NAEEMAH RUFFIN

Meet The Face Fitness Doctor

By Patricia Canole |

Photography by Neil J Tandy Styling by Tania Sterl Hair & Makeup by Amina Mitchell Alexander Photographed on location at The Sherry-Netherland

We know that getting blood flowing through regular exercise is good for our bodies. But have you ever heard of doing a workout for your face? It’s an idea that has gained recognition among people looking to ward off—even reverse—those stubborn crow’s feet, sagging cheeks, double chins, and the list goes on.

“If your body can look fit, so can your face,” says Dr. Naeemah Ruffin, 52, former assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and founder of Bellantz. Facial fitness is meant to tone and tighten your face naturally, without invasive methods. That sounds far-fetched—except there is genuine science behind facial fitness, which has existed longer than you may think. Facialists have long been using tools and techniques in combination with skincare products to help the face appear firmer and more sculpted.

Did you know that there are over fifty facial and neck muscles? It’s true. When Dr. Ruffin collaborates with her clients, they can focus on a particular area of their face or exercise the entire face from the forehead to the bottom of the neck. The face exercises target horizontal forehead lines, the lines between the eyebrows, nasolabial folds, flattened cheeks, the jawline, marionette lines around the lips, facial asymmetry, and double chins.

She collaborates with her clients one-on-one, and group classes can also be arranged. Generally, clients sign up for a 6, 12, or 20-week program depending upon the facial target areas. One of the outcomes of this program is that people learn more about their faces which can provide balance and comprehensiveness to a self-care regimen.

You don’t have to break a sweat. Following Dr. Ruffin’s program takes less than 15 minutes per day. To begin, she suggests you start practicing six to seven times per week, and then once you have achieved your desired results, four to five times per week for maintenance. A good practice is to do it in the morning and at night. In less than six weeks, her clients notice an improved difference.

Naeemah Ruffin’s career began as a CPA at Ernst & Young, followed by 11 years at AMEX. Although she was grateful for her business and management experience, she did not feel this was her life’s purpose. So, after a medical mission trip to Africa, she left her corporate career at age 37 to pursue a career in medicine and public health.

She completed a dual DPM/MPH program at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. In addition, she completed her surgical residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and later completed a podiatric mini-fellowship in dermatology and pathology.

A Revealing Look

Her journey into face fitness started when she looked in the mirror and noticed how her face had aged. Her cheeks were sagging, her upper eyelids were drooping, and she had creases between her nose and cheeks. While she realized that Botox and injectables were the answer for some—she longed for a solution that worked with her body. This began her search for a natural solution to a more youthful appearance. So instead, she started a facial exercise routine. The results were so good, she fine-tuned her Face Enhancing Fitness Program and started working with clients. She explains that the facial muscles are the only ones in the body directly attached to the skin. If you exercise the muscle and it gets toned, the skin does, too.

Most recently, Dr. Ruffin launched Bellantz Clinical Skincare, an Age-defying line based on natural plant extracts. A breast cancer survivor, she recognizes the importance of what you put on and in your body. Her mission is to help people look like the best version of themselves—naturally.

We met with Dr. Naeemah Ruffin to learn more about this fascinating subject.

Why does skin age?

The skin ages due to a cumulative and complex mixture of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The skin contains multiple layers, and as we age, each layer undergoes specific changes highlighting what our skin needs to remain vibrant and youthful. For example, the uppermost layer of the skin acts as a barrier to the environment and maintains optimal hydration levels. As we age, we retain less moisture resulting in dehydrated skin. Therefore, replenishing hydration levels is essential.

The deeper skin layer contains primarily connective tissue such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Collagen and elastin fibers give the skin strength and elasticity, while hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump. Excessive sun exposure causes oxidative damage and inflammation, destroying collagen and elastin and causing wrinkles. Therefore, reducing skin inflammation is vital.

Fat, muscle, and bone form the framework of the skin and provide structure to the face by helping to maintain a firm facial shape and contour. As we age, we lose fat and muscle mass, and our facial bones resorb, resulting in the loss of firmness and loose skin. Exercising the facial muscles improves muscle tone and firms the skin.

As you can see, skin aging occurs at many levels. Therefore, your skin care regimen should target these layers with effective skincare, face exercise, and a healthy diet and lifestyle to achieve a smooth, blemish-free, and luminous complexion.

What is the best diet for healthy skin?

Eating a plant-based, minimally processed diet low in sugar is one of the best ways to maintain healthy skin. This diet is rich in antioxidants to protect against UV radiation-induced skin damage, reduces inflammation, and protects your skin from premature aging. Several important antioxidants are vitamins A, C, and E, carotenoids, NAC, ferulic acid, selenium, proanthocyanins, CoQ10, green tea, pycnogenol, alpha lipoic acid, omega 3- and -6 essential fatty acids, and polyphenols. Many of these antioxidants are found in a Mediterranean diet. Also, research shows that a diet high in sugar or eating food cooked using high heat leads to the formation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), which can damage skin collagen and elastin.

How often should you do a facial workout?

All muscles in the body need to be worked out regularly, whether it’s your face or body. When establishing the practice of face exercise, I recommend at least 6 days per week. This helps to build muscle memory and create strong habits.

Is facial massage and exercise the same?

Facial massage and exercise are quite different. Facial massage is excellent for releasing tension in the facial muscles. Holding tension in facial muscles can cause individuals to hold the muscles in a way that can make a face appear aged. For example, consistently frowning can result in lines between the brows. Constant raising of the brows can also result in horizontal lines across the forehead, and continuous clenching of the jaw can result in a hardened appearance.

Exercising the facial muscles involves contracting the muscle to its maximum length leading to improved muscle tone, increased muscle volume, and blood flow to the face. It restores a youthful shape of the face and produces agedefying results. These benefits have the effect of smoothing wrinkles and creases and lifting and tightening areas of the skin due to loss of fat volume and decreased muscle tone over time.

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness is living in a state where my spirit, mind, and body are in harmony. First, I strive to maintain order and balance in my life by ensuring that I am in the right relationship with God. Second, I ensure that my mind is worry-free: I focus on pure, lovely, and noble things to bring it peace. Lastly, I nurture and take care of my Body with proper sleep, a whole-foods diet, and exercise, including taking my favorite ballet classes twice weekly.

What is the most notable change you have seen in the skincare industry?

I have noticed the push for companies to “clean up” their product ingredient list. Some are moving towards cleaner products, including removing harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and others linked to cancer and other illnesses. I have also noticed that while facelifts and other cosmetic procedures became popular over the last few decades, current trends show more women are deciding to move toward non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments such as micro-needling, plateletrich plasma, laser, and radiofrequency. However, even these nonsurgical procedures have risks and can take many months to see desired results. As a result, natural facial rejuvenation, consisting of non-surgical and non-injectable methods, has become increasingly popular over the last several years.

Tell us more about your Bellantz Clinical Skincare products. Will you be adding more products this year?

My most outstanding wellness achievement has been starting my own natural and organic skincare line. I have been a skincare enthusiast since I was nine when my mom bought me my first set of skincare. As a breast cancer survivor, I am very particular about what I put on my skin. So, after struggling for years to find skincare products that I could trust and that are both clean and effective, I decided to launch my skincare line. All Bellantz Clinical Skincare products are made with scientifically proven natural and organic plant extracts that are ethically and sustainably sourced from around the world.

They deliver clinical results by targeting and supporting multiple layers of the skin, which restores skin to a youthful, radiant, smooth, hydrated, and nourished appearance. The ingredients include plant-based stem cells, peptides, fruit extracts, antioxidants, brighteners, and natural hydrators and are manufactured in small batches to enable product freshness and potency.

Recently, I’ve added products that target dark spots and an uneven skin tone. I have always struggled with these skin challenges, and wanted to create products with the most potent ingredients that address these issues. I added a Purifying Clay Mask with Gotu Kola, Black Seed, Caffeine, an Azelaic Radiance Serum with Kojic Acid and Niacinamide (vitamin B3), and a Niacinamide Radiance Crème with peptides and Bisobolol. Also, the Murumuru Nourishing Eye Crème targets the lack of vitality around the eye area.

What is your favorite facial-care routine?

My facials include both working the facial muscles and pampering my skin. First, I exercise my face with one of my favorite routines that focuses on specific areas of my face that need toning and tightening. Then I use a facial steamer to relax my face and open my pores to take in my pore-refining and brightening treatment masks. Next, I use my LED light therapy device with my Kombucha Restoring Serum, followed by my Plant Stem Cell Creme and Revitalizing Facial Oil. Finally, I cap off my treatment with gentle upward strokes using my jade roller. As a result, my skin feels rejuvenated and looks very fit. I set aside time at least 2-3 times monthly to refresh and rejuvenate with this self-care routine, and I encourage my clients to do the same.

Dr. Ruffin believes Bellantz is for everybody and every skin type. Think of it as cherishing and honoring your body and soul. Bellantz Face Enhancing Fitness and Bellantz Clinical Skincare work in synergy for the most beneficial results.

For more information on Bellantz, visit Bellantz.com