https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muscles_of_the_face_,a_lecture_in_anatomy.jpg, Abby Magohomera, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Deborah Tosline published the book “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skincare is based on a scientific background, a love of research, and over 40 years of DIY skincare experience. In 2025, Deborah became a certified Integrative Wellness Coach through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
My facial exercise practice began in about 2000. Exercising my facial muscles made sense. I exercised my body muscles, why not my facial muscles. At the time, there was no research studying the effects of facial exercises. Instead, facial exercise protocols and their potential benefits were inferred from basic muscle biomechanics and weight lifting concepts. Where is the research today? This article summarizes some facial exercise research identified during a basic internet search.
My Anecdotal Experience
Facial muscles are teeny tiny. When I began facial exercises at about age 40, my facial muscles had atrophied. It took about six months of 30-minute facial exercise sessions, 6-days per week for me to begin to feel my facial muscles contract while exercising. As my facial muscles became stronger over time, they began to feel sore the day after facial exercises. This satisfying result told me that facial exercises positively impact my facial muscles.
I taught a weekly facial exercise gym class from 2002 to 2007. Students in their twenties told me that their facial muscles were incredibly sore the following day, while students in their forties might not feel their facial muscles contract. My anecdotal experience is that it’s possible to regain facial muscle strength even after facial muscles have atrophied, it simply takes time and consistency.
When facial muscles are exercised to fatigue the associated cellular repair causes muscle growth.
While I can’t imagine not practicing facial exercises, I don’t practice them as much as I would like. I practiced 6 days a week for a decade. Now I range between 3 times per week to much less, but I still practice! For example, I did facial exercises three times this month. I approach my facial exercise practice rigorously and it takes a bit of effort. Afterwards, my face is flushed, my facial muscles are temporarily plumped and my facial physiology feels good.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray378.png, Henry Vandyke Carter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Some Research Articles on the Impact of Facial Exercises
A quick internet search identified recent studies on the impact of facial exercises. These search results include journal articles summarizing small research studies or meta-analyses of existing research. The journal articles indicate that facial exercises result in facial muscle improvements. They also state that facial exercise research is limited and that further research is needed to understand the full impact of facial exercises. The following text provides the name and date of each article and a quote taken from the abstract or conclusions. Use the link in the titles for access to the study details.
“This pre-experimental clinical trial shows that face yoga can change the biomechanical properties of specific facial muscles in middle-aged women. While relaxation and increased elasticity were observed in superficial facial muscles, tonus and elasticity increased in functional muscles. These findings suggest that face yoga may have selective effects depending on muscle physiology, provide relaxation, and create a strengthening impact on specific muscle groups. In addition, it is predicted that face yoga can support facial muscles’ function and esthetic appearance in the aging process. However, more comprehensive randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate the generalizability of these findings.”
“Our results exhibited improvements in facial symmetry and function for either group, with the experimental group revealing superior and faster recovery compared to the conventional group. While the conventional group showed minimal improvement, the participants in the combined novel stretching and structured exercises group demonstrated a significant reduction in resting asymmetry from baseline to mid-intervention (experimental: p = 0.004; conventional: p = 0.18) and further significant improvements to the end of the intervention (experimental: p 0.026; conventional: p = 0.046). Significant improvements were also observed in voluntary movement and total composite scores in the experimental group during the early stages, with both groups showing improvements over time. In terms of facial functions assessed using the physical subscale of the Facial Disability Index (FDI), the experimental group (p = 0.002) demonstrated faster improvement compared to the conventional group (p = 0.011). Both groups revealed similar levels of improvement for the social subscale.”
The strangely compelling science of face yoga, explained, March 2024
“According to a small pilot study published in JAMA Dermatology, researchers found that participants (aged 40–65) who performed 30-minute daily or alternate-day facial exercises over 20 weeks saw a “significant improvement in upper and lower cheek fullness”.
Facial exercises for rejuvenation: A systematic review, 2024
“Although the facial exercises used in this review led to facial rejuvenation and are considered an alternative to invasive procedures, the few studies and their available quality of evidence are insufficient to prove that the exercises have positive effects for this purpose. More evidence is needed – e.g., randomized controlled trials, larger sample sizes, greater control of the duration of therapeutic facial exercise training, and different types of isolated exercise variations – before conclusions can be drawn about the evidence of facial exercises for facial rejuvenation.”
Can Exercising Your Face Help You Look Younger? September 2022
“The study tasked a small group of women aged 40 and older to devote time every day to a series of facial workouts. The exercises were intended to reduce wrinkles, help fill in hollow cheeks and minimize other signs of aging. These exercises focused on strengthening and building up underlying muscle in the cheeks, jawline, neck, eyelids and eyebrows. According to the study, participants appeared about three years younger at the program’s end.”
Effects of Facial Exercise for Facial Muscle Strengthening and Rejuvenation: Systematic Review, December 2021
“In summary, four out of the 11 studies included in this analysis investigated the effects of facial exercises on facial rejuvenation and reported an increase in the thickness and cross-sectional area of facial muscles and an increase in skin elasticity. The remaining seven studies found that facial exercise had meaningful effects on strengthening facial muscles, especially those muscles around the mouth (e.g., the orbicularis oris). Therefore, in future research, it is necessary to study the effects of muscle strengthening on facial rejuvenation by applying facial exercises to muscles other than around the mouth.”
Effects of Facial Muscles Exercise on Mental Health: A Systematic Review, November 2021
“As far as we know, this is the first review of the effects of facial muscles exercise on mental health. The results of this systematic review suggested that voluntary facial muscles exercise may help improve depressive symptoms, mood, and reduce level of chronic stress. However, due to the lack of available evidence, it was difficult to determine whether facial muscles exercise was effected on mental health.”
Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging, March 2018
“A 30-minute daily or alternate-day facial exercise program sustained over 20 weeks may modestly improve the facial appearance of selected middle-aged women. Blinded ratings of validated photo scales showed significant improvement in upper and lower cheek fullness. Participants were highly satisfied, noting significant improvement in 18 of 20 facial features.”
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Musculi_coli_base,_my_edits_for_tringles,_Submental.svg, Olek Remesz (wiki-pl: Orem, commons: Orem) Modified by user:madhero88, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Epilogue
These articles support my personal, anecdotal 25ish-year experience. Facial exercises appear to maintain existing facial muscle strength and rebuild atrophied facial muscles. For now, I would like to maintain my current facial muscle strength. I’m thinking about implementing a neck and jawline bootcamp which would involve extra effort to try and improve my jawline structure. As with most hobbies, more practice equals better results.
There are only so many minutes in the day and a seemingly infinite variety of DIY skin care practices to experience. Facial exercises provide a sound foundation for any skin care routine.
If you need more information about DIY skin care, check out the local library, search the Internet, or check out my past Blog articles. It would be an honor for me if you purchased my skin care book. Thank you!
Take good care of yourselves!
XO Deborah
This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure for any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.