Movement: Your Skin-Exercise Connection | Foundations of Happy Skin

Why Breaking a Sweat Benefits Your Complexion

Regular exercise is good for your physical health and offers many benefits for your skin. From increased blood flow to reduced stress, exercise can help you achieve a healthier, more radiant complexion.

How Exercise Benefits Your Skin

• Increased blood flow: Boosts oxygenation and nutrient delivery to skin cells.

• Reduced stress: Lowers stress hormones, which can contribute to skin problems.

• Enhanced detoxification: Sweating helps eliminate toxins. However, when sweat is mixed with dirt or a heavy foundation, it can cause more damage than good. See below for tips for exercise-friendly skin.

• Boosted collagen production: Stimulates collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Tips for Exercise-Friendly Skin

• Cleanse your face: Wash your face before and after your workout to remove dirt, oil, and sweat.

• Choose the right products: Opt for gentle, non-comedogenic skincare products.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Drink plenty of water.

• Protect your skin: Wear sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF if exercising outside.

• Skip the make-up: Avoid wearing makeup during exercise to prevent clogged pores and irritation. If you feel self-conscious about exercising in a public place without make-up, opt for a tinted moisturiser, under-eye concealer, and mascara only.

In addition to traditional workouts, facial exercises can help tone and lift your facial muscles, reducing the signs of ageing. Here are some recommended ways to move your face.

Facial Massage/Yoga: 

A combination of gentle massage and exercises that improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage and target specific facial muscles to lift and tone.

Tips for Facial Massage/Yoga:

• Cleanse Your Face: Wash your face before doing face massage or yoga.

• Always Apply a Moisturiser or Face Oil: To avoid being too harsh on your skin, ALWAYS apply a moisturiser or face oil to help your fingers glide over your face without causing friction. The lymph drainage can cause breakouts at the beginning, so invest in a face massage oil, like my Yummy Youth Face Massage Oil, to avoid outbreaks.

• Be Gentle. Don't apply too much pressure on your skin, as this can cause capillaries to burst and irritation.

There are tons of videos available on YouTube to help you get started, but these two are my favourite channels:

• Masumi Channel

• Imi's Bigan Yoga

Here is a great one for a quick morning facelift: Try doing face yoga or massage at least five times a week.

Here is a longer one you can do in bed. This lady is a hoot! Take a photo before you start the below routine and a photo straight afterwards—you'll see the difference immediately.

Face Tapping: 

Face tapping, also known as facial acupressure, is a technique that involves gently tapping your face with your fingertips. This simple yet effective practice offers several benefits for your skin:   

Improved Blood Circulation: The tapping motion stimulates blood flow to your face, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells. This can help reduce puffiness and dark circles and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.   

Enhanced Lymphatic Drainage: The gentle tapping helps drain excess fluid and toxins from the lymphatic system, reducing inflammation and promoting a clearer complexion.   

Increased Collagen Production: Face tapping can stimulate the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep your skin firm and elastic. This can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.   

Stress Relief: The rhythmic tapping motions can be calming and relaxing, helping to reduce stress and promote overall well-being.   

To perform face tapping:

1. Cleanse your face: Start with a clean face to allow better absorption of any serums or moisturisers you may apply afterwards.

2. Apply a product: Before tapping, apply a facial oil, serum, or moisturiser to your face. This will help the product absorb better into your skin.

3. Start tapping: Use your fingertips to gently tap your face, starting from your forehead and moving down to your cheeks, chin, and neck.

4. Continue tapping: Continue tapping for a few minutes, applying gentle pressure.   

5. Finish with a moisturiser: After tapping, apply a moisturiser to lock in hydration.

   
   

To learn more about face massage, read my blog: Face Massage | Myth or Game-Changer?

Scalp Massage: 

A scalp massage involves gentle manipulation of the scalp using your fingertips. This simple yet effective technique offers numerous benefits for both your hair and skin:   

Benefits for Your Hair:

• Improved blood circulation: Increased blood flow to the scalp nourishes hair follicles, promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss.   

• Stimulates hair growth: Massaging the scalp can activate dormant hair follicles, leading to thicker, healthier hair.   

• Reduces stress and tension: Scalp massage can help alleviate stress and tension, which can contribute to hair loss and scalp conditions.   

• Relaxes the muscles: This can relieve headaches and migraines, promoting overall well-being.   

Benefits for Your Skin:

• Reduced stress: Stress can negatively impact skin health. Scalp massages can help reduce stress, leading to healthier, more radiant skin.   

• Improved blood circulation: Increased blood flow to the scalp can also benefit the skin on your face and neck, promoting a healthy glow.

To perform a scalp massage:

1. Apply Pressure: Use your fingertips to gently massage your scalp in circular motions.   

2. Target Specific Areas: Pay attention to areas that feel particularly tense or tight.

Ready to give your scalp some love? This video shows you six simple massage techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine. Plus, two bonus facial massages for a youthful glow!

If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis on your scalp or just seasonal dry and flaky scalp, you can use targeted scalp massage oils, like my Edgy Eczema Scalp Massage Oil.

You can enjoy healthier, more vibrant hair and skin by incorporating regular scalp massages into your routine.

Incorporating exercise and facial care into your routine can be a powerful way to enhance your skin's health and vitality. By understanding the benefits of increased blood flow, reduced stress, and boosted collagen production, you can make informed choices about your skincare and wellness practices. Remember to prioritize gentle cleansing, hydration, and sun protection to ensure your skin thrives. Embrace the transformative power of facial exercises and scalp massages to target specific areas and achieve a more youthful, radiant complexion.

You. Looked after.

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Sources and related content:

1. Sunlight damage to cellular DNA: Focus on oxidatively generated lesions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9661895/

2. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): http://www.genome.gov/

3. The International Dermal Institute: https://dermalinstitute.com/

4. American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): https://www.aad.org/

Disclaimer: This blog is only intended for informational purposes. Any information associated with this blog should not be considered a substitute for prescriptions suggested by beauty, diet, and healthcare professionals. Readers are subject to using this information at their own risk. Tash Fromberg is not responsible for any harm, side effects, illness, or health or skin care problems caused by this content or anything related. Please remember products that work for me may not work for you. Always test them on a small area of skin before buying or using them if unsure.