Face Yoga: I Tried 8 Weeks of Yoga on My Face and Here are the Results.
When I heard celebrities and influencers talk about the marvel of the face yoga exercises, I could not help but test this natural trend of anti-aging. During the eight weeks, I spent time every day puckering, stretching and toning my fifty plus muscles in my face. I was surprised at what I learned not only about some minor changes in my appearance, but also a new sense of family with my everyday stress levels and facial tension. I will be talking about the specific routine that I used, the science behind its effectiveness, and the outcomes that I got after the two-month experiment of facial fitness in this article.
So What Are Face Yoga Exercises?
Face yoga is an exercise routine of repetitive moves and exaggerated positions that aim at strengthening, tightening, and expanding the complexity of muscles of your face and neck. Just consider it as work out on your facial features. In this same way that squats can strengthen your butt, there are exercises that can strengthen everything on your forehead to the jawline.
The idea is very straightforward: as we get older, our muscles grow old and deflated, our skin wears out its collagen and elasticity. This mix is the cause of sagging, wrinkles and that overall sense that all is coming south. Face yoga practices are designed to fight this by strengthening the underlying muscular fabric which can then cause the skin on top of it to look fuller and tighter.
I was initially skeptical. What might possibly rival the offerings of the contemporary cosmetic surgery is the ability to do silly faces in the mirror? The deeper I had to research, the more the logic seemed to make sense. It consists of layers of skin, fat pads, and then muscle that make up my face. The reasoning is that working the muscle layer beneath the fat will be able to help rebuild shape and fullness to the face. It is a cheap, non-invasive method of skincare, which only needs your time and a small amount of patience.
The Science of Face Yoga: Is Face Yoga Effective?
I had to witness it prior to my commitment. Did it have any actual science behind these assertions or was it yet another wellness trend? I was in good luck because I found peer-reviewed articles that affirmed my expectations.
Northwestern medicine by far presents one of the most quoted studies in which researchers took a group of middle-aged women and administered 30 minutes of face yoga at least 20 weeks in total. The findings, which were published in the JAMA Dermatology, revealed that the study participants had a better facial fullness, especially on the cheeks. Indeed, self-assessment by independent dermatologists of pre- and post-perspective photos estimated that the women appeared an average of approximately three years younger on completion of the program .
A more convincing one is a 2025 clinical trial, which produced objective data of changes in muscles of the face following an 8-week face yoga program by means of a specific device (the MyotonPRO). The experiment was conducted with middle-aged females and showed that there were drastic changes with the tonus and stiffness of some muscles reduced and the elasticity of all muscular faces assessed rose. This implies that the practice did not simply appear to be powerful, it produced quantifiable, physical outcomes in the muscle and connective tissue.
Naturally, specialists are also eager to note that further studies based on a broader population are necessary. Nonetheless, the preliminary results are encouraging, particularly among individuals who want to become more attractive without spending a lot of money using chemical compounds that are not toxic.
My Face Yoga Workout Routine.
Once I knew the science, I was confident to dive. I compiled a workout with the help of multiple specialists, with a preference to those exercises addressing important areas of concern. The following is my 10-15 minutes routine that I got used to and you can do it yourself.
[?] The Cheek Lifter (Fuller Tighter Cheeks)
I liked this one best when I wanted to make it appear like I was lifted.
open your mouth into a big circle.
Lipstick: fold your upper lip over your teeth.
Squeeze your cheek muscles by smiling.
You can place some light fingers on the upper part of your cheeks and you will feel the muscles contract.
squeeze your cheeks and then take them up.
I did this lifting and dropping 10 times per day.
[?] The Eyebrow Lifter (Smooth the Forehead)
This one assisted me in fighting with horizontal lines on the forehead and tension.
Push out under each eyebrow with three fingertips of each hand and force your eyes to open.
And now, attempt to pull down your eyebrows with your fingers, so as to resist.
When you have it, shut your eyes and wink up your eyes.
Keep 20 seconds, let go and repeat.
The Breath of the Lion (To Release Tension).
It became my yogic classic that I can turn to and feel better in the moment I am stressed.
Breath deeply in your nose.
During the exhale, open your mouth as wide as you can, and make your tongue as far out of your mouth as you are able and position your fingers apart as much as possible.
Look between your eyebrows or the end of your nose.
Breathe out at length with a ha.
I repeated it 2-3 times to relieve tension in the jaw and face.
To Define the Jawline: The Big O.
The exercise is superb in tightening cheeks and jaw.
Keep your mouth open by means of an extended, long, circular open mouth. Please do not wrinkle your forehead.
Uniformly open your face and stare in an upward direction.
Hold this pose for 5 seconds.
Release and repeat 3 times .
The Swan Neck (To tighten the neckline and jawline)
I included this to treat tech neck and a drooping jawline.
Stand or sit erectly on your back.
Bend your head forward, and peep down.
Raise your chin gradually in the 45 degrees towards the right and upwards, feeling the stretch.
Take your head back to the middle and do the same on the left.
I completed 5 repetitions on each side.
What I Learned: Face Yoga Work For You.
Consistency is everything. You will not be able to do face yoga in a week and achieve dramatic results. According to the study and my personal experience, at least 5-6 days a week and 20-30 minutes a day of practice should be the threshold at which you will begin to notice changes, and they might be observed in as little as three-four weeks of the first instance. I was able to put my routine on top of a current habit, such as using a moisturizer in the morning or during my evening relaxation.
Technique is crucial. Another worry is that all the wrinkles may be acquired when people repeat the movements with their faces. This is a valid point! It is only necessary to pay attention to lifting and expanding movements, instead of squinting and crunching. In the case of the Smiler exercise, such as when I did the Smiler, I took care not to crinkle my eyes, which does frown crows on in the long run.
Face yoga is not a panacea. I considered it as a component of my wellness in totality. It is best to be used in combination with other healthy habits to which I gave precedence:
Sun protection: I have used a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen on a daily basis.
Eating healthy and being hydrated: I concentrated on fruit and vegetable intake and ingested a lot of water.
An effective skincare routine: I maintained a clean and hydrated skin.
My Final Decision on Face Yoga Exercises.
Eight weeks later, having practiced face yoga regularly, I can make a definitive statement that it is not a mere trend. Although it is never an alternative to cosmetic surgeries by people because such surgeries would result in some dramatic outcomes, it is an effective, natural product that can be used by every person who is eager to take the best care of their looks and health.
The greatest difference I could perceive was not only the slender elevation of my cheeks or the lessening of my forehead–but the attentiveness. That is when I began to be extremely conscious of myself gritting my teeth or wrinkling my nose when I was under pressure. Face yoga provided the means to get rid of the tension and made me feel not only better looking but also more relaxed and balanced.
It is a risk-averse practice with low costs, which enables you to actively participate in the process of aging. So why not give it a try? Buck up, lengthen it and see what it can do you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Does face yoga really make one wrinkled?
If done incorrectly, yes. Lines can become deeper over time by doing exercises involving repetitive scrunching, squinting or furrowing your brow. The trick is to concentrate on the lifting and expanding movements instead of contracting. Always have a watch on your technique.
When will I start to get face yoga results?
Majority of the research and the professionals indicate that once you are able to maintain the practice (6-7 days a week, 20-30 minutes) you can begin to notice slight changes within 3-4 weeks. Nonetheless, it can be expected that more noticeable outcomes, such as elevated cheek fullness, are not noticeable without 8-20 weeks of consistent practice.
Can face yoga be safe to all?
Generally, yes, it is very safe. Nevertheless, face yoga should be avoided in case of a face rash or a sunburn, infection, or open sores. Unless these cosmetic injectables are essential, such as dermal fillers, it is important to consult your doctor before using, as movement of the face can make the fillers disintegrate sooner.
Which face yoga practice is the best?
The Cheek Lifter is commonly featured in literature in enhancing the mid-face fullness that is one of the primary areas of ageing. Nevertheless, the best exercise is the one that will have a reach to every part of the face, i.e., forehead, eyes, cheeks, mouth, and neck and which you will perform regularly.