A face without elasticity, 'this expression' Twice a day, it becomes firm.

Many people worry about looking older than their actual age due to presbyopia. Factors such as skin elasticity and complexion affect presbyopia, but practicing 'face yoga' that moves facial muscles can help reduce concerns about presbyopia to some extent.

Facial yoga is a type of facial exercise that stimulates relaxed facial muscles, restores elasticity, and strengthens the muscles beneath the facial fat layer. It not only improves complexion but also firms the contours, giving a youthful appearance to the skin. In fact, a 2018 study by a research team at Northwestern University School of Medicine in the United States involved 27 participants aged 40 to 65, who practiced facial yoga for 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks, and then for about 30 minutes every other day from 9 to 20 weeks. After evaluating their appearance, it was found that the participants' facial age was, on average, 2.7 years younger than before.

Typical facial yoga exercises include ▲smiling ▲lifting the eyebrows ▲surprising oneself ▲blowing wind. Smiling involves smiling and then using the index fingers of both hands to lift the corners of the mouth for 20 seconds. It is good to repeat this twice. Lifting the eyebrows involves using fingers to lift the eyebrows upward for about 20 seconds, without closing the eyes. While pulling the eyebrows up, maintain a smiling expression and breathe deeply. Then, pull the eyebrows downward to the point where the eyes almost close, and look upward with the eyeballs. Repeat this three times.

"Surprise" is to open your eyes wide and stare at a single point horizontally for 5 to 10 seconds. Be careful not to wrinkle your forehead during this, and repeat four times. There is also "air transfer." This involves inflating one cheek completely and then transferring the air inside your mouth to the other cheek. Alternate sides and repeat three times.

Meanwhile, to solve the problem of presbyopia, it is also important to develop the habit of applying sunscreen regularly. Ultraviolet rays can destroy collagen and elastin in the skin, and continuous exposure causes the skin to lose elasticity and darken. UV rays are present even on cloudy days, so sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside at all times. In daily life, use at least SPF 15 to 30, and for outdoor activities such as the beach or hiking, use SPF 30 to 50. Sunscreen should be dispensed in a amount about the size of a 500-won coin, then gently patted onto the face for thorough coverage. Additionally, good sleep is also important. Lack of sleep deteriorates skin health and accelerates aging, so 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep is essential for youthful skin. Especially, growth hormone, which prevents aging, is actively secreted between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., so it is best to get deep sleep during this time.