A tight smile, or even a slight facial distortion ... That's what we could expect after confinement, according to a study conducted in 2018 by Shiseido and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency at the Japanese space center in Tsukuba. 23 people in a closed environment for fifteen days to assess the impact of stress on confined skin. "Higher than usual, anxiety manifested itself, not surprisingly, by a decrease in the barrier function, an increase in the production of sebum, but also by a multiplication of inflammatory factors , decrypts Nathalie Broussard, director of Shiseido's scientific communication.But above all, we noticed that the tension in the facial muscles, which became more and more pronounced over confinement, had led to an asymmetry of expressions, especially of the smile. ”
Going then unnoticed, the study takes on a whole new meaning today and would almost encourage us to energize these facial muscles before they betray us. “Our features reflect our emotions, and, currently, they are particularly turned upside down , insists Sylvie Lefranc, who developed a facial yoga method a few years ago. Especially since we spend a lot of time behind our screens, which accentuates a lot of muscle contractions on the forehead, around the eyes and mouth. These expressions are, as a bonus, reinforced by the absence of the gaze of others and its mirror effect. ”
Sylvie Lefranc Youtube Capture
Sylvie Lefranc enthusiastically offers twenty-minute self-massage sessions every evening at 6 p.m. on her YouTube channel.
Sylvie Lefranc Youtube Capture
On her YouTube channel, the young woman provides self-massage sessions of around 20 minutes each evening to relax the tension, but also to relax the look, sculpt the cheekbones and even plump the mouth. All accompanied by breathing exercises to work on the emotional aspect and ... regain a more serene face. "I would not miss this meeting under any circumstances ," admits Jeanne, in her forties. I feel like I am actively involved in the care of my skin. And this in a natural way, simply with a vegetable oil and the tips of my fingers. If I'm not sure of the long-term results, at the end of the session, my features are much more relaxed and my complexion rested, fresher. ”
Would women rediscover the joys of facial gymnastics, which have long been old-fashioned in terms of cosmetic formulas and their high-tech active ingredients oversold by laboratories? Indeed, the method is not new. From the 1920s, Nadia Payot imposed, the first, her "physical culture" of the face. During her meeting with the star dancer Anna Pavlova, the Ukrainian is struck by the contrast between the perfection of the ballerina's body and the fatigue and tension that her features show. He then has the intuition to soften and tone them in the same way as the muscles of the body "to stimulate the face, prevent it from sleeping and getting intoxicated, bringing it to life".
Physical culture and backgammon pinches
The famous lift effect seduces boys and other socialites of the Roaring Twenties, initiating themselves at the same time with Jacquet pinches, named after this doctor who, to accelerate the scars and burns of the Great War, had the very simple idea of pinch the skin between the thumb and forefinger using quick gestures. Today, it is millennials' turn to learn, via social networks, these not-so-old rituals. "These gestures are not superfluous, especially at the moment ," says facialist Delphine Langlois, an expert in facial massage techniques. In lack of air, light, sport, the skin finds it difficult to remain oxygenated. Locked up, she too suffocates and tends to tarnish. Stimulating the muscles but also the lymphatic and blood circulation with the hands improves cellular exchanges, fights against dark circles and puffiness, smoothes wrinkles and above all helps to find this glow that is lacking. But what really changes compared to previous generations is the arrival of accessories adapted to the morphology of the face, such as roll-on and other gua sha, which simplify the gestures, make it more fun. ”
Seeing the rituals and series of movements that abound lately on Instagram and Twitter, women seem more than ever acquainted with these facial relaxation techniques. But, against the fear of these muscular grunts that lie in wait for us, what could be better than following Colette's recommendations? The writer who, in the booklet of his beauty institute opened in 1932, advised his clients: "Finally, laugh, if you are about to laugh. But don't cry, otherwise your beauty will leave you too soon. ” What display his best smile, even tense.