Wrinkles...

"Dont scrunch up your face, or it will stay that way." Over the years, our skin develops a memory for our most common facial moves, including squinting, frowning and raising your eyebrows. Anything that robs our skin of moisture, such as too much scrubbing or the overuse of astringents can lead to problems. But, the worst offender is exposure to the UV rays.

Two self-massage routines, done daily, can nourish and relax facial tissue and skin, says Monika Struna, author of Self Massage. The first, called patting, is done while you stand wtih your feet about one foot apart. Lean forward slightly at the waist for balance. Then, start patting your face as if you were gently slapping it with the bottom sides of your fingers. Your left hand should do the left side of your face and vice versa. Continue patting the cheeks and sides of your face for 15 to 20 seconds.

The second technique is called wrinkle release. Place the finger tips of your right hand on the right center of your forehead and vice versa. Apply gentle to moderate pressure, so you can feel the layer of tissue beneath the outer skin. Then move your fingers back and forth as you would if you are washing your hair. Be careful not to move the fingers too far and stretch the skin.

Do this for a few seconds, then move your fingers across the forehead to the sides of the face, down and back across the cheekbones. Continue moving your hands over your face, working your way down the left side with your left hand and vice versa. This will help relax and nourish the tissue under your skin, where wrinkles start. Continue this for 30 to 60 seconds.

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