One of the telltale signs of aging is wrinkles, which are caused by a natural reduction in your skin's elasticity. But wrinkles are also caused by muscle weakness and, because many people don't exercise their necks as they do their arms or legs, sagging skin in this area is a very common symptom of aging. Regularly working the muscles of your neck can help to prevent or minimize wrinkles. However, the Anti Aging Skin Care Guide advises that these exercises must be done daily to have any effect and should be used in conjunction with a good skincare routine and a healthy diet.
Open Your Mouth and "O"
You will know you're doing this exercise correctly if your face looks like something out of a scary movie. The Anti Aging Skin Care Guide says to open your mouth and form an "O" shape and try to keep it in this position as you use your fingers to pull down the sides of your mouth. You should feel the muscles in your neck working to maintain the O shape. Relax and do three sets of 20 relatively fast repetitions.
Practice Your Vowels
This exercise is harder than you might think, so do it in front of a mirror to make sure you're performing it correctly. The Anti Aging Skin Care Guide says to pronounce the letters "A"; and "U"; one after the other, without letting your lips or teeth touch at any point. Do 10 repetitions, three times over.
Chin Lift
Tilt your chin up so you're looking at a point high up on the wall, but not so far that you're looking at the ceiling. Place your hands at the top of your throat, just under your chin, says Saga, a health and lifestyle website for people over age 50. Try to lift your jaw up and out without throwing your head any farther back and you should feel your neck muscles tighten. Hold for several seconds, release and repeat as many times as you can.
Simple Head Turn
This exercise can be done throughout the day, while sitting at your desk. YgoY says to sit up straight and make sure your shoulders are relaxed before you begin, then slowly turn your head to the left and right, holding on each side for five seconds. Performing each turn slowly and carefully will ensure you don't jar your neck and your neck muscles work hard to control the movement. Repeat up to 10 times on each side.
