FACIAL EXERICISE - THE NATURAL FACELIFT





Madonna might be 50 but she's still fabulous. Those in the know put her youthful look down to the 'gym for the face' regime taught by Eva Fraser

FROM the day she notices that dreaded first wrinkle, what woman doesn‘t want to be able to knock a few years off her age, confident in the knowledge that she can get away with it?Even better, wouldn‘t it be fantastic if you looked so youthful, people assumed you were much younger than you are. These days, it seems the only way to rid yourself of wrinkles is to have Botox. But what‘s a girl to do if she‘s squeamish about needles being stabbed into her forehead? Luckily for those of us who are keen on arresting the daily march of time, help is at hand in the shape of facial exercise.

Ava Gardner, I once read, pulled up loose skin on her face with hooks, and stuffed it under a wig. That was her makeshift face-lift. But a far less painful way to lift the face is - like the rest of the body - with exercise.It‘s strange. Although the laziest among us have taken on board that body muscles have to be exercised, very few of us take the same approach to our face. We take endless trouble with our facial skin, forgetting that it is underpinned by no fewer than 50 muscles, which sag with age.

Facial workouts have the same effect on the face as do sit-ups on your tum. They are free (once you‘ve paid to learn how to do them), and can be done in your own time.Taut, unlined skin. Killer cheekbones.Fraser is living proof that facial exercises can dramatically reduce the signs of ageing. She looks astonishing and the secret to her glowing complexion is the daily exercise regime that she has been practicing since the age of 50. No wonder her fans include Jane Birkin, Helen Fielding and, of course, Madonna (rumour has it she is regularly smuggled into the stars London home).

Facial exercise guru Eva Fraser - who is to cheek muscles what Jane Fonda is to abdominal tucks - has a face that defies both gravity and her 80 years. Forget Botox or cosmetic surgery - Fraser argues that muscles of the face can be retrained, just like any other muscles, to become firm and strong again. Through structured exercises tiny movements of the eyebrows, lip corners and jaw - our unique facial contours will gradually reappear. The routine takes 10-15 minutes tops, for a minimum of four days a week. 'I am still excited about the difference facial exercises can make - they are completely natural and once learnt you can look after yourself' she tells me.

She promises nose-to-mouth lines will lessen, upper cheeks will be lifted and plumped. You‘ll get a firmer jaw line; eyelids will be stronger and lifted. Yes, there is a danger of looking idiotic if someone catches you unawares grimacing and gurning into a mirror. But after four to six months. Fraser fans report a marked improvement. My sister tried it and - after just one month - noticed a massive improvement in her face which seemed to appear taught, lifted and more youthful.Now where do I sign up? For more information go to www.evafrazer.com

"We turn not older with years, but newer every day."
~Emily Dickinson

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