Aging gracefully isn’t just about skincare—according to holistic esthetician Chris Gibson, it’s also about exercise. At 61, Gibson swears by a series of targeted facial and body exercises that help maintain tight, lifted skin without invasive procedures or Botox.
After nearly four decades in the skincare industry, he credits these movements, learned from his grandmother in his teens, for keeping his face, neck, arms, and chest firm.
This Clean, Effective Powder Helps Support Muscle Growth, Endurance, And Recovery
1. Facial Yoga for Forehead, Jawline, and Lips
Gibson emphasizes that as we age, the muscles under our skin lose tone, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Facial yoga exercises can strengthen these muscles while also stimulating the lymphatic system to reduce puffiness. One simple exercise for the forehead involves placing your fingertips above your eyebrows, lifting slightly, and holding for a count of six, repeated five to ten times. For the lips, he recommends making “duck lips” while pressing gently with your fingers above and below the lip, which tones the surrounding muscles and smooths fine lines. To target the jawline, tilt your chin upward toward the ceiling, purse your lips, and hold—this isolates the jaw muscles and lifts the lower face.
2. Midface and Cheek Lifting
To combat sagging around the cheeks and nasolabial lines, Gibson suggests an exercise where you place your index fingers on the corners of your mouth, push your lips out, and pull gently. This creates tension from the cheeks to the upper lip, strengthening midface muscles and giving a natural lift. The movements also enhance blood flow and nutrient delivery to the skin, contributing to a healthier, more radiant complexion.
3. Arm and Neck Toning for Firmer Skin
Loose skin isn’t just a facial concern. Gibson demonstrates exercises like “wing stretches,” where arms are extended and rotated to engage biceps, triceps, and shoulder muscles, instantly tightening the arms. For more strength, he uses light weights in exercises like “hug the tree” curls and “serve the platter” lifts, which tone muscles without bulk. The neck gets special attention too: by performing controlled tilts and side stretches, the platysma lines and double chin area tighten, improving overall skin firmness.
Why These Work
According to Gibson, strengthening muscles under the skin helps prevent sagging caused by muscle loss. He stresses never stretching the skin during these exercises and recommends applying a rich moisturizer to enhance sensitivity to the muscles. Backed by studies on muscle stimulation and collagen production, these exercises can reduce fine lines, lift the jawline, and even plump lips—all naturally and without surgery. For those seeking tighter, younger-looking skin, combining targeted exercise with a strong skincare routine could be a game-changer. Gibson recommends starting slowly, performing exercises two to three times a week, and gradually increasing reps as your muscles strengthen.