Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 40 years of DIY skincare experience.
After a lifetime of living with bangs that framed my face, at the age of 57 I grew them out. That’s when I really noticed my neglected forehead. I decided to pursue a focused Do-It-Yourself (DIY) facial care effort to strengthen and smooth my forehead region. I began my forehead focus in January 2018 and published an article here in March 2018. I continued my efforts over the next two years and published an update article here in March 2019 and an update article here in May 2020.
In October 2020, I fainted late one night (salt imbalance) and split open the skin in the middle of my forehead from my hairline to my eyebrows (ouch). I revised my DIY forehead focus to include treatment of my new forehead scar. I wrote about my DIY forehead scar treatment here in January 2021.
This article summarizes the DIY practices that I currently follow to try to maintain a smooth and strong forehead in my attempt to age gracefully. It’s a trivial pursuit in a world of important needs.
I consider my DIY face care practice to be relaxation and rejuvenation time.
It’s been five years since I began my DIY forehead facial care focus. I’ll be 64 soon and I am grateful to use effective DIY natural maintenance practices to maintain healthy facial conditions.
With consistent use, DIY methods may be used to maintain a strong smooth forehead.
Photos of authors forehead 2012 to 2022 (at age 63)
Photos from 2012 through December 2022 (age 63) are provided for comparison purposes and to assess my forehead health through time. The images were taken under different lighting conditions. Although the photos may not be used for direct comparison, they provide a general perspective over time. I used to squinch my eyebrows together, creating a furrow in between my eyebrows whenever I would think hard about stuff or actually when I thought about anything. This poor habit caused a vertical line in between my eyebrows that began to improve when I began a more focused forehead maintenance practice in 2018. The October 2020 fall left a permanent vertical scar on my forehead and in between my eyebrows.
To me the photos show a strengthened forehead region over time. There are some pesky fine character lines but they are manageable with conscious forehead muscle management by day and facial pads at night.
In this article, I do not describe any new or breakthrough forehead focused DIY protocols. Instead, I share my standard DIY facial care practices with a few modifications.
DIY facial care methods require consistent practice over a long period of time to see results. Although DIY requires a diligent practice it also saves time and money. I prefer DIY over conventional facial care methods to:
avoid lifelong injections of artificial fillers or botox
avoid scheduling and traveling to and from appointments
save $$$ money
In my opinion, the biggest difference between DIY facial care practices and conventional facial maintenance practices is that DIY requires consistent use over a long period of time. Conventional facial care may provide faster results.
The long-committed effort of DIY facial care works for me.
My DIY facial care perspective includes facial skin, facial muscles and facial bones. I know that it is not so much about which treatment is most effective as it is about consistently stimulating the skin, muscles and bones over time. I alternatively use a variety of DIY methods to invigorate facial tissue and bones while avoiding aggravation.
My DIY forehead skin/muscle/bone maintenance “system”
Daily
DIY niacinamide/glucosamine serum followed by DIY vitamin C serum
DIY luxury rich, dry oil cream - with added collagen promoting essential oils or peptides
Sun Protection – if I leave my home, I apply a DIY mineral sunscreen 24/7/365
Retinol – sometimes I use retinol when I am recovering from the Retin-A peelys
Frownies – I use these on my forehead almost nightly (I am not affiliated)
Weekly
Retin-A – I try to use this nightly but can only use 0.04% to 0.1% once or twice a week
Facial Exercise – exercise forehead muscles to increase bulk and maintain strength
Bone Pressure Exercises – forehead bone pressure exercise repetitions (FlexEffect and Bone Tapping (smashing)) more important than ever, not affiliated
Red Light Therapy – love love love for superficial skin health, based on NASA science
Near Infrared Light Therapy – love love love for its deep penetrating collagen and cellular and bone regeneration benefits plus pain and inflammation relief, again based on NASA
Monthly
Soft tissue massage – to soften, loosen, relax and smooth tight forehead muscles
Fingers
Massage Tools
Gua Sha
Face Blaster – this seriously loosens tight fascia and forehead muscles (not affiliated)
Trigger Point Therapy – smooth tight muscles
Annually
2008 to 2022 four to six DIY deep micro-needling treatments
2021 series of six Med Spa laser treatments to treat forehead scar
Intermittently
Lactic Acid – a series of six is recommended to exfoliate and freshen skin and to stimulate collagen. For me, there is usually one peely day per treatment
Electric body massage tool – it makes sense to me to carefully use my reciprocating massage tool to stimulate circulation, loosen forehead muscles and stimulate forehead bones.
My forehead health goals include varied use of advanced skin care practices, exercises to strengthen forehead muscles and use of pressure to maintain forehead bone health. Sleeping with facial pads forces forehead muscles to remain relaxed which helps to eliminate, minimize, and prevent forehead lines.
Maintaining one’s forehead using DIY practices is a conscious choice. When I hold forehead muscles in contraction, lines form. When I consciously allow my forehead muscles to rest in an uncontracted state, fine lines in the skin diminish. I try to make a conscious effort to relax my forehead muscles throughout the day. This is a tiny goal that I strive towards to make a new habit to carry with me through life, a relaxed forehead. It’s quite good.
If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or it would be an honor to me if you purchased my book. Thank you!
Take good care of yourselves!
XO Deborah
This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.