Shape your face

Elaboration of Facial Map

You should work all the muscle groups of the face so that the toning up and building up of facial muscles will be symmetrical. These are the muscle groups you'll be working on:

* The muscles that surround the eyes - the circular orbicularis oculi muscles. When these muscles are worked, the small eyelid (palpebral) muscles are also worked, preventing hooded eyelids.
* The muscle that surrounds the mouth - the circular orbicularis oris muscle. When this muscle is worked correctly, other smaller muscles of expression, like the zygomaticus, the buccinator, and the risorius are also worked.
* The muscle of the chin - the mentalis muscle. When this muscle is exercised, the muscles at the front of the neck will also be brought into play.
* The muscles at the front of the neck - the platysma and sternomastoid muscles. These muscles when they are toned up give a vigorous, vibrant, youthful appearance to a person.
* The muscles of the head - the frontalis and occipitalis muscles at the front and back of the head. When the occipitalis muscle is brought under control and toned up, it will give a pleasing lift to the eyebrows. Gaining control of this muscle, especially for women, involves some hard work. Once the exercise for this muscle is mastered, though, it's easy to do and even refreshing.
* The jaw muscles - the masseter and others. You don't have to be concerned about these because they get enough exercise when you chew food.

The five exercises that follow will give you a natural, noninvasive program for rebuilding and maintaining tone in all the facial muscle groups.