aside from that, not saggy, crepey, loose, or anything else.

Suggestions from the brilliant EDS minds? Thanks ever so! :))

Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:11 pm

... and ... no responses! Sad

free skin care · Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:51 pm

Hey bellableu Smile

Oh, gosh, I don't know much about rosacea, but that sounds difficult!

I don't now if there's a way that allows you to touch the face without irritating the rosacea and still do these types of exercises...or maybe just lightly touch the face or only in certain areas... One of the creators/trainers of these programs might be able to help you at least do some of their exercises where you touch the face...

But if we assume you can't touch your face at all, I think that rules out Ageless, FlexEffect, Carolyn's Facial Fitness, and Facial Magic.

But, I think you could still do many of the exercises in the facial exercise programs that focus more on toning. In the original Facercise program (www.facercise.com), many of the exercises don't require you to touch the skin or can probably be modified so that you don't have to touch your skin. You could probably either email or have a Skype session with Carol Maggio and she could probably help you modify those few Facercise exercises that do involve touching the skin. Also, you might be able to combine it with some of the exercises from Shape Your Face (http://www.shapeyourface.com/).

Also, I don't know much about these programs, but I'm wondering if the Facial Yoga Programs would also be helpful for you, as I *think*, but do not know for sure, that they involve less touching of the face. Two examples are Gary Sikorski's Happy Face Yoga (www.happyfaceyoga.com) and Annelise Hagen's Face Yoga (http://www.yogaface.net/). If you email them, they might be able to tell you what fraction of their exercises involve touching the skin.

I think you're totally right prevention is better than the cure. Smile

I'm sure you can cobble together a program that at least tones all the areas of your face...but it might take a bit more work and patching things together Smile

One final option is maybe using an electro-current device to get your muscles to contract. I don't know much about them, but I'm sure others can help you here Smile

HTH

free skin care · Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:53 pm

Sorry,

I don't do FE, just massage with my OCM and no rosacea! Hopefully in time someone will have advice. It just takes time for people to spot the thread and reply sometimes. Smile

free skin care · Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Bellableu,
I have done the Carole Maggio ages ago and I don't recall having to touch the face??? I don't remember for sure though. With the Ageless you definitely touch and squeeze! What might work for you is to just use your fingers to add resistance rather than to squeeze the skin or pinch, just place your fingers atop the muscle you are exercising and push against it when you flex the muscle...does that make sense? I don't think that should cause a flare up.
It seems that any machine would irritate and inflame it though just from the hot current going through the skin.
You may find in general that doing facial exercises causes your skin to redden just from the fact that you are increasing blood flow to the area as you exercise.
I don't have rosacea so I am not speaking from experience, hopefully someone who actually has experience will answer your question.
Good luck!

free skin care · Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:50 pm

Hi bellableu - Don't have rosacea but I have been using the Tua Viso for 1.5 years in lieu of facial exercies. It has woked great for lifting of the eyes, jowls etc. However, it does have 2 points which touch the face in order
to exercise the muscles. I don't believe there are any tools which do not touch the face. Good luck - DiPhx

Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:06 pm

Thank you for the replies - I do appreciate them! I am okay with a little minimal touching of the face - it's the squeezing & grabbing & handling that is clearly not okay. Smile

I'll look more deeply into Carol Maggio's program, when I have the opportunity (and $$). And the facial yoga looks like a gentler alternative, as well.

I am very curious about some of the tools that might work in lieu of a lot of 'flesh grabbing'. Do some of the microcurrent devices work the muscles in the same way as exercises?

Thanks again! Wonderful replies.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 1:57 pm

Hi, I don't have rosacea, and just started doing facial exercises on a regular basis, so don't have anything to offer in that area except perhaps the Facial flex item which is placed in the mouth. Also maybe one of the LED lights which helps with stimulating collagen and some even help with rosacea.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:33 pm

bellableu wrote:

Thank you for the replies - I do appreciate them! I am okay with a little minimal touching of the face - it's the squeezing & grabbing & handling that is clearly not okay. Smile

I'll look more deeply into Carol Maggio's program, when I have the opportunity (and $$). And the facial yoga looks like a gentler alternative, as well.

I am very curious about some of the tools that might work in lieu of a lot of 'flesh grabbing'. Do some of the microcurrent devices work the muscles in the same way as exercises?

Thanks again! Wonderful replies.

Hey Bellableu,

From memory, for the few Facercise exercises that involve any sort of touching of the skin (most do not, if I recall correctly), the touching is very minimal (like a touch on the tip of the chin, the forehead, or neck; I don't recall any cheek touching) and can easily be left out, and there is no handling or dragging across the skin. (I only have the original Facercise program, so I don't know if the same is true about the new ultimate Facercise program.) So, yes, this or one of those facial yoga programs or an electro-current device (also would require light touching of the skin) would probably be your best bet.

Also, one last thing: Carol Maggio's original Facercise book sells for ~ $10 or less on Amazon.com, so you could probably get your feet wet to see if it's a good match for you, without committing a lot of money (see http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Maggio-Facercise-Muscle-Toning-Appearance/dp/0399527834/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283120967&sr=8-1). FWIW, I felt that it was fairly easy to understand most of the Facercise exercises without needing the Facercise DVDs, though the DVDs were helpful.

Good luck! Smile

Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:38 pm

Again, thanks ALL! Smile

cm5597: really appreciate the added info & the link. You're a peach!

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