While many understand the value of exercise of the body to combat aging, few understand the value of facial exercise. The face is perhaps the most potent expression of one's age and it is therefore essential to care for one's face. The face takes abuse on a daily basis from things such as sunlight, extreme temperatures, pollution as well as daily wear and tear. Facial exercise, along with a healthy lifestyle, plays an integral part in reversing the effects of aging on the skin.

Facial exercise is common practice by aestheticians to ease blood flow before performing such procedures as microdermabrasion, facials and peels. Tenseness in the face, caused by general stress, can inhibit blood flow in these areas. The exercises have an ability to relieve this tension and increase blood flow.

Massage therapists treat the face by pressing on certain areas of the face with the tips of their fingers and rubbing gently towards the top of the head and to the sides. They may also use light pinches to relieve the tension.

Facial exercises are also prescribed by doctors to treat certain medical conditions such as problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This condition can cause chronic pain, and headaches as well as a plethora of other symptoms. To combat this condition professionals massage the jaw area.

A lighter complexion can also be achieved through facial exercise. This is due to an increased blood flow to facial tissues which gives skin cells access to more oxygen. This, in turn, allows the expulsion of old cells and an increase in new cells.

The wrinkles that can start to show as one becomes older can also be prevented with the use of facial exercise. Exercises can in some cases even remove wrinkles that have already appeared. In order to increase the beneficial effects of exercise on the face, one must start exercising from an early age.

Facial exercise, along with a proper diet, protection from the sun, proper hydration, and sleep can help limit the effects of aging on oneas face. It can prevent such manifestations of age as expression lines, bags under one's eyes, deep wrinkles, sagging and papery skin.

When exercising one's face, it is important to not fail to also care for the neck. Neck exercise serves much the same purpose as facial exercise. It is important to note that the neck is much more sensitive than the face and care must be taken to prevent injury. In general, exercising one's face is a more natural, less risky alternative to plastic surgery and may yield, with time, much the same results.