By Joanna Nobile
Founder, Breathe Tuscany · 7 min read
A Natural
Anti-Ageing Practice Worth Trying
After 40, our skin starts to change. Collagen production slows, skin loses some of its firmness, and the face can begin to look a little more tired than we feel. Face yoga offers a gentle, natural way to care for your face: no needles, no expensive products, just a few minutes of mindful movement each day.
This gentle, non-invasive practice has become one of the most searched for alternatives to Botox and cosmetic procedures, and for women navigating visible signs of ageing like sagging skin, fine lines, and volume loss and is a gentle way to care for your skin.
What Is Face Yoga?
Face yoga is a series of exercises and massage techniques that work the muscles of your face, neck and jaw. Just as yoga strengthens and stretches the body, face yoga aims to tone the muscles beneath the skin, ease tension and boost circulation.
It’s also a chance to slow down. Many of the movements are paired with steady breathing, making a few minutes of face yoga feel as calming as it is practical.
Does It Work?
What the Research Says
There’s early, encouraging evidence. In a Northwestern Medicine study published in JAMA Dermatology, women aged 40 to 65 practised facial exercises for 30 minutes daily or every other day over 20 weeks. Dermatologists rating before-and-after photos found fuller upper and lower cheeks, and the women were judged to look around three years younger.
The researchers suggest that as the facial muscles get stronger, they give the skin more support, making the face look fuller and firmer.
It’s still early days for the research, and larger studies will tell us more. But as part of a healthy routine, face yoga is a gentle, natural practice that may help your skin, and it feels wonderful too.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
Little and often. Five to ten minutes a day is a great start. Consistency matters more than time.
Be gentle. Use light pressure and never drag or pull the skin, especially around the delicate eye area.
Use a facial oil or serum. A few drops help your fingers glide smoothly and nourish your skin at the same time.
Pair it with your routine. Try it while your morning coffee brews or as part of your evening wind-down.
Breathe. Slow, steady breathing relaxes the face and turns your practice into a moment of calm.
Look after the basics. Sleep, hydration, a healthy diet and daily sun protection all work hand in hand with face yoga.
If you have a skin condition, recent facial treatments or jaw problems, check with your doctor or dermatologist before you start.
6 Simple Face Yoga Exercises
1. Forehead smoother. Place your fingertips across your forehead and gently sweep outwards towards your temples, applying light pressure. Repeat 10 times to release tension and soften frown lines.
2. Cheek lifter. Smile with your lips closed, pushing the corners of your mouth up towards your eyes. Place your fingers lightly on the top of your cheeks and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
3. Eye brightener. Make a “V” shape with your index and middle fingers and place them at the inner and outer corners of each eye. Look up towards the ceiling and gently squint your lower eyelids, holding for 5 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
4. The kiss. Tilt your head back slightly, look at the ceiling and pucker your lips as if blowing a kiss. Hold for 10 seconds to work the jawline and neck. Repeat 5 times.
5. Jaw release. Open your mouth wide, then close it slowly, pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Repeat 10 times to ease jaw tension, a common place for stress to settle.
6. Neck stretch. Tilt your head back, then push your lower jaw forward until you feel a stretch under your chin. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.
As a qualified face yoga practitioner, I practise face yoga regularly, and I can genuinely see the difference when I stop, which is exactly why I’m such an advocate for it. Here are a few of my favourite exercises that I do every day. They’re lovely to do in the evening, just after applying your night cream or serum before bed.
The Wellness Benefits of Face Yoga Beyond Skin
For women balancing careers, family, and the demands of midlife, face yoga offers benefits that extend well beyond the mirror.
The practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, supporting relaxation and helping to lower heart rate and blood pressure. Its massage components also promote lymphatic drainage and circulation, which may reduce puffiness and leave skin looking brighter and more refreshed.
In short, face yoga isn’t just a facial workout, it’s a few minutes of intentional stillness in an otherwise busy day.
The bottom line
Face yoga is a simple, natural way for women over 40 to care for their skin, ease tension and take a few quiet minutes for themselves each day. Glowing skin is a lovely bonus, but the real gift is the time you give yourself.
Sources
What It Is and Its Potential Benefits: Medical News Today
Benefits and Exercises: Healthline
Benefits, How-To, and More: GoodRx
Does Face Yoga Actually Work?: TIME
Face Yoga Is Taking TikTok by Storm – But Does It Work?: Northeastern Global News
Benefits and Exercises: MasterClass
Facial Exercises Help Middle-Aged Women Appear More Youthful: Northwestern Now
Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging: JAMA Dermatology