Your face is one of the first features someone notices when they meet you. If you're anything like me, you've tried all the facial tools to de-puff or snatch the jawline - from ice rollers to gua shas, nothing is off limits (besides those at home injectables that I'm still unsure how they're able to sell). Now this has been on my NYC bucket list for some time now, with along with The Tox, which is basically the same thing but for your body. FaceGym is taking facial contour to the next level without using invasive treatments and I'm all ears.
WHAT IS A FACEGYM?
FaceGym was founded by ex-Financial Times writer and spa and fitness columnist Inge Theron after she recovered from a facelift procedure. It's a 30-45 minute signature workout for the face, (consisting of warm up, cardio, sculpt and cool down) performed by trainers in the FaceGym studio and enhanced with powerful non-invasive machines to lift, sculpt and tone facial muscles. It works on the premise that you should flex and tone the 40 muscles in your face just as you do those in the rest of your body to achieve tighter, more lifted contours.
WHAT'S A SESSION LIKE?
During a 30- or 45-minute class that mimics a workout session, a warm-up, a detailed routine and a cool-down is included where trainers knead and massage the face to sculpt and tone muscles. FaceGym founder Inge Theron mentioned that despite the spa feel, the muscles hurt just as much as if you'd been to the gym. After the class, you'll notice an immediate difference in how tight and toned your face looks.
DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?
I can't attest this for myself yet, but I know that when I was using my Gua Sha daily, I did see a difference in my face. My jawline looked more sharper and my face looked more slim. A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that middle-aged women looked about three years younger after just a few months of exercising their faces. This showed in plumper cheeks, less wrinkles and more defined facial features. Even though these results may only be temporary, it doesn't hurt to look a little more snatched at the cost of making some workout time for your face. And with no needed surgeries or extra down time, I'll take that!
FIND A FACEGYM NEAR YOU
Established in 2014, their global studio locations range from London to Australia. However, if you're U.S.-based like myself, they seem to only be in NYC or LA sadly. You can check out their locations here. My sunshine state self will keep it on my bucket list until my next trip to NYC!