Does Face Yoga Work? What Facial Exercises Can and Can't Do for an Aging Face

Facial exercises have become a more important part of my routine as I've gotten older.

For me, the reason isn't really wrinkles.

I don't have many visible wrinkles, but I have started noticing other changes in my face, especially a little more puffiness and changes in firmness. Those are the things that have made me more interested in facial exercises.

You may also hear facial exercises called face yoga.

The idea sounds very appealing. We exercise the muscles in the rest of our body, so why wouldn't we exercise the muscles in our face?

But then come the bigger claims.

Can face yoga tighten sagging skin?

Can it reduce wrinkles?

Can facial exercises actually make your face look younger?

I do facial exercises myself, so I'm certainly not against them. But I also don't want to tell women that a few minutes of face yoga is going to give them a natural facelift.

The research is much more interesting, and much more limited, than that.

What Is Face Yoga?

Face yoga is basically a collection of exercises and movements that intentionally work the muscles of the face.

Depending on the routine, you may see exercises focused on the cheeks, forehead, jaw, lips, eyes, neck or other areas.

Some routines also combine facial exercises with massage.

The terminology can be confusing because you'll see people call essentially the same practice:

Face yoga

Facial exercises

Face exercises

Facial fitness

For this article, I'm talking primarily about exercises that intentionally contract or work the facial muscles.

Why I Started Paying More Attention to Facial Exercises

As I've gotten older, I've become more aware of changes in my face.

Interestingly, wrinkles haven't been my biggest concern.

I use sunscreen, take care of my skin consistently and use silicone facial patches at night. I don't have many visible wrinkles right now.

What I have noticed more is puffiness and some changes in firmness and fullness.

That's one reason facial exercises became interesting to me.

They're something I can do at home.

They don't require an expensive product.

And I like the idea of taking care of the muscles underneath my skin in addition to taking care of the skin itself.

But liking an idea and proving that it works are two different things.

So what does the research actually tell us?

Does Face Yoga Actually Work?

There is some interesting research suggesting that facial exercises may improve certain aspects of facial appearance, but we don't have enough evidence to say that face yoga is a proven way to reverse facial aging.

One of the most frequently discussed studies was published in JAMA Dermatology.

Women between ages 40 and 65 were taught 32 facial exercises. They performed the exercises for about 30 minutes every day for eight weeks and then every other day for the remainder of the 20 week study.

Researchers found significant improvement in upper and lower cheek fullness among the women who completed the program.

When physicians who didn't know which photographs were taken when estimated the women's ages, the average estimated age decreased from about 50.8 at the beginning to 48.1 at the end.

That sounds exciting.

But there's another part of the study we need to talk about.

Only 16 women completed the full 20 weeks. There was no control group, and the participants had volunteered because they were already interested in facial exercises.

The researchers themselves concluded that more research was needed.

So my takeaway isn't:

Face yoga has been proven to make you younger.

It's:

There is some early evidence that consistent facial exercise may affect facial appearance, particularly cheek fullness, but the research is still limited.

That's a much more realistic reason to be interested in it.

Can Face Yoga Help Sagging Skin?

This is the question I'm particularly interested in because changes in firmness are something I've noticed myself.

But we need to distinguish between working a facial muscle and tightening loose skin.

They aren't necessarily the same thing.

Our faces change as we get older for many reasons. Aging involves changes not only in the skin but also in fat, muscle and other structures underneath it.

The facial exercise study found improvement in cheek fullness, which researchers suggested could potentially be related to growth of the underlying muscles.

That's interesting to me.

But it does not prove that facial exercises physically tighten loose skin or produce the equivalent of a cosmetic lifting procedure.

So I personally do facial exercises because they're something I enjoy incorporating into my routine and because I'm interested in maintaining the appearance of my face as I get older.

I just keep my expectations realistic.

Can Face Exercises Reduce Wrinkles?

This is where I think online beauty claims often get ahead of the evidence.

If you search face yoga online, you'll see some pretty dramatic promises about erasing forehead lines, crow's feet, smile lines and other wrinkles.

The best known facial exercise study doesn't really support those claims.

Although cheek fullness improved, researchers did not find significant improvement in many of the individual wrinkle measurements, including forehead lines, crow's feet and several other facial aging measures.

That doesn't mean nobody could ever notice a difference in her own face.

It means we shouldn't turn personal experiences into guarantees.

If preventing premature wrinkles is your main goal, I wouldn't replace good skincare and sun protection with face yoga.

I would think of facial exercises as something you can do in addition to taking care of your skin.

Can Face Yoga Make You Look Younger?

Maybe this is really what most of us are asking.

And I understand why.

Most women aren't studying their faces thinking:

I need to increase my lower cheek fullness.

We're thinking:

Can I do something that helps me continue looking youthful as I get older?

The small JAMA Dermatology study is encouraging because the women who completed the program were judged to look younger at the end of the study.

But even the researchers described the improvement as modest and emphasized the limitations of the research.

More recent medical discussions of face yoga continue to reach a similar conclusion: there are some promising findings, but the evidence is still limited and larger, better controlled studies are needed.

For me, that's enough to make facial exercises interesting.

It's not enough to call them a proven anti aging treatment.

And I'm okay with that distinction.

Can Face Yoga Cause Wrinkles?

This is another question worth discussing.

Facial wrinkles are partly related to repeated movements and expressions over many years. So it's reasonable to wonder whether repeatedly scrunching, pulling or creasing your face during exercises could work against what you're trying to accomplish.

Right now, there isn't strong evidence showing that properly performed face yoga routinely causes wrinkles.

But there also isn't strong enough evidence for me to tell you that every facial exercise you see online is automatically beneficial.

I think technique matters.

Personally, I don't believe the goal should be to aggressively twist and crease your face simply because someone on social media says the movement will erase wrinkles.

If an exercise repeatedly creates a deep fold in an area you're concerned about, I would question whether that particular movement makes sense for you.

More isn't always better.

That applies to facial exercises just as much as it applies to skincare.

Facial Exercises Aren't a Replacement for Skincare

This is especially important to me.

You can exercise your facial muscles and still need to take care of the skin covering them.

Face yoga doesn't replace:

Cleansing

Moisturizing

Sun protection

Appropriate skincare treatments

And it definitely doesn't give you permission to ignore sunscreen.

UV exposure is one of the major contributors to premature skin aging. Facial exercises cannot undo the effects of repeatedly exposing unprotected skin to the sun.

That's why my approach isn't face yoga instead of skincare.

It's facial exercises as one small part of a much bigger routine.

The Facial Exercises I Personally Do

I like facial exercises that focus on different areas of my face rather than doing one repetitive movement over and over.

I'm especially interested in exercises that work the cheeks and areas where I've started noticing changes in fullness and firmness.

When I do facial exercises, I try to pay attention to the muscle I'm actually working rather than simply making exaggerated facial expressions.

I also don't expect to finish an exercise session, look in the mirror and suddenly have a different face.

For me, facial exercises are about consistency over time.

They're another small habit I can incorporate into taking care of myself.

In my Essential Skincare Guide, I include facial exercises as part of my overall approach to caring for aging skin.

I plan to share more of the specific exercises I personally use as well, because I think seeing an exercise demonstrated is much more useful than trying to understand it from a written description.

How Often Should You Do Face Yoga?

This is another area where I don't think we have enough research to give every woman one perfect schedule.

In the JAMA Dermatology study, participants did a fairly intensive routine.

They performed about 30 minutes of facial exercises every day for the first eight weeks, followed by every other day for the rest of the 20 week program.

That's quite a commitment.

And we shouldn't take that one study and conclude that everyone needs exactly 30 minutes of face yoga for 20 weeks.

The study tested a particular program.

It didn't establish the perfect facial exercise schedule for every woman.

Personally, I think a routine you're willing to continue is more useful than an ambitious routine you abandon after three days.

When Should You Do Facial Exercises?

I don't think facial exercises need to become another complicated skincare rule.

You can find a time that fits naturally into your routine.

Some women may enjoy doing them in the morning.

Others may prefer nighttime.

You might do them while getting ready, after cleansing, or at another time when your face is clean and you're comfortable.

The important thing is that the products on your skin and the particular exercise work well together.

If you're pulling or moving your fingers across your skin, for example, you don't want unnecessary friction.

And if you're following a specific facial exercise program, follow its instructions rather than assuming every technique should be performed the same way.

What I Like About Facial Exercises

One of the reasons I continue to be interested in facial exercises has nothing to do with dramatic before and after photographs.

I like that they're something I can do myself.

They don't require an appointment.

They don't require an expensive device.

And they make me feel like I'm actively taking care of an area of my face that we often ignore when we talk about skincare.

Most skincare conversations are about the surface:

Which cleanser?

Which serum?

Which moisturizer?

Which treatment?

But our faces aren't just skin.

There are muscles and other structures underneath.

I find it interesting to think about taking care of the whole picture.

What I Don't Like About Some Face Yoga Claims

I don't like promises.

Erase your wrinkles.

Lift your face naturally.

Look ten years younger.

Replace Botox.

Get a natural facelift.

Those statements may make great social media headlines, but they're much stronger than the evidence we currently have.

And I don't think women need another beauty trend telling us we're doing something wrong if we don't get dramatic results.

You can enjoy facial exercises without believing they're magic.

That's where I am with them.

I do them.

I like them.

I'm interested in the research.

And I'll continue paying attention to what I notice in my own face.

But I'm not going to tell you that facial exercises can replace every other approach to facial aging.

Face Yoga vs. Cosmetic Procedures

I think this distinction is especially important.

Facial exercises are something you can do at home.

Cosmetic procedures work in completely different ways and may target skin laxity, volume loss, wrinkles or other concerns through treatments that facial exercise cannot reproduce.

So I wouldn't compare a few minutes of facial exercise with a facelift, injectable treatment, laser procedure or another medical cosmetic treatment.

They're not equivalent.

You also don't have to choose one side.

Some women want cosmetic procedures.

Some don't.

Some want to do everything naturally.

Some combine professional treatments with skincare and healthy habits.

That's a personal decision.

My website isn't about telling women what they have to do to look younger.

It's about sharing practical things I've learned and the things I personally choose to do.

What Actually Matters Most for an Aging Face?

I don't believe there is one secret.

For me, it's the combination of many small things.

Taking care of my skin consistently.

Protecting it from the sun.

Keeping it moisturized.

Paying attention to what changes as I get older.

Using treatments thoughtfully instead of doing everything at once.

Taking care of my overall health.

And yes, facial exercises are one of the things I choose to include.

That's much less exciting than promising a five minute natural facelift.

But I think it's much more realistic.

Should You Try Face Yoga?

If you're curious about facial exercises, I think it's perfectly reasonable to try them.

Just go into it with realistic expectations.

Don't expect a few exercises to erase deep wrinkles or completely tighten loose skin.

Pay attention to your technique.

Don't assume more aggressive movements will give you better results.

Give yourself enough time to decide whether you actually enjoy doing it.

And remember that even the most encouraging research involved consistent exercise over months, not three days.

Most importantly, don't let face yoga become another thing that makes you inspect your face every morning looking for imperfections.

The goal should still be taking care of yourself.

My Take on Face Yoga

So, does face yoga work?

I think the most accurate answer right now is:

It may help with certain aspects of facial appearance, particularly cheek fullness, but we need much more research before we can make strong claims about wrinkles, sagging skin or looking younger.

That's not a very dramatic answer.

But it's enough for me to continue being interested in facial exercises.

I've noticed changes in firmness as I've gotten older, and facial exercises have become one of the things I personally focus on.

I don't expect them to stop aging.

I don't want to stop aging.

I just want to take good care of myself while I do it.

And if a simple habit like facial exercise turns out to help me maintain some facial fullness along the way, I'm very happy to keep doing it.

Want to See How Facial Exercises Fit Into My Skincare Routine?

I include facial exercises as part of my Essential Skincare Guide for women in their 30s and beyond.

The guide also walks through cleansing, toner, exfoliation, serums, facial masks, moisturizer, sunscreen, eye care and my complete morning and nighttime skincare routines.

If you're noticing changes in your skin as you get older, you may also like Skincare in Your 40s: What I've Changed in My Own Routine.

If morning puffiness is one of your concerns, read How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes: What I Do When My Eyes Look Tired and Swollen.

And if you're still figuring out where all your skincare products belong, read Skincare Routine Order: What Goes First in the Morning and at Night?

You can also visit my Beauty Favorites to see some of the skincare products and tools I personally enjoy using.

This article shares my personal experience along with general educational information. Facial exercise research is still limited, and individual results can vary. This isn't medical advice. If you have concerns about facial changes, skin conditions, pain or cosmetic treatments, talk with an appropriate qualified healthcare professional.