You see a myriad of articles and videos online touting the amazing results of facial exercises. They are supposed to tighten your skin, make you lose fat from your cheeks, tone the jowls, smooth out wrinkles, and more. Can facial yoga give you a facelift or make your skin appear younger? While there is some promising evidence, these claims are up for debate. Let’s stand face-to-face with them and see if facial workouts are truly worth the fuss.
Facial Yoga = Younger Skin?
A study from 2018 had a selected group of middle-aged women perform 30 minutes of facial exercises for 20 weeks. They had to do it daily for the first 8 weeks, and then every other day for the remaining time. The results seemed satisfactory, as the participants reported improvement in 18 out of 20 facial features.
What’s the catch? Well, only 16 women followed through the whole 20-week program, so the sample was small, and there was no control group. Even the authors of the study admitted the need for further research on the purported anti-aging properties of facial exercises. Also, 30 minutes every day dedicated to only moving your face might be a lot. Unless you’re highly motivated, it’s going to be hard to maintain the routine for a long time to achieve the same results.
Now, a gentle facial massage can stimulate blood flow and encourage collagen production. Great if a youthful appearance is what you desire. It also relaxes your facial muscles, relieves stress, and simply feels nice. A little bit of respite will look good on anyone. You’ll find tips on massaging your face correctly down below, but before that, we’re going to tackle some other miracle claims.
Cardio Session for Your Face
Can facial exercises help you slim your face out? Here’s the deal: no facial workout alone can make you lose fat. There is no such thing as spot fat reduction, as proven by research on localized loss of adipose tissue (for example, in the abdominal area). A consistent exercise routine targeting your whole body, a clean diet, and patience — this is what you need for healthy and sustainable weight loss. We also need to differentiate between losing fat and reducing face bloat. If you just want to do some depuffing, there are techniques to try out but keep in mind that they only work temporarily.
3 Ways to Get Your Face Moving
Facial massage
If you can’t pamper yourself with a professional massage session, at-home treatment is fine. You will only need your hands and perhaps some kind of lotion; maybe a serum, balm, or cream you use regularly.
There are many different techniques you can mix and match to create a whole routine. It can be as short as 5 minutes and as long as an hour, depending on your preferences. Here are some moves to try:
- Gently sweep your hands from your chin up toward your earlobes (apply light pressure).
- Rub your fingers into your temples in a slow, circular motion.
- Close your mouth and relax your jaw. Find the joint where your jaw connects with your cheekbone (see the picture). Massage that spot in a circular motion clockwise. After a few times, repeat it counter-clockwise.
- Massage the area under your earlobes.
- Want something slightly more intense? Use your knuckles to gently, but firmly press into your face. Start at your nose, and then move across your cheeks toward your ears.
- Apply pressure to the space between your eyebrows for a few seconds, then continue doing it as you massage the spot in a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion.
Be firm, but not too harsh. If you’re not sure how long to spend on the massage, try 20–30 seconds in a particular area or repeating each motion about 5 times.
Facial roller
Are you into tools? If so, you can switch things up with facial rollers. One study showed that using a face roller for just 10 minutes in one area can improve blood circulation. If you pop your roller into a fridge before use, it may temporarily depuff and reduce swelling in your face. The simple act of performing a massage with such a gadget could be a soothing and pleasant experience.
Discover these tips on using face rollers:
- Use oil, balm, or some other slippery lubricant, so the roller won’t pull and tug on your skin.
- Start at your neck and roll up.
- Roll from your jawline across your cheeks to your ears, applying gentle pressure.
- Glide the roller from your forehead upwards towards your hairline. Move only in the upward direction, not back and forth.
- Have a headache? Roll flat over your eyebrows for a potential relief.
What type of facial rollers are the best? How to spot a fake jade roller? Check out another article of mine to find out.
Microcurrent therapy
We’ve been using treatment with microcurrents for wound healing, pain suppression, and even drug injection. But how do they work in the realm of face rejuvenation? Some evidence suggests that electrical stimuli could help reduce wrinkles and support collagen production. Participants of a clinical trial study reported treatment satisfaction of over 70%, improved skin appearance, and smoothed-out wrinkles. Microcurrent tools are non-invasive and, with regular use, might offer lasting benefits. If you want to add a little bit of “tech” to your daily face routine, why not?
None of the different facial exercises or techniques will magically cure any conditions, revert the aging process, or fix all your skin issues. However, if you use them wisely, they can help you achieve your beauty goals. Always do your research, don’t spend money for no reason, and consult a professional if you have doubts.
Sources:
Alam, M., Walter, A. J., Geisler, A., Roongpisuthipong, W., Sikorski, G., Tung, R., & Poon, E. (2018). Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging. JAMA Dermatology, 154(3), 365–367. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142
Kordi, R., Dehghani, S., Noormohammadpour, P., Rostami, M., & Mansournia, M. A. (2015). Effect of abdominal resistance exercise on abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese women: A randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging assessments. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 38(3), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.12.004
Miyaji, A., Sugimori, K., & Hayashi, N. (2018). Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 41, 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.009
Ramírez-Campillo, R., Andrade, D. C., Campos-Jara, C., Henríquez-Olguín, C., Alvarez-Lepín, C., & Izquierdo, M. (2013). Regional fat changes induced by localized muscle endurance resistance training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(8), 2219–2224. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827e8681
Xu, X., Zhang, H., Yan, Y., Wang, J., & Guo, L. (2021). Effects of electrical stimulation on skin surface. Acta Mechanica Sinica = Li Xue Xue Bao, 37(12), 1843–1871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-020-01026-2
