Sample Workouts and Their Benefits

By: Linda Robison / Facial Fitness Specialist.

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Face Exercise: Tips to Slim and Lift

I didn’t start facial exercises because I wanted a “new face.”
I started because my face was changing — softer jawline, heavier folds, less definition — and I wanted to understand what (if anything) could help.

If you’re here, you might be wondering the same things I did:

• Do face exercises actually work?
• Am I too old to start?
• Is this worth the time and effort — or just hype?

Those are fair questions.

Facial exercises aren’t magic, and they won’t change bone structure or replace surgery. But when they’re done correctly — and paired with massage — they can help the face look firmer, more supported, and in some cases a little slimmer.

That’s been my personal experience over many years, and it’s what I’ll walk you through here — honestly, without pressure.

What facial exercises can (and can’t) do

Before we get into examples, it helps to set expectations.

Facial exercises don’t:

• Change the width of your facial bones
• Create instant results
• Replace medical or surgical procedures

Facial exercises can:

• Improve muscle tone and support under the skin
• Help cheeks look more lifted and defined
• Reduce the look of heaviness in areas like the jowls
• Work especially well when combined with gentle massage

Results vary — based on age, skin quality, consistency, and lifestyle — but the changes tend to look natural, not overdone.

My experience (and why I kept going)

In my own case, facial exercises helped firm areas like the cheeks, nasolabial folds, and jawline. They didn’t make my face “smaller,” but they did help it look more structured and balanced over time.

You can see what that looked like in the before-and-after photo below.

My face fitness before and after pictures. There is at least a 10 yr. difference between the two pictures.

Can face exercises slim the face?

As you can see in the photo above, I was able to firm my face, especially around the nasal labial folds and jowls. And get more defined cheekbones. 

Note: Facial exercises won’t alter the structure or the width of your facial bones.

However, the right exercises can help lift, firm and build up the mid-face area (cheeks), giving the face a slimmer, defined look.

Unlike a face lift, the results of face exercises are limited, but promising. 

A study highlighted in JAMA Dermatology examined the outcomes of a 20-week facial exercise regimen on the facial appearance of middle-aged women, revealing significant improvements in upper and lower cheek fullness.

Face exercise and massage samples for a slimmer face

This simple slimmer exercise is called the Jowl Firmer.

This helps firm the jaw area:

• Place thumbs on either side of your chin
• Hands resting on your face below each ear
• Create resistance by pushing your thumbs into your skin  
• Then slide thumbs along the jawbone with medium pressure moving out towards each ear, ending below each ear.

Do this slide 10 times, 4 times a week.

ABZ Update: Advanced Jowl Eliminator Routine

We’ve added a more sculpting-focused version of the popular Jowl Eliminator massage. This Jowl Eliminator is a more effective face slimming workout.

Face slimming massage: 5 Minute routine for tighter skin

Here is a sample of a simple massage you can do every day after you wash your face, while it’s still wet. Or just after you applied a moisturizer.

You don’t want to do this on dry skin.

Note: Anytime you massage the face, the muscles should be taunt. To do this: make an O shape with your mouth. Then curl your lips over your upper and lower teeth and contract the facial muscles by trying to smile.

Wet Face Massage 

• Contract the face as described above
• Make tiny counter-clockwise circles with your wet fingertips 
• Start at the chin and move to the hollows of the cheeks, the apples of the cheeks and ending at the temples
• Massage all 4 areas for a count of 10

This massage helps to smooth and firm the skin and smooth the look of fine lines. Perform this on wet skin only. I found the perfect time to do this in the morning and evening when I’m washing my face or in the shower.

You should try to do this everyday. Why?

Because massaging could make your skin, especially the cheekbone area, look firmer and younger. 

According to a preliminary pilot study published in Skin Research and Technology in May 2022 by Okuda et al., facial massage was found to have significant effects on aging skin, including a reduction in malar top thickness and an increase in SMAS-height, indicating potential lifting and tightening benefits.

Other benefits, including:

• Improves circulation: Increasing blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells. This improves the appearance of the skin, making it look brighter and more radiant.

• Reduces puffiness and inflammation: Especially around the eyes because it helps to drain excess fluids.
• Relieves tension and stress: A relaxed face looks smoother and more youthful.

• Stimulates collagen production: Gently stretching and stimulating the skin helps promote production of fibroblasts cells, which are essential in producing collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. 

ABZ Update: New 5-Minute Face-Slimming Massage – With Bonus Lip Area Moves!

Love the original 5-minute routine? This upgraded version keeps the same easy flow but adds extra focus around the lips and mouth area—great for supporting a smoother, more refreshed look.

You can do it daily right after cleansing and moisturizing.
Still takes less than 5 minutes… just with a little extra power where it counts. Do it daily while moisturizing for an easy, feel-good boost.

Face slimming exercise tips for best results

1. Do a full workout.

I know you’re looking for a simple exercise to slim your face. But for best results, you should also include a full workout that exercises all 57 muscles from your scalp to your chest for a smooth, elegant, balanced look.

You can see what a full facial workout looks like here.

2. Choose a program that includes isometric and resistance exercises. 

This is VERY important. You should build up underlying facial muscles for the best results. Simple face yoga poses and face massages are great. But, after a certain age, you need resistance to build facial muscle.

Also, the extra pressure from resistance exercises also helps prevent facial bone loss which is another reason our faces sag, droop and slide downward. See what happens to your facial bones over time.

3. Be consistent. 

In the first 6-12 months, it’s important to be consistent. Workout your face weekly, with equally spaced rest days in between. Aim for 3-4 times a week, every other day or so. 

Once you’re achieved a good build, and you’re happy with your results, you only need to exercise about once a month.

Note: Doing it more often will not bring about faster results and can causes muscle breakdown. This is not a process you can rush.

4. Make sure to include face massages.

Choose a program that includes face massaging too. This helps keep the skin in good shape and the muscles smooth. Also, the added pressure on the face from massaging, helps keep facial bone mass in good shape.

Are facial exercises hard or time-consuming?

No! Learning the to do the exercises require some initial time. But then, most exercise programs only require a few minutes a week.

Once you’ve achieved a good foundation (after a few months), you can back off the exercise frequency (still keep the massage, though) and only do them a few times a month. 

Of course, everyone is different. Monitoring your progress is important. And finding an exercise program you’re comfortable with is also important.

The one I use comes with a pacing CD to guide you through every step. You don’t have to remember which exercise to do next or even count. The CD does it all for you.

Summary: Face slimming exercises

So, to summarize: What are these key essential face exercise tips for a slimmer, firmer face?

• isometric and resistance exercise
• include a day of rest in between workouts
• consistent weekly workouts in the first year
• exercises all 57 muscles
• face massage as often as desired

Do they really work? There are plenty of studies supporting the benefits of face exercises and massage, but most of them small, pilot studies. Or they used a small sample size with no control group.

But the only way you’ll know if a face exercise routine is going to work for you – is to pick a program and follow it.

There are a lot of great face workout programs available.

Here is more information on the face exercise program I use. 

Want More?

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