This article originally appeared in Well+Good.
In a lot of ways, skin-firming moisturizers are a good investment. With ingredients like peptides and retinoids, they work to stimulate your body’s natural production of collagen and elastin, which diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But admittedly, they can only do so much on their own. If you want to up the ante to help your skin reach its potential, pros say it’s worth supplementing your topical anti-aging routine with face-sculpting stretches, which are designed to relieve tension and strengthen your skin.
“Facial massage also stimulates collagen and elastin, which act as the wireframe for firm skin,” says Inge Theron, founder of FaceGym. “Through resistance training, our muscles get stronger and more toned and taut and we build muscle memory to create a strong foundation for the skin which results in less laxity.” Plus, facial exercises offer the added benefit of improving circulation and lymphatic drainage, which reduces puffiness and increases your overall skin health.