What Face Yoga Can (& Can't) Do
Today, I want to have a candid conversation about what face yoga can and cannot do for you.
In a world of overpromising beauty treatments and miracle products, I believe we all deserve honest, straightforward information about our options. No hype, no exaggerated claims – just the truth about this practice I've come to love and believe in deeply.
Let's start with what face yoga CAN'T do:
🍃 Face yoga can't completely erase deep-set wrinkles overnight. Despite what some social media influencers might suggest, meaningful changes take consistent practice over time. Think weeks and months, not days.
🍃 Face yoga can't replace the effects of injectables or surgery. If you're looking for the dramatic, immediate changes that Botox or fillers provide, face yoga works differently. It's more subtle, gradual, and natural-looking.
🍃 Face yoga can't stop the aging process entirely. Nothing can! Aging is a natural, beautiful part of life, and our goal should be to age with vitality and grace, not to pretend we're 25 forever.
🍃 Face yoga can't transform your appearance if you only practice occasionally. Just like body fitness, consistency matters. Sporadic practice will yield minimal results.
🍃 Face yoga can't address all skin concerns. Issues like hyperpigmentation, rosacea, or acne are better addressed through appropriate skincare, nutrition, or dermatological treatment.
Now that we've cleared up what face yoga can't do, let's talk about what it CAN do – and these benefits are backed by both scientific research and the experiences of thousands of practitioners.
What face yoga CAN do:
🍃 Face yoga can increase muscle tone in your face and neck. Just like exercise tones your body, facial exercises strengthen and lift the 57 muscles in your face and neck, creating more definition in areas like your cheekbones and jawline.
🍃 Face yoga can improve circulation to your skin. Enhanced blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells while helping remove toxins, creating a natural, healthy glow that no makeup can replicate.
🍃 Face yoga can release chronic tension. Many of us hold tension in our faces without realizing it. Regular practice helps identify and release these patterns, softening expression lines and preventing new ones from forming.
🍃 Face yoga can enhance the absorption and effectiveness of your skincare products. The increased circulation and lymphatic flow help your skin make better use of the products you already love.
🍃 Face yoga can reduce puffiness and fluid retention. The lymphatic drainage aspects of practice are particularly effective for reducing morning puffiness and under-eye bags.
🍃 Face yoga can create a more symmetrical appearance. By becoming more aware of facial imbalances and working both sides equally, many practitioners notice improved facial symmetry over time.
🍃 Face yoga can help you develop a healthier relationship with your changing face. Perhaps the most profound benefit is how the practice helps you connect with and appreciate your face rather than criticizing it.
Research supports these benefits. The 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology that I mentioned in this blog post found that participants looked approximately three years younger after 20 weeks of facial exercises, with particular improvement in cheek fullness – a key marker of a youthful appearance.
The realistic timeline:
So when can you expect to see results? Here's a realistic timeline based on my experience with hundreds of students:
Within days: You'll feel the difference – increased awareness of tension patterns and improved circulation
Within 2-3 weeks: You'll begin to notice subtle changes, particularly in skin tone and morning puffiness
Within 6-8 weeks: Others might start commenting that you look "well rested" (or ask if you’d changed your hair or glasses)
Within 3-4 months: More noticeable improvements in muscle tone, particularly in the cheeks, jawline, and around the eyes
Within 6+ months: Significant, lasting changes that continue to improve with ongoing practice
This timeline assumes that you’re practicing regularly (at least 5-10 minutes daily or longer sessions 3-4 times weekly). Obviously, your results are going to depend on a lot of different factors like age, skin condition, consistency, and technique.
Who benefits most from face yoga?
While anyone can practice face yoga, I've found that it tends to be particularly effective for:
Women in their 40s to 70s who are noticing the first significant changes in their skin or facial structure
Those who prefer natural approaches aligned with their values around health and beauty
People who don’t mind investing time (as opposed to just money) in their appearance
Anyone who appreciates the mind-body connection and holistic benefits beyond appearance
Those who are no longer satisfied with product-based approaches to skin aging
The beauty of an integrated approach
What I love most about face yoga is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing choice. I love that my face yoga practice blends so beautifully with other things I value like my favorite natural skincare products, occasional professional treatments, and complementary practices like gua sha and red light therapy.
Face yoga works beautifully as part of an integrated approach to beauty and self-care, enhancing whatever else you're doing rather than replacing it entirely.
That’s because face yoga isn't about achieving some arbitrary standard of beauty. It's about enabling your face to reflect the vibrant, dynamic person you are at every age. It's about working with your natural structure rather than against it, and about developing a loving, attentive relationship with your changing face.