Latest news with #DrAnettaReszko
Vogue
14 hours ago
- Health
- Vogue
11 Best Products for Thinning Hair to Restore Fullness and Volume
Shedding hair is completely normal. In fact, we lose about 100 strands of hair a day. But if large clumps are rinsing out with your shampoo on wash day and you're seeing more of your scalp than you once did, you may want to start using the best products for thinning hair. Though most people think of hair loss as a male issue, women are also frequently affected by it, and it can be challenging to navigate—not just emotionally, but tactically. Vogue's Favorite Products For Thinning Hair Hair loss can be hard to treat because it's influenced by multiple different factors, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anetta Reszko. Thinning hair can be caused by anything from genetics and hormonal changes (including pregnancy and menopause) to medical conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and even stress. That includes both emotional turmoil you're dealing with and physical damage caused by chemical processing or tight hairstyles. In This Article The most common cause of hair thinning is male- and female-pattern baldness, a form of androgenetic alopecia. It's both hereditary and hormone-related, and most frequently occurs with age. But as complex as hair loss may be, treating it is not a lost cause. Here, we share some of our favorite products for thinning hair, as well as more insights from top MDs to help slow the shedding and start getting growth back on track. Best Shampoo and Conditioner: Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner Set Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner Kit $104 VEGAMOUR Why We Love It: Designed for fragile, thinning strands, this duo from Vegamour helps to combat shedding and restore balance to the scalp with a science-backed blend of plant extracts, peptides, and amino acids. 'In addition, niacinamide soothes and strengthens the scalp barrier, reducing irritation and supporting hair health,' says Dr. Reszko. Anecdotally, we found that using these products in tandem noticeably reduced hair fall and provided natural volume. Designed for fragile, thinning strands, this duo from Vegamour helps to combat shedding and restore balance to the scalp with a science-backed blend of plant extracts, peptides, and amino acids. 'In addition, niacinamide soothes and strengthens the scalp barrier, reducing irritation and supporting hair health,' says Dr. Reszko. Anecdotally, we found that using these products in tandem noticeably reduced hair fall and provided natural volume. Key Ingredients: Spanish microalgae, niacinamide, marula oil Spanish microalgae, niacinamide, marula oil Dosage: A quarter-sized amount, left on for at least a minute before rinsing A quarter-sized amount, left on for at least a minute before rinsing Type: Shampoo and conditioner Why We Love It: This affordable and accessible pick is a bestseller for a reason. 'Powered by a mix of clinically supported peptides, caffeine, and plant-based extracts, this serum stimulates hair follicles, supports scalp health, and promotes thicker, denser, fuller-looking hair over time,' says Dr. Reszko. This affordable and accessible pick is a bestseller for a reason. 'Powered by a mix of clinically supported peptides, caffeine, and plant-based extracts, this serum stimulates hair follicles, supports scalp health, and promotes thicker, denser, fuller-looking hair over time,' says Dr. Reszko. Key Ingredients: Caffeine, biotinoyl tripeptide-1, acetyl tetrapeptide-3 Caffeine, biotinoyl tripeptide-1, acetyl tetrapeptide-3 Dosage: A few drops/as needed massaged into the scalp nightly A few drops/as needed massaged into the scalp nightly Type: Serum Best Scalp Massager: Solaris Laboratories NY Cloud Nine Scalp Massager Solaris Laboratories NY Cloud Nine Scalp Massager $89 NORDSTROM Why We Love It: There's evidence showing that daily scalp massage can promote thicker hair growth, likely due to increased blood flow to the hair follicles; this massaging tool ups the ante with sonic vibration and red LED light. 'It boosts circulation, removes scalp buildup, and enhances product absorption while offering a relaxing, spa-like experience,' adds Dr. Reszko. While scalp massage alone may not be the most effective option to address thinning hair, it can decrease stress and increase feelings of wellbeing, These are helpful for creating the optimal environment for hair growth, says Dr. Evan Rieder, double-board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. There's evidence showing that daily scalp massage can promote thicker hair growth, likely due to increased blood flow to the hair follicles; this massaging tool ups the ante with sonic vibration and red LED light. 'It boosts circulation, removes scalp buildup, and enhances product absorption while offering a relaxing, spa-like experience,' adds Dr. Reszko. While scalp massage alone may not be the most effective option to address thinning hair, it can decrease stress and increase feelings of wellbeing, These are helpful for creating the optimal environment for hair growth, says Dr. Evan Rieder, double-board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. Specs: Sonic vibration, red LED light, silicone bristles Sonic vibration, red LED light, silicone bristles Usage: 15 to 20 minutes, at least three to five times a week on a clean, dry scalp 15 to 20 minutes, at least three to five times a week on a clean, dry scalp Type: Device Why We Love It: Of all the products on this list, this is 'the only therapy with consistent data proving its efficacy,' says Dr. Rieder. That's because minoxidil is technically a drug, and topical formulas were previously only available via prescription—the FDA approved over-the-counter sale of this ingredient in 1996. It works by reversing the miniaturization of the hair follicle, which leads to thinning and loss. Unlike many other minoxidil-based topicals, this formula doesn't leave hair sticky or crispy, plus it helps hydrate hair with glycerin. While it's effective, we recommend being careful with topical minoxidil if you have pets—a little-known unfortunate truth is that it is extremely toxic to cats and dogs even in trace amounts. Of all the products on this list, this is 'the only therapy with consistent data proving its efficacy,' says Dr. Rieder. That's because minoxidil is technically a drug, and topical formulas were previously only available via prescription—the FDA approved over-the-counter sale of this ingredient in 1996. It works by reversing the miniaturization of the hair follicle, which leads to thinning and loss. Unlike many other minoxidil-based topicals, this formula doesn't leave hair sticky or crispy, plus it helps hydrate hair with glycerin. While it's effective, we recommend being careful with topical minoxidil if you have pets—a little-known unfortunate truth is that it is extremely toxic to cats and dogs even in trace amounts. Key Ingredients: 5% minoxidil, glycerin 5% minoxidil, glycerin Dosage: Half a capful of foam massaged into the affected area daily Half a capful of foam massaged into the affected area daily Type: Foam Why We Love It: According to board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn, these popular capsules 'address poor circulation and nutrient deficiencies, which are essential to address for healthier hair,' doing so with a host of vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts. In addition to vitamin B7 (biotin), the supplements include marine collagen peptides to help strengthen and hydrate, adaptogenic ashwagandha to calm stress hormones' effects on hair growth, and saw palmetto, which combats thinning by reducing the hair-thinning hormone DHT. According to board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn, these popular capsules 'address poor circulation and nutrient deficiencies, which are essential to address for healthier hair,' doing so with a host of vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts. In addition to vitamin B7 (biotin), the supplements include marine collagen peptides to help strengthen and hydrate, adaptogenic ashwagandha to calm stress hormones' effects on hair growth, and saw palmetto, which combats thinning by reducing the hair-thinning hormone DHT. Key Ingredients: Biotin, saw palmetto extract, ashwagandha Biotin, saw palmetto extract, ashwagandha Dosage: Four capsules once daily with food Four capsules once daily with food Type: Supplement Best Red Light Device: HigherDOSE Red Light Hat Higherdose Red Light Hat $449 DERMSTORE Why We Love It: According to Dr. Reszko, red light therapy is especially helpful for those with early-stage thinning as well as male- and female-pattern baldness. 'It helps promote hair regrowth by stimulating follicle activity, prolonging the growth phase, providing anti-inflammatory effects and increasing microcirculation to the scalp,' she explains. Dr. Kahn recommends this hat for those going through hormonal changes like menopause, andropause, and the postpartum period—moments when your hair needs extra support for healthy growth. While it's a little stiffer and more structured than a normal baseball hat due to the 120 bulbs inside, it's comfortable and the most convenient red light device we own (it's easy to wear at home or running errands and treatment only takes 10 minutes). Just note that it's not really compatible with a ponytail if that's your preferred hat/hairstyle combo: the magnetic battery pack sits right where you'd typically pull through a pony. According to Dr. Reszko, red light therapy is especially helpful for those with early-stage thinning as well as male- and female-pattern baldness. 'It helps promote hair regrowth by stimulating follicle activity, prolonging the growth phase, providing anti-inflammatory effects and increasing microcirculation to the scalp,' she explains. Dr. Kahn recommends this hat for those going through hormonal changes like menopause, andropause, and the postpartum period—moments when your hair needs extra support for healthy growth. While it's a little stiffer and more structured than a normal baseball hat due to the 120 bulbs inside, it's comfortable and the most convenient red light device we own (it's easy to wear at home or running errands and treatment only takes 10 minutes). Just note that it's not really compatible with a ponytail if that's your preferred hat/hairstyle combo: the magnetic battery pack sits right where you'd typically pull through a pony. Specs: 120 red LED lights, 650nm wavelength 120 red LED lights, 650nm wavelength Usage: 10-minute treatment once daily for 16 weeks, then three or four times weekly for maintenance 10-minute treatment once daily for 16 weeks, then three or four times weekly for maintenance Type: Device Best Mask: Virtue Flourish Mask for Thinning Hair Why We Love It: Even thin hair needs intensive nourishment, and we often reach for this one as it delivers without weighing down strands. 'This is great for people who style their hair frequently with heat, as it repairs and strengthens weakened hair,' says Dr. Kahn. It gets its lightweight moisture from a blend of fructooligosaccharides, beet root extract, and shea butter; reparative qualities from keratin and biotin; and helps promote healthier growth with peptides and red clover extract. Even thin hair needs intensive nourishment, and we often reach for this one as it delivers without weighing down strands. 'This is great for people who style their hair frequently with heat, as it repairs and strengthens weakened hair,' says Dr. Kahn. It gets its lightweight moisture from a blend of fructooligosaccharides, beet root extract, and shea butter; reparative qualities from keratin and biotin; and helps promote healthier growth with peptides and red clover extract. Key Ingredients: Biotin, red clover extract, beet root extract Biotin, red clover extract, beet root extract Dosage: In lieu of conditioner in the amount you'd usually use, once or twice weekly, rinsing out after three minutes In lieu of conditioner in the amount you'd usually use, once or twice weekly, rinsing out after three minutes Type: Mask Best For Dry Scalps: Briogeo Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil Why We Love It: A stripped scalp can lead to thinning hair, says Dr. Kahn, and she points to this formula from Briogeo as an ideal formula for dry, irritated scalps. This is in part due to the formula's inclusion of rosemary oil. 'Rosemary oil helps address hair thinning through a combination of reducing inflammation and boosting circulation,' she explains. It also features anti-inflammatories bisabolol and tea tree oil, both of which also have antimicrobial properties that can help soothe dandruff. Castor oil and biotin provide added nourishment for stronger strands. Beyond the ingredient list, we appreciate the simplified application courtesy of the nozzle cap. A stripped scalp can lead to thinning hair, says Dr. Kahn, and she points to this formula from Briogeo as an ideal formula for dry, irritated scalps. This is in part due to the formula's inclusion of rosemary oil. 'Rosemary oil helps address hair thinning through a combination of reducing inflammation and boosting circulation,' she explains. It also features anti-inflammatories bisabolol and tea tree oil, both of which also have antimicrobial properties that can help soothe dandruff. Castor oil and biotin provide added nourishment for stronger strands. Beyond the ingredient list, we appreciate the simplified application courtesy of the nozzle cap. Key Ingredients: Rosemary oil, biotin, castor oil Rosemary oil, biotin, castor oil Dosage: As much as needed for full scalp coverage, massaged in and left on for 10 to 15 minutes or overnight as desired As much as needed for full scalp coverage, massaged in and left on for 10 to 15 minutes or overnight as desired Type: Oil Best Non-Greasy: WeThrivv REVIVV for Her Hair Rejuvenation Serum WeThrivv REVIVV for Her Hair Rejuvenation Serum $54 AMAZON Why We Love It: If you're looking for a clean product—in both its ingredient list and how it leaves your hair after use—give this serum a go. 'This natural product has botanical-based ingredients in a roll-on bottle, making it hassle free and easy to use,' says Dr. Reszko. Simply part your hair and glide it along your scalp to let the treatment's blend of growth-boosting peptides, circulation-enhancing caffeine, and phytoestrogens like genistein get to work. Because the water-based formula feels like pure H2O, it dries quickly and leaves zero residue behind. No need to sacrifice your blowout for hair growth! If you're looking for a clean product—in both its ingredient list and how it leaves your hair after use—give this serum a go. 'This natural product has botanical-based ingredients in a roll-on bottle, making it hassle free and easy to use,' says Dr. Reszko. Simply part your hair and glide it along your scalp to let the treatment's blend of growth-boosting peptides, circulation-enhancing caffeine, and phytoestrogens like genistein get to work. Because the water-based formula feels like pure H2O, it dries quickly and leaves zero residue behind. No need to sacrifice your blowout for hair growth! Key Ingredients: Copper tripeptide-1, horse chestnut extract, genistein, amino acids, caffeine Copper tripeptide-1, horse chestnut extract, genistein, amino acids, caffeine Dosage: Liberal application to the scalp and roots twice daily Liberal application to the scalp and roots twice daily Type: Serum Best Exosomes: SickScience PowerCycle Scalp Treatment Serum Why We Love It: 'Using exosomes topically, particularly for hair growth, is a very promising modality because it can regenerate follicles, stimulate hair follicle stem cells, and instruct the cells to prolong their growth phase,' says Dr. Kahn. Though not as potent as an in-office treatment, topical exosome formulas like this one from SickScience are worth a try. In addition to being pleasant to use (read: not greasy at all), its bottle features a large dropper that simplifies targeted application to the scalp, even if you have very dense hair. 'Using exosomes topically, particularly for hair growth, is a very promising modality because it can regenerate follicles, stimulate hair follicle stem cells, and instruct the cells to prolong their growth phase,' says Dr. Kahn. Though not as potent as an in-office treatment, topical exosome formulas like this one from SickScience are worth a try. In addition to being pleasant to use (read: not greasy at all), its bottle features a large dropper that simplifies targeted application to the scalp, even if you have very dense hair. Key Ingredients: Plant-derived exosomes, biotinoyl tripeptide-1, rosemary extract Plant-derived exosomes, biotinoyl tripeptide-1, rosemary extract Dosage: One milliliter massaged into the scalp once daily One milliliter massaged into the scalp once daily Type: Serum Best Rosemary Oil: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil Why We Love It: Per Dr. Reszko, this treatment gets its efficacy from its comprehensive blend of oils. 'The formula contains 30 oils, including rosemary, peppermint, castor, jojoba, tea tree, and coconut, offering excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal benefits,' she explains. The headliners, rosemary and peppermint, stimulate circulation to facilitate healthier hair growth. (They also provide a refreshing scent.) With consistent use, the product helps promote new baby hairs, reduce shedding, and increase shine—and it's got a very budget-friendly price tag. Per Dr. Reszko, this treatment gets its efficacy from its comprehensive blend of oils. 'The formula contains 30 oils, including rosemary, peppermint, castor, jojoba, tea tree, and coconut, offering excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal benefits,' she explains. The headliners, rosemary and peppermint, stimulate circulation to facilitate healthier hair growth. (They also provide a refreshing scent.) With consistent use, the product helps promote new baby hairs, reduce shedding, and increase shine—and it's got a very budget-friendly price tag. Key Ingredients: Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, jojoba oil Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, jojoba oil Dosage: Enough to coat the scalp, massaged in with fingertips and combed through lengths Enough to coat the scalp, massaged in with fingertips and combed through lengths Type: Oil Everything You Need To Know
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Vogue
17 hours ago
- Health
- Vogue
Why Azelaic Acid Is the Do-It-All Skin-Clearing Ingredient You've Been Looking For
Azelaic acid is the unsung hero of exfoliants. While retinoids and chemical exfoliators like alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids get plenty of well-deserved hype for their ability to renew skin, they're just not for everyone. If you've tried these ingredients and they weren't right for you, azelaic acid products should be on your radar. 'Despite having the word 'acid' in its name, azelaic acid is well-tolerated,' says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Evan Rieder. Vogue's Favorite Azelaic Acid Products Azelaic acid is not an AHA or BHA, but a dicarboxylic acid, and naturally occurs in grains. Yes, it gently resurfaces skin, which inherently helps smooth out uneven texture, fade dark spots, and unclog pores, but azelaic acid has other properties that enhance these benefits. The ingredient is an antioxidant and has potent anti-inflammatory effects, which is why it's long been used by dermatologists to treat redness, including the flushing associated with rosacea. It has antibacterial properties, too, and kills Cutibacterium acnes, the bacteria implicated in acne, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morayo Adisa. 'It also brightens skin by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, making it ideal for post-acne marks and melasma with a low risk of irritation,' adds board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anetta Reszko. In This Article:
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does face yoga actually work? Experts weigh in on its slimming, anti-aging effects
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Puckering, puffing, scrunching and stretching your face may look silly, but in some spaces, it's the serious business of face yoga. The trendy facial workout involves a series of exaggerated poses and repetitive movements meant to target the muscles in the face, trading full-bodied yoga moves such as 'downward dog' for the lip-pouting 'duckface' and other expressions. Popular for being both cost-effective and product-free, face yoga testimonies can be found all over social media, with some influencers and self-proclaimed gurus promising a 'natural facelift' effect capable of toning, slimming and reducing fine lines on the face. But how much are these promised benefits a stretch of the truth? And how much is backed by science? Here's what a yoga instructor, a dermatologist and the author of one of the few face yoga studies out there have to say. The face is made up of layers of skin, fat and muscle sitting on top of the skull. Underneath the top layer of skin, or dermis, there is a layer of subcutaneous fat pads, which sit on top of the muscles, explained Dr. Anetta Reszko, a New York-based dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. These muscles help us smile, frown, chew and make other facial expressions. 'The fat and the muscles work together to give the face volume,' Reszko said. 'But over time, as we age, or if we don't use those muscles because of Botox, they can atrophy (and) become smaller.' This atrophy can cause the fat pads on top of the muscles to fall, giving the face a more sagging or hollow appearance, Reszko said. 'The idea behind facial yoga is you're working below that level, growing the muscle layer below the fat,' said Dr. Murad Alam, the vice chair of the department of dermatology and professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. 'As you grow the muscle, that would restore some shape to the face.' Alam, who is also a practicing dermatologist, conducted one of the few known studies to test this face yoga hypothesis in 2018 on a small cohort of middle-aged adults. After 20 weeks of daily, 30-minute exercises, a panel of dermatologists observed improved facial fullness among the 16 participants who completed the program, the study reported. 'The place where we noticed the biggest change was the cheeks,' Alam said. 'Which makes sense, because the cheek muscles are among the biggest facial muscles, so if you exercise them, the growth of them is going to be the most noticeable.' Due to the limited sample size and lack of direct measurements, further clinical trials would be needed to affirm this volumizing effect, Alam noted. Generally, medical research without a drug or device is difficult to fund, he said. 'Is this a replacement for cosmetic procedures? Not really, because the amount of improvement was not as significant and (other cosmetic) aspects of aging weren't studied,' Alam said. 'But it's potentially useful to people who absolutely do not want any cosmetic procedures because they're concerned about the safety or the cost or the inconvenience.' In Reszko's dermatology practice, she recommends face yoga exercises for increasing blood and lymphatic fluid circulation in the face. Our faces have hundreds of lymph nodes that use fluid to drain waste and fight infection, Reszko said. During sleep, lymphatic fluid can accumulate in the face from lying down, causing a 'puffy' appearance immediately upon waking. Moving, stretching and massaging the face for 10 to 15 minutes every day could help reduce puffiness, Reszko said, referencing other techniques such the traditional Chinese gua sha stones that are meant to serve a similar purpose. This drainage can be especially helpful for patients who recently underwent cosmetic surgery or those with chronic allergies, she said. Increasing blood flow to the face may also make the skin appear more flushed and hydrated as well, Reszko said, but this effect is usually temporary. If you tend to hold tension in your neck, shoulders, jaw, forehead or anywhere else on the face, face yoga also could be helpful to relax the muscles, said Annelise Hagen, a yoga instructor and self-proclaimed pioneer of the technique who authored the book 'The Yoga Face.' 'Tension is a huge enemy for a lot of us. We are making these faces without realizing it all the time.' Hagen said. 'A lot of the work I do is just trying to teach people how to notice and be more mindful, relax and take a breath.' For Hagen, face yoga is more than just a workout or a cosmetic bio-hack — it's a way to be more in tune with your face. In her classes, she may encourage people to lift the corners of their mouth for a neutral, 'smiling Buddha face.' Or for the neck and jaw, she'll do the 'lion's breath,' opening her mouth wide, sticking out her tongue, rolling back her eyes and exhaling. 'When you're approaching the face from a yogic perspective, it's about being mindful of what we do with the face and acknowledging that it's kind of a manifestation of something inside,' Hagen said. 'Some people may approach it differently, but anything that can make you feel more serene, calm and better about the face that you're in, I think is legitimate.' Generally, face yoga exercises are harmless, Alam said. To cause wrinkling, frown lines, bruising or other trauma to the face, a person would have to apply painful force. On the other hand, if someone is serious about taking up a daily face yoga routine, Reszko suggests avoiding movements that rub or stretch the delicate under-eye area. The skin around the eyes tends to be thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face. For more dramatic interventions like firming wrinkles or treating acne, she recommends seeking the advice of a board-certified dermatologist.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Does face yoga actually work? Experts weigh in on its slimming, anti-aging effects
Face yoga involves a series of poses and stretches, as well as massage of the face. Oscar Gutierrez Zozulia/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource Puckering, puffing, scrunching and stretching your face may look silly, but in some spaces, it's the serious business of face yoga. The trendy facial workout involves a series of exaggerated poses and repetitive movements meant to target the muscles in the face, trading full-bodied yoga moves such as 'downward dog' for the lip-pouting 'duckface' and other expressions. Popular for being both cost-effective and product-free, face yoga testimonies can be found all over social media, with some influencers and self-proclaimed gurus promising a 'natural facelift' effect capable of toning, slimming and reducing fine lines on the face. But how much are these promised benefits a stretch of the truth? And how much is backed by science? Here's what a yoga instructor, a dermatologist and the author of one of the few face yoga studies out there have to say. The science behind face yoga The face is made up of layers of skin, fat and muscle sitting on top of the skull. Underneath the top layer of skin, or dermis, there is a layer of subcutaneous fat pads, which sit on top of the muscles, explained Dr. Anetta Reszko, a New York-based dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. These muscles help us smile, frown, chew and make other facial expressions. 'The fat and the muscles work together to give the face volume,' Reszko said. 'But over time, as we age, or if we don't use those muscles because of Botox, they can atrophy (and) become smaller.' This atrophy can cause the fat pads on top of the muscles to fall, giving the face a more sagging or hollow appearance, Reszko said. 'The idea behind facial yoga is you're working below that level, growing the muscle layer below the fat,' said Dr. Murad Alam, the vice chair of the department of dermatology and professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. 'As you grow the muscle, that would restore some shape to the face.' Alam, who is also a practicing dermatologist, conducted one of the few known studies to test this face yoga hypothesis in 2018 on a small cohort of middle-aged adults. After 20 weeks of daily, 30-minute exercises, a panel of dermatologists observed improved facial fullness among the 16 participants who completed the program, the study reported. 'The place where we noticed the biggest change was the cheeks,' Alam said. 'Which makes sense, because the cheek muscles are among the biggest facial muscles, so if you exercise them, the growth of them is going to be the most noticeable.' Due to the limited sample size and lack of direct measurements, further clinical trials would be needed to affirm this volumizing effect, Alam noted. Generally, medical research without a drug or device is difficult to fund, he said. 'Is this a replacement for cosmetic procedures? Not really, because the amount of improvement was not as significant and (other cosmetic) aspects of aging weren't studied,' Alam said. 'But it's potentially useful to people who absolutely do not want any cosmetic procedures because they're concerned about the safety or the cost or the inconvenience.' What else could face yoga do? In Reszko's dermatology practice, she recommends face yoga exercises for increasing blood and lymphatic fluid circulation in the face. Our faces have hundreds of lymph nodes that use fluid to drain waste and fight infection, Reszko said. During sleep, lymphatic fluid can accumulate in the face from lying down, causing a 'puffy' appearance immediately upon waking. Moving, stretching and massaging the face for 10 to 15 minutes every day could help reduce puffiness, Reszko said, referencing other techniques such the traditional Chinese gua sha stones that are meant to serve a similar purpose. This drainage can be especially helpful for patients who recently underwent cosmetic surgery or those with chronic allergies, she said. Increasing blood flow to the face may also make the skin appear more flushed and hydrated as well, Reszko said, but this effect is usually temporary. If you tend to hold tension in your neck, shoulders, jaw, forehead or anywhere else on the face, face yoga also could be helpful to relax the muscles, said Annelise Hagen, a yoga instructor and self-proclaimed pioneer of the technique who authored the book 'The Yoga Face.' 'Tension is a huge enemy for a lot of us. We are making these faces without realizing it all the time.' Hagen said. 'A lot of the work I do is just trying to teach people how to notice and be more mindful, relax and take a breath.' For Hagen, face yoga is more than just a workout or a cosmetic bio-hack — it's a way to be more in tune with your face. In her classes, she may encourage people to lift the corners of their mouth for a neutral, 'smiling Buddha face.' Or for the neck and jaw, she'll do the 'lion's breath,' opening her mouth wide, sticking out her tongue, rolling back her eyes and exhaling. 'When you're approaching the face from a yogic perspective, it's about being mindful of what we do with the face and acknowledging that it's kind of a manifestation of something inside,' Hagen said. 'Some people may approach it differently, but anything that can make you feel more serene, calm and better about the face that you're in, I think is legitimate.' Can face yoga be harmful? Generally, face yoga exercises are harmless, Alam said. To cause wrinkling, frown lines, bruising or other trauma to the face, a person would have to apply painful force. On the other hand, if someone is serious about taking up a daily face yoga routine, Reszko suggests avoiding movements that rub or stretch the delicate under-eye area. The skin around the eyes tends to be thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face. For more dramatic interventions like firming wrinkles or treating acne, she recommends seeking the advice of a board-certified dermatologist.
CNN
21-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Face yoga is everywhere, but does it actually work?
Wellness Winding down Fashion and beautyFacebookTweetLink Follow Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Puckering, puffing, scrunching and stretching your face may look silly, but in some spaces, it's the serious business of face yoga. The trendy facial workout involves a series of exaggerated poses and repetitive movements meant to target the muscles in the face, trading full-bodied yoga moves such as 'downward dog' for the lip-pouting 'duckface' and other expressions. Popular for being both cost-effective and product-free, face yoga testimonies can be found all over social media, with some influencers and self-proclaimed gurus promising a 'natural facelift' effect capable of toning, slimming and reducing fine lines on the face. But how much are these promised benefits a stretch of the truth? And how much is backed by science? Here's what a yoga instructor, a dermatologist and the author of one of the few face yoga studies out there have to say. The face is made up of layers of skin, fat and muscle sitting on top of the skull. Underneath the top layer of skin, or dermis, there is a layer of subcutaneous fat pads, which sit on top of the muscles, explained Dr. Anetta Reszko, a New York-based dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. These muscles help us smile, frown, chew and make other facial expressions. 'The fat and the muscles work together to give the face volume,' Reszko said. 'But over time, as we age, or if we don't use those muscles because of Botox, they can atrophy (and) become smaller.' This atrophy can cause the fat pads on top of the muscles to fall, giving the face a more sagging or hollow appearance, Reszko said. 'The idea behind facial yoga is you're working below that level, growing the muscle layer below the fat,' said Dr. Murad Alam, the vice chair of the department of dermatology and professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. 'As you grow the muscle, that would restore some shape to the face.' Alam, who is also a practicing dermatologist, conducted one of the few known studies to test this face yoga hypothesis in 2018 on a small cohort of middle-aged adults. After 20 weeks of daily, 30-minute exercises, a panel of dermatologists observed improved facial fullness among the 16 participants who completed the program, the study reported. 'The place where we noticed the biggest change was the cheeks,' Alam said. 'Which makes sense, because the cheek muscles are among the biggest facial muscles, so if you exercise them, the growth of them is going to be the most noticeable.' Due to the limited sample size and lack of direct measurements, further clinical trials would be needed to affirm this volumizing effect, Alam noted. Generally, medical research without a drug or device is difficult to fund, he said. 'Is this a replacement for cosmetic procedures? Not really, because the amount of improvement was not as significant and (other cosmetic) aspects of aging weren't studied,' Alam said. 'But it's potentially useful to people who absolutely do not want any cosmetic procedures because they're concerned about the safety or the cost or the inconvenience.' In Reszko's dermatology practice, she recommends face yoga exercises for increasing blood and lymphatic fluid circulation in the face. Our faces have hundreds of lymph nodes that use fluid to drain waste and fight infection, Reszko said. During sleep, lymphatic fluid can accumulate in the face from lying down, causing a 'puffy' appearance immediately upon waking. Moving, stretching and massaging the face for 10 to 15 minutes every day could help reduce puffiness, Reszko said, referencing other techniques such the traditional Chinese gua sha stones that are meant to serve a similar purpose. This drainage can be especially helpful for patients who recently underwent cosmetic surgery or those with chronic allergies, she said. Increasing blood flow to the face may also make the skin appear more flushed and hydrated as well, Reszko said, but this effect is usually temporary. If you tend to hold tension in your neck, shoulders, jaw, forehead or anywhere else on the face, face yoga also could be helpful to relax the muscles, said Annelise Hagen, a yoga instructor and self-proclaimed pioneer of the technique who authored the book 'The Yoga Face.' 'Tension is a huge enemy for a lot of us. We are making these faces without realizing it all the time.' Hagen said. 'A lot of the work I do is just trying to teach people how to notice and be more mindful, relax and take a breath.' For Hagen, face yoga is more than just a workout or a cosmetic bio-hack — it's a way to be more in tune with your face. In her classes, she may encourage people to lift the corners of their mouth for a neutral, 'smiling Buddha face.' Or for the neck and jaw, she'll do the 'lion's breath,' opening her mouth wide, sticking out her tongue, rolling back her eyes and exhaling. 'When you're approaching the face from a yogic perspective, it's about being mindful of what we do with the face and acknowledging that it's kind of a manifestation of something inside,' Hagen said. 'Some people may approach it differently, but anything that can make you feel more serene, calm and better about the face that you're in, I think is legitimate.' Generally, face yoga exercises are harmless, Alam said. To cause wrinkling, frown lines, bruising or other trauma to the face, a person would have to apply painful force. On the other hand, if someone is serious about taking up a daily face yoga routine, Reszko suggests avoiding movements that rub or stretch the delicate under-eye area. The skin around the eyes tends to be thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face.
