I've seen several articles lately about facial yoga and facial exercise in lieu of going under the knife for plastic surgery. I think it's a valid route. I actually bought a facial flex a few years ago and I feel it helps. At the time I had a roommate and I remember her laughing at me while I did my bedtime ritual with the facial flex. I thought I'd take a look at a few popular facial exercise programs.

Exercising the muscles in your face is just as important as exercising the rest of your body. There are many facial exercise regimens that are good alternatives to plastic surgery. In fact, facial exercise is recommended for people who have had Botox injections to retrain muscles and ensure that muscles do not atrophy. Usually it's the eyes, foreheads, and chins that start to droop. These are the areas with a good bit of muscle under the skin.

Then there's the Face Wrap or Face Bra as it's also known. This is another non surgical home kit that uses herbs and promises tone those sagging jowls. Don't laugh. Spas charge big money for the same herbal cures. Dip the Face Wrap into the liquid minerals and squeeze out the excess water. Do it before bed and the "face wrap" is meant to draw out impurities and tighten sagging jowls.

Actually, facial exercise is better than plastic surgery. Plastic surgery cuts away excess skin and pulls it tight over flabby muscles. Exercising those muscles will give you lasting, as well as beautiful, results--and there's no down time from surgery. There are specific exercises and pressure points for cheeks, chins, and foreheads. Combine this with a little massage and some essential oils in the right spots and you can beat back the hands of time a little longer.