The annoying and unsightly double chin is something that appears for three main reasons: overweight, age and heredity. Contrary to what is normally thought, not only people with obesity can have swelling and sagging in this area. There are three very effective ways to get rid of it. The first is to undergo surgery in which excess fat and skin are removed. The second is to inject some substance capable of accelerating the burning of the adipose tissue, and the third is to combine a series of reaffirming exercises, with drainage massages and a good diet. So if you don't want to go through the operating room or spend thousands of pesos on injections, we recommend that you try to eliminate the jowls naturally and in the comfort of your home. You will only need perseverance and patience and you will be able to start seeing results in a matter of weeks.
1. Reductive jowl massage technique
We recommend that you do this self-massage every day as part of your skin care routine. You will need a few drops of the oil of your choice so that the movements can slip without generating friction. We recommend that you use jojoba oil, avocado oil or even vitamin E oil.
Wash your hands and face thoroughly before starting, lubricate your hands, neck area, jowls and cheeks well with the oil and follow these steps:
First movement: The main objective of this massage is to activate the lymphatic system and allow the accumulated excess of liquid and adipose tissue to drain. Therefore, the first thing we will do is gently stimulate the nodes that go from the back of the ears to the clavicle, with slow, circular movements of the fingertips, always from the top to the bottom. Keep this movement for about thirty seconds.
Second movement: Place your thumbs behind your chin, as if you wanted to hook your jaw forward. Following the contour of the bone, and always pressing up and forward, firmly but without hurting, slide your thumbtips to the area where the jawbone meets the skull, near the ears.
Third movement: Just where you finished the movement with your thumbs, place your other four fingertips and make a slow, steady downward movement to your collarbones.
Repeat the second and third movements seven times. What you're doing is mobilizing the toxins and excess fluids retained in the tissue, and you're taking them down the natural disposal path of the lymph nodes.
Fourth movement: place your right thumb under your chin, at the corner of your mouth, and make a firm "sweeping" movement to the other side of your chin. Repeat seven times in the same direction, and then exactly the opposite.
Fifth movement: Slide your fingertips from your ears to your collarbone again. Repeat three times on each side.
Sixth movement: With the thumb behind the chin bone, press the contour of the jaw above with your index finger, as if you were making a pincer, and go pressing with soft movements in semicircles all the way to the ear. Again, finish the movement with drainage towards the clavicle.
Seventh movement: Finally, activate the circulation of the area with gentle pinching from the chin to the cheeks. Do not stretch the skin out, simply stimulate the dermis with pressure always in the direction of the ears. Finish with a final lymphatic drainage.
2. Exercises to eliminate jowls
To complement your firming and reducing massage, do these exercises twice a day:
Exaggerated smile: When we smile naturally, we usually use the muscles of the whole face. In this case, you will try to only smile with your mouth, in an exaggerated way. You will feel the strength of the chin muscles. Hold for five seconds and then release. Repeat ten times.
Kissing the Roof: As the name implies, this exercise simply consists of raising the face and pursing the lips as if we wanted to kiss the roof. You will immediately feel all the skin on your chin tighten. Hold for five seconds, loosen, and repeat ten times.
Tongue-tie: This is an exercise that you should do every time you remember, and eventually you will be keeping it automatic. Simply stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth, and you'll see that your jowls will immediately shrink a bit.
3. Other tips to help eliminate jowls
Obviously, food is a priority. If you struggle a lot with jowls, try to cut down on carbs and fats, and drink plenty of water. Also try to get moderate to intense exercise at least four days a week.
On the other hand, vitamin E and collagen treatments can help you avoid skin sagging as the fat decreases in that area.
In our Zen Blog we love to give you the best tips to make you feel great inside and out. Remember that if you want to look like a definite facial oval, there are no magic solutions. You must be constant and take care of your health in an integral way. That is the best way to always look your best.