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We’ve all heard of Hiit classes for the body, but have you ever considered putting your face through the same speedy toning treatment?
Above-the-shoulder exercises are having a bit of a moment, with facial yoga, micro-current gadgets and live online massage classes trending across all age groups from 20s through to 80s. But if you’re wondering why on earth anyone would want to pay money to make funny faces at a bunch of strangers on Zoom (oh yes, more on this to come), then you probably haven’t considered the benefits.
Facial yoga and toning devices work in different ways but all of them promise to lift and tone sagging skin, help reduce wrinkles, and turn back time on lockdown-induced frown lines.
To find out if these new gadgets and home toning regimes really are worth the regular “workouts”, we asked five willing subjects to put their faces to the test, and let us know if they spotted any changes to their skin after 30 days.
Here’s what they had to say…
FOREO BEAR
Cost: A one-of £279 purchase for the device, shop it here.
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What is it? A micro-current device made to feel like a facial but tone like a workout. It uses a combination of micro-current and sonic pulsations to tone the skin and help relax muscle tension points. There's also an app for guided facial fitness routines.
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Fashion and beauty director Michelle says: "This gadget is super easy to use and I loved that it connected to an app so I could learn about massage techniques. It says to use daily when you're applying your skincare, but I have two small children and for me, using it four times a week for five minutes each time was manageable.
"It comes with a small serum sample to use alongside it, but you can just apply your own. I saw a noticeable change in the elasticity of my skin within a week, and after two weeks my husband noticed a difference and said, 'Wow your permanent frown line has gone.' Charming!"
Boost the results: This device is made to be used with a serum or oil, so make the most your toning sessions by investing in a nutrient-rich skincare formula.
We love Monu Skin Firming Fiji Facial Oil, usually £26.95 but you can nab it from just £7.50 here* as we're giving subscribers a full-size bottle in this month's OK! Beauty Edit skincare heroes box.
If you sign up, you’ll get a minimum of five amazing products each month, with a box value always £60 and over. This month, the box is worth a whopping £80 and features delights from the likes of Bioderma and Oskia.
Cost: £49 for a 30-day membership, with unlimited access to online facial workouts, or £10 per class, sign up here.
What is it? These are 20-minute live Zoom classes led by a FaceGym instructor who talks you through various stretches, exercises and massage techniques. They're designed to boost lymphatic drainage and lift and sculpt the 40-plus muscles in the face.
Beauty ed Laura says: "I had a monthly membership, and dutifully logged in to the 8am live session every day. Each class features a warm up, a cardio element, a sculpting section where you use hands and fingers to really work the muscles, and a cool down massage finisher. Any embarrassment about pulling odd faces on screen with strangers soon disappeared, and I looked forward to workouts. each morning.
"At the end of the month, I didn't notice much of a difference in the contours of my face, but I would always see my eyebrows jump up a few millimetres after each class – a result that lasted long enough to see me through my morning Zoom meeting at least."
K-FACIAL SONIC FACIAL SCULPTOR
Cost: £69 for a one-off purchase for the device, shop it here.
What is it? A battery powered sonic facial sculptor with two roller balls, designed to make skin feel like it's had a professional massage. The device delivers 6,000 vibrations per minute, and with prolonged use claims to lift and contour the face.
Deputy beauty ed Zoe says: "I'm a bit of a gadget commitment phobe so I wasn't sure how a full 30 days would go down. But I found this incredibly easy to slot into my evening routine, and just did the recommended five minutes of massage each night, after applying a face serum.
"I like that the device uses a pinching action as well as vibrations, as it made my skin look immediately more plump. After a month I did spot a reduction in morning skin puffiness and a generally more toned appearance to my complexion."
LUMINOUS FACE YOGA
Cost: £120 for a yearly subscription, sign up here.
What is it? An online subscription website offering members unlimited access to a suite of facial yoga and facial massage tutorials and routines as well as live classes.
Deputy chief sub Mel says: "It's good that you can do a 30-minute live or on-demand class, or you can just take two minutes to fit something in. The teachers Philippa and Camilla are lovely, and there's a positive vibe to the classes, which focus on self-love, affirmations and relaxation.
"They also teach you to become aware of any habits that might contribute to frown lines and holding tension in the face. I thought I hadn't noticed much difference in my face after a month of workouts, but when I looked at the BEFORE and after pictures there's an improvement in my hooded eyes and the tone of my cheek muscles."
*When you sign up for a one-month rolling subscription.
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