Yes, face yoga can modestly lift cheek fullness in some users, but studies are small and results vary by routine and commitment.
Curious about facial workouts? You’re not alone. Social feeds are packed with before-and-after clips, daily challenges, and app routines that promise smoother lines and sharper contours. The big question is whether these moves deliver anything beyond a quick pick-me-up. This guide pulls together the best evidence, explains what changes you can reasonably expect, and shows you how to try a safe, structured plan if you want to give it a go.
What The Research Actually Measures
Most programs target muscle tone in the cheeks and around the mouth. Researchers look for changes in visible fullness, wrinkle depth, and perceived age using rating scales read by trained reviewers. A few projects track muscle properties such as stiffness and elasticity with devices that measure soft tissue response. Sample sizes are often small and run from eight to twenty weeks, so think of current data as early-stage.
| Study & Design | What Was Measured | Main Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| JAMA Dermatology 2018, 20-week program in middle-aged women | Blinded age ratings; cheek fullness on photo scales | Average estimated age dropped ~2.7 years; biggest change in upper and lower cheeks |
| Medicina 2025, 8-week intensive routine | Muscle tonus, stiffness, elasticity with instrument readings | Improved muscle properties in the midface; small pre-experimental sample |
Do Facial Exercises Work For Anti-Aging Skin? Evidence And Limits
Short answer: some lift is possible in the areas you train, especially the midface. Cheeks contain larger muscles, so gains show there first. Lines that come from volume loss or skin laxity respond less, since those changes live in fat pads, collagen, and elastin. The upshot is that a routine may add subtle plumpness where muscle sits under the skin, while deeper creases still need skincare, sun habits, sleep, and in-office options for bigger shifts.
The strongest trial so far used a daily or every-other-day plan over twenty weeks with structured moves and guided progressions. Reviewers who didn’t know the timeline rated faces as a bit younger at the end. You can read the JAMA Dermatology pilot study and the plain-language Northwestern Medicine summary for details on the protocol and the specific areas that looked fuller.
Who Seems To Respond Best
People in midlife with early cheek flattening tend to notice the clearest change. Those with very lean faces may see a touch of roundness with consistent work. Users dealing with advanced laxity or deeper folds report smaller wins. Routines also favor patience; the visible part often shows after eight to ten weeks, with twenty weeks landing steadier results.
What Face Workouts Can And Can’t Do
What They Can Do
- Add mild cheek volume where muscle bulk increases.
- Improve control in areas that over-scrunch during smiles or stress.
- Pair well with sunscreen, simple skincare, and steady sleep for a fresher look.
What They Can’t Do
- Replace collagen, elastin, or fat that thins with age.
- Lift heavy laxity along the jaw or neck by themselves.
- Erase etched lines that sit deep in the skin.
How Reviews Map To Real Results
User posts tend to spotlight quick wins from better posture, hydration, and a small pump right after a session. That glow fades in hours. The lasting change, when it shows, comes from training volume over weeks. Think of it like gentle strength work for tiny muscles: frequency matters, form matters, and progress moves in small steps.
Practical Routine: A Safe, Structured Start
Below is a template you can test for four weeks. Keep reps slow, breathe evenly, and stop any move that causes pain, tingling, or jaw strain. If you have a history of TMJ issues, migraines, or recent cosmetic procedures, talk with your clinician first.
Daily Warm-Up (3 Minutes)
- Neck rolls: gentle half-circles, 5 per side.
- Shoulder squeezes: pinch blades back, hold 5 seconds, 5 reps.
- Breathing: in through the nose for 4, out for 6, 5 cycles.
Core Moves (10–12 Minutes)
- Cheek Lift: Smile slightly, place fingertips on the apples of the cheeks, lift lips toward the eyes, hold 3 seconds, 10 reps.
- Upper Cheek Press: Make an “O,” pull upper lip over teeth, smile with corners, lift cheeks, 10 reps.
- Nasolabial Smoother: Puff air into one cheek, hold 5 seconds, switch sides, 10 rounds.
- Temple Sweep: Place fingers near temples, lift gently while raising brows, 10 reps.
- Jaw Release: Tip tongue to the roof of the mouth, press, relax, 10 reps.
Cool-Down (2 Minutes)
- Lymph sweeps: with light pressure, glide fingers from center of face to ears and down the neck, 5 passes.
- Lip stretch: relax lips and breathe slowly to release any clench.
How Long Until You See A Change
Many reports point to eight weeks for first visible changes, with fuller cheeks and a softer fold near the mouth. Gains build through week twenty with steady practice. If nothing shifts by week twelve, adjust technique or rethink the plan.
How To Judge Progress
Use consistent light, distance, and angle for your check-ins. Take front and side photos weekly. Rate three areas on a 1–5 scale: upper cheek, lower cheek, and smile lines. Look for gradual trends, not single-day swings. If cheeks look puffed but lines stay the same, lower volume work and add posture and massage work instead.
| Claim | What Evidence Says | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Face workouts make people look younger | Blinded raters saw a small drop in estimated age over 20 weeks | Low-to-moderate |
| They lift sagging along the jaw | Little to no direct support; muscle is not the main driver there | Low |
| They soften smile lines | Some users see a mild change; data are limited | Low |
| They replace the need for procedures | No; different mechanism than fillers, lasers, or skin tightening | Low |
Tips That Boost Your Odds
Form Beats Force
Small muscles fatigue fast. Work in a mirror for the first two weeks so you don’t scrunch the forehead or purse the lips. Lower reps if you feel jaw click or neck strain.
Consistency Over Intensity
Five to six short sessions beat one long marathon day. Set a recurring reminder and tie your routine to a habit you already do, like cleansing at night.
Pair With Skin Basics
Daily sunscreen, a gentle cleanser, and a simple moisturizer do more for texture than any single move. Add a retinoid if your skin can tolerate it and your clinician gives a green light.
Common Mistakes That Stall Results
- Pressing too hard, which creases skin and cancels gains.
- Skipping rest days. Muscles need time to adapt.
- Chasing every viral routine. Pick a set, then stick with it.
When To Pause Or Skip
Stop during active acne flares, open wounds, fresh injections, or right after laser sessions. People prone to migraines or TMJ pain should start with fewer reps and extra rest.
What A Four-Week Trial Looks Like
Week 1: learn form and keep sessions short. Week 2: add one rep to each move every other day. Week 3: hold peak contractions one extra second. Week 4: add a second set to your top two moves. Take photos at the end of each week and compare.
How This Stacks Up Next To Other Options
Topicals with retinoids and sunscreen build smoother texture and guard against new lines. Office treatments target laxity, pigment, or etched lines with different tools. Muscle work can be part of a plan, yet it sits beside these routes rather than replacing them.
Bottom Line: What To Expect And How To Decide
If you enjoy short, structured sessions and want a low-cost add-on, a face routine is a fair trial. Expect modest cheek changes after two months and steadier results by month five if you stay consistent. If your main goal is jawline lift or deep crease smoothing, you’ll need skincare and clinic options in the mix.
Method Notes And Sources
This guide draws on peer-reviewed research and expert commentary. The most cited data come from a 20-week program rated by blinded reviewers and a recent lab-style project that tracked muscle properties over eight weeks. Both used small samples, so more trials are needed to sharpen estimates and compare routines.