These Science-Approved Facial Exercises May Make You Look Years Younger

Science does seem to support what aestheticians and dermatologists have known all along—doing facial exercises regularly may actually make you look as much as three years younger

Woman doing various facial exercises to improve her skin.
courtesy Frances Janisch for FaceLove

The science behind the moves

Can face exercises really help the average woman look younger? Well, a 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology suggested that regular facial exercises can indeed make your skin look younger, giving you fuller and firmer upper and lower cheeks. That’s great news for people who are seriously committed to natural beauty and saving loads of cash on pricey beauty products. You’ll be pleased to know that the women who took part in the study looked an average of three years younger after 20 weeks of exercise, as rated by dermatologists. However, the regimen in the study was fairly rigorous: The participants did 30 minutes of facial exercises a day, every other day, for two and a half months.

If you’re eager to give face exercises a try, discuss some options with your dermatologist. You can get a start with this simplified regimen from Heidi Frederick, the co-founder of FaceLove, a beauty business specializing in facial fitness in New York City. You’ll also want to check out these secrets to looking younger from top dermatologists.

Woman rubbing her cheeks to improve her skin.
courtesy Frances Janisch for FaceLove

Facial Exercise 1: Eye-firming cheek plumper

  1. Place both hands horizontally just below your lower lash line and on top of your cheekbones. Index fingers should be under your lashes, while your little fingers are just under cheekbones. Press your hands on the surface of the skin to hold muscles in place.
  2. Squint your eyes while squeezing cheeks up toward eyes—like making a squishy sour face. Hold for five counts and repeat three to five times.
Woman doing facial exercises to make her skin look younger.
courtesy Frances Janisch for FaceLove

Facial Exercise 2: All-over face tone

  1. Create a resistance platform under your chin by putting your hands together in a flat fist. Squeeze every muscle in your face, squint your eyes, pucker your lips, and tuck your chin to your chest while the platform provides resistance under your chin. It’s helpful to keep your arms and elbows tucked. Hold this for five counts.
  2. Alternate with the opposite exercise of expansion instead of contraction. Release your platform, lift your eyes up, arch your eyebrows up, open your mouth wide, and slightly lift your chin. Hold for five counts.
  3. Repeat both movements three to five times.

Do facial exercises work? Only if you do them at least most days of the week, and the all-over face tone is a good one to practice until you memorize it perfectly. You should also check out these 50 everyday habits that can help you look younger.

Woman doing facial exercises on her chin to improve her skin.
courtesy Frances Janisch for FaceLove

Facial Exercise 3: Jawline defined

  1. Create a resistance platform under your chin by putting your hands together in a flat fist. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth with your lips while tucking your chin to your chest. Repeat this for five counts holding on the fifth count for five additional counts.
  2. Alternate this exercise with an open mouth, dropping your chin and jaw to your DIY platform. Repeat for five counts holding on the fifth count for five additional counts.
  3. Repeat for three sets, alternating each movement.

In addition to your facial exercise routine, avoid these 50 things that are aging you.

Sources
 
Medically reviewed by Jessica Wu, MD, on March 30, 2020

Bryce Gruber
Bryce Gruber is an expert in gift ideas, shopping, and e-commerce. You've likely seen her work across a variety of women's lifestyle and parenting outlets and on TV shows. She lives and works in New York's Hudson Valley with her five small children.