Lip Exercises for a Shorter Philtrum: How Does the Resistance Work?

by Stacy
(Miami, Florida, USA)

Hi,

I bought the Lip Shaping exercise video to shorten the philtrum. But I have a few questions about this workout:

QUESTION: For the move where you put your index fingers on either side of mouth, then kiss and try to lift the upper lip up and out. What is the purpose for the fingers on either side of the mouth? I assume their trying to stop the lips from forming the kiss? And the kissing motion is more like flaring the lip up and out - like a strong pucker?

QUESTION: For the 2nd to the last exercise where you put your finger into the cupids bow and push in and push up, what is the finger on the nose doing? Just trying to hold the upper lip/mouth steady as you try to pull the lip down? Therefore, working the muscle?

Editor's Note:

Hi Stacy!

Great questions! And I love that you're paying attention to exactly what your fingers are doing during these exercises. Those little details really matter when you're trying to create resistance.

Why hold the corners of your mouth during the kissing exercise?

You've got the right idea!

Your fingers are there to gently hold the corners of your mouth in place while you try to lift and flare your upper lip outward.

Think of it as giving those little muscles around your upper lip something to work against.

And yes, it's more of an upward and outward movement than an ordinary kiss. You want to concentrate on lifting the upper lip, rather than just pushing both lips forward into a big pucker.

One thing I've learned from doing resistance facial exercises for years is that small, controlled movements can be surprisingly challenging. You don't need to pull hard or exaggerate the movement to feel the muscles working.

With practice, you may find it easier to isolate and control that upper-lip movement.

What is the finger on your nose doing in the Cupid's bow exercise?

You're right about this one, too.

The finger on your nose is there to help stabilize the area while your other finger gently presses upward into the little groove above your upper lip, called the philtrum.

As you try to pull your upper lip downward against that gentle resistance, you're working the muscles around the mouth while keeping the movement more controlled.

The idea behind this exercise is to improve muscle engagement and control around the upper lip and Cupid's bow.

Some people notice that they can make their upper lip flare or lift more easily after practicing these movements. Just keep in mind that improving muscle control isn't the same as actually shortening the philtrum, which is the distance between your nose and upper lip.

My advice for getting the most from these exercises

Stacy, here's something I've learned from years of facial exercising: it's not how hard you push or pull. It's how well you control the movement.

I would start gently, concentrate on feeling the muscles work, and give yourself time to learn the technique.

And don't forget to take a few pictures before you start! I always encourage this because subtle changes can be difficult to notice when you're looking in the mirror every day.

If you're interested in other ways to care for your lips and the delicate skin around your mouth, take a look at my lip care tips for mature skin.

Hope this clears things up, Stacy! And please let me know how you do with the exercises. I'd love to hear about your experience.

Best,
Linda