By: Eva Lu, Guest Contributor and Licensed Acupuncturist
Aging is a part of growing older - no products or treatments with a promise of “anti-aging” will prevent the formation of wrinkles or fine lines. Sure... face lifts and botox are always an option, but going under-the-knife and getting fillers is expensive AND invasive. These procedures aren’t the only way to achieve a young complexion - we’re talking how to achieve a face lift effect NATURALLY! Really - it’s possible!Let's start with the basics. As we age, our skin starts to sag, wrinkle, and droop at the jaw, lips, eyes and forehead (everywhere really, let’s be real.. ugh!). This occurs because of gravity, loss of muscle and bone mass, decreased production of collagen and elastin, and the facial expressions we continually make every day. Remember your mom saying: "your face is gonna freeze if you don’t stop making that face!" Same concept. With collagen and elastin decreasing, your skin health is affected in various ways. The skin becomes thinner, drier, more fragile, and the growth of new skin cells slows down dramatically. After the age of 20, collagen production decreases by 1% each year. Scary thought!
So - whatCAN you do about it?
Let’s get to the good stuff. My top 3 ways to achieve a face lift naturally:1. COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE (a.k.a. facial rejuvenation acupuncture): this method uses sterile, one-time use needles to activate acupuncture points on the face and body. The treatment is tailored for YOU - especially if you have some underlying issues (due to hormonal or gut health) that may be causing inflammation, breakouts, redness, discoloration, scars or water retention in the face. This method is great for erasing lines and acne, lifting the jawline, cheeks and smile, balancing your body, and evening out your complexion for toned and glowing skin. Get the full works: facial acupuncture with LED light therapy, facial cupping, facial gua sha and facial massage. The list of results you can expect are lengthy - seehere for more!2. FACE YOGA: Just like it sounds - a series of exercises to tone your facial muscles to keep your face and complexion lifted! We pay so much attention to the other muscles in our body - and the muscles on your face really shouldn’t be ignored! Face yoga can be done anywhere, any time and only takes a few minutes to do each day. It's fun to practice, and can actually relax your mind and body after a stressful day at the office by supplying fresh oxygen.
Like with all things wellness and natural skincare, consistency is KEY to real results: pouty and plump lips, full cheeks, lifted eyes, and a smooth forehead. Here are a few basic moves that you can start now! (TIP: If you feel like your shoulders are coming up to your ears while you are doing the exercises, come out of the pose, roll your shoulders down and back and start over.Remember to breathe! )Acupressure Point Push: Apply your favorite moisturizer or facial oil before starting. Press the knuckles of your fists gently against the center of your forehead and glide out toward your temples. Do 3 to 5 times.
Forehead Lift with Hands: Press your index and thumbs against your hairline. Look down toward the tip of your nose. You will feel a stretch or slight tension in your forehead and eyelids. Hold for 5 seconds. Open your eyes as wide as possible without wrinkling your forehead. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat this sequence 4 more times.
3. FACIAL GUA SHA, ROLLING, AND CUPPING: All of these methods encourage lymphatic drainage to depuff your face while sculpting its contours. Facial Gua Sha and Rollers usually come injade orrose quartz which feel cool against the skin and assist in reducing water retention and inflammation. These techniques can also help move stagnation and toxins built up in the skin, for a more clear, radiant, and lifted complexion. A basic tutorial - First smooth a facial oil of choice to your skin and follow the natural contours of your face. To sculpt, glide your stone upwards. To depuff, glide your stone downwards. Glide your tool gently along your skin. There should be no hard tugging, no red marks, and no pain. Add more oil if you need to!
Facial cupping uses glass or plastic cups which gently suction against the skin to bring more blood circulation and is a great tool for plumping up lips naturally. When it comes to facial cupping, I recommend starting your first few sessions with a professional, and then venturing out in your own if you feel the need. (*hint hint, maybe offered at Shop Good spa soon?! You didn't hear from me!)
If you don’t already incorporate these techniques into your beauty regimen - you must! Your skin will absorb products better and the overall health of your skin will improve greatly. Book a Customized Organic facialHERE and add Gua-Sha for ultimate mind + body relaxation and skin LIFT like no other.
| AT A GLANCE | Stimulate Collagen & Elastin | Reduce Puffiness | Reduce Wrinkles | Sculpt & Tone the face | Aids in Facial Symmetry |
| Acupuncture | • | • | • | • | • |
| Face Yoga | • | • | • | • | • |
| Gua Sha, Rolling, Cupping | • | • | • | • |
Eva Lu loves helping you look and feel your best so you can go out into the world and do the things you love. She is sharing her experience of Chinese Medicine with the world. Cupping, gua sha (skin scraping), herbal medicine and food therapy has been used in her family for generations. Today, she is using these methods alongside acupuncture, LED light therapy, and Face Yoga to treat her clients for these things and more - such as naturally rejuvenating the face, relaxing TMJ, treating aftermath symptoms of stroke and Bell’s Palsy, relieving headaches and pain, as well as women's reproductive health.
As a kid, Eva loved spending her weekends playing makeup artist and hairstylist for her sister. She aspired of going to beauty school as well as medical school. Now, she blends her love of aesthetics and Chinese medicine into her practice to help people age gracefully and naturally. Eva is a partner in her clients’ health and life goals. As the founder of the Renew and Rejuvenate Program at Eva Lu Acupuncture, she enjoys seeing the transformations that her clients experience. To work with Eva, she is available for acupuncture treatments and Face Yoga sessions throughher practice . You can also follow her on Instagram for #WrinkleFreeWednesdays and #SanDiegoFaceYoga at @evaluacupuncture.
//Additional questions about facial rejuvenation techniques? Our Product Experts and Holistic Esthetician are here ready to support! Email us at hello@shop-good.co or give us a call at the Shop! 619-501-5362.
