How to Do Face Yoga For a Lifted, Sculpted Glow

The allure of face yoga has garnered popularity over the years from celebrities and influencers alike. While we’ve long known the positive effects of yoga on the mind and body, have we been missing something by neglecting the muscles of our faces and necks from the process? While some people may find face yoga helpful in improving the appearance of the skin, more research is needed to determine its full benefits.

According to board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, similar to yoga for the body, some benefits of everyday stretching with face yoga include “lifting and tightening of the skin, as well as smoothing wrinkles and fine lines.” “It is important to remember that while this may help to stretch the skin, it may not replace other treatments for the skin. It also may be important to avoid over-stretching certain areas and to avoid being too aggressive,” she says. We spoke to Garshick, a few skincare experts, and face yoga instructors to get the scoop on the pros and cons.

Keep reading to learn more about practicing facial yoga.

What Is Face Yoga?

Much like yoga for the body, face yoga consists of exercises and stretches that work the muscles in your face. “The facial movements are like resistance training for the muscles,” says BABOR expert esthetician Kimberly Keelan, “As you work them, you see a lift and tone to the skin.” 

What Are the Benefits of Face Yoga?

If you want to reduce fine lines or wrinkles, you might not want to cancel your Botox appointment. While Fumiko Takatsu, the creator of the Face Yoga Method, says a few minutes of daily stretching will lift and tone all over, the scientific backing is a little murkier.

Though an oft-cited 2018 study found “a regimen of at-home facial exercises maintained for 20 weeks seemed to improve mid-face and lower face fullness,” the sample size was small and homogenous, and the study had no control group. Indeed, an earlier study noted that there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of facial rejuvenation exercises due to the lack of large, randomized controlled trials.

“Facial yoga techniques may help to improve muscle tone which can help to reduce fine lines, but also massage may help to boost circulation and improve skin elasticity,” says Garshick. “More research is needed to fully understand the benefits.”

Beyond the debatable physical impact, there are psychological reasons to practice face yoga. Melissa Murphy, a face yoga instructor and yoga teacher of 15 years, says facial exercise can impact our health and bodies. “The head and face contain most of our major sense organs—the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin,” she explains. “They’re inextricably linked to the whole body. Position yourself in front of a mirror so you can see your face and neck. Put your lower jaw forward gently so the teeth show, and lightly press the teeth upwards.

“Even with this light pressure, can you see the muscles in the neck tense up? The tension in the face transmits to the whole body, and most of the time, we do nothing about it. We exercise the torso and limbs and we might—if we do yoga—relax them, too. But the face and head are sadly neglected, despite them being an area with a fascinating array of possibilities for movement and relaxation,” she says.

What Are Face Yoga Classes Like?

“My classes run once a month and contain an eclectic mix of practices and activities to help relax the face and calm the mind and body,” says Murphy. “There’s a blend of facial exercises, breathing practices, sound work, acupressure, and simple massage techniques along with short meditations and affirmations.”

“While the format is similar each time—an introduction, a standing warm-up, seated facial exercises, and practices ending with meditation—each session is different,” she adds. “There might be more emphasis on massage/facial exploration one month, sound work the next, and expressions another.”

Garshick adds that while face yoga may be helpful and a good form of self-care, “it is important to note that it may not replace skincare or in-office procedures. Additionally, it is important to be consistent to maintain results.”

Four Face Yoga Moves to Try

We asked Takatsu to give us four face yoga moves you can try at home. Before we move forward, a caveat: As stated above, the efficacy of face yoga for wrinkle reduction is up for debate. “Please keep in mind that many of these moves offer minimal-to-no real benefit, and some are counter-productive and create new lines,” says New York City-based dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD.