That’s not the case for all trends on TikTok, to say the least. As of late, facial exercises have been popping up on FYPs everywhere, with users claiming to lose facial fat or create a more lifted frame from doing these exercises alone—but is it true? Here’s what experts say. Think of it like you would full-body workouts: Not every type of workout will glean the same result, nor will it work for every frame. Some folks respond better to HIIT, while others prefer yoga. Pilates can help sculpt lean muscles, while jogging can improve cardiovascular health and endurance. Tennis can help with core work and coordination, while biking is easier on the knees and joints. All forms of movement are valid, they just have different purposes. If you want to lose fat around the face, facial exercise alone won’t make that happen, no matter the move—the same is true for the entire body. This is because spot fat reduction isn’t possible—as research has proven with the abdominals1 and other targeted fat-loss studies2. Instead, practice eating clean, exercise often, and most of all—be patient, as healthy and sustainable weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. However, some forms of facial exercises can be effective at temporarily reducing the appearance of facial bloat. So if you wake up in the morning looking puffy, facial manipulation can help ease this. While these results are potentially promising, the study wasn’t large enough or diverse enough to stand alone, so more research is needed. However, it is true that facial exercises like massage can encourage blood flow in the face and stimulate collagen production—two factors that are known to contribute to younger-looking skin. Here, three of the most well-researched options for skin benefits: Gua sha tools help to encourage lymphatic drainage in the skin and relax the facial muscles. The beauty-centric result is long-lasting facial contour and definition. When used consistently, this kind of massage can help to ease the muscles in the face that cause expression wrinkles in the skin—like horizontal forehead lines or the vertical “11s” in between the eyebrows. You can learn how to use a gua sha here and find a trusty go-to tool here. However, face rollers won’t provide as dramatic of results as the gua sha will. “The wide rolling pin shape of the jade roller is less likely to be able to allow for true drainage to de-puff the face,” board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., tells mbg. And yes, the latter one is backed by research: One clinical study with 30 women under the age of 45 found that with 30 consecutive sessions (each session being 20 minutes), participants reported improved skin appearance and reduced wrinkle depth. With microcurrent tools, you can see an instant sculpting effect, and after one month of consultant use, you’ll begin to see long-lasting results too. There’s so much more to learn about this topic (including how to spot a grade-A tool), so check out this story if you want to learn more. In addition, it may mean you’re thinking more about your daily expressions, notes facial yoga expert Fumiko Takatsu. And this can mean you’re more mindful about how you move your face, which could result in fewer expression lines with time. For example: The practice helps you become aware of those unconscious expressions you might not think twice about (like, say, a furrowed brow as you slouch over your desk). “I truly believe 20% of the benefits is the exercise itself, but 80% of the results come from the fact that you’re paying attention to your facial expressions throughout the day,” Takatsu explains. “You catch yourself tightening your shoulders or tensing the forehead.” This theory is anecdotal, but Takatsu has been practicing and teaching facial yoga for years and swears by the method. Check out the expert-approved tips below—with additional resources linked throughout. Getting your healthiest skin is about caring for it from all angles. And while facial exercise can be part of that routine, there are other important steps to take too: However, facial exercise alone won’t lead to fat loss around the face. If the tools aren’t for you and you want to learn how to encourage lymphatic drainage with just your hands, check out this step-by-step tutorial. Or check out our guide to caring for fine lines as you age.
