A video recently surfaced of beauty mogul Kylie Jenner trying her hand at ‘face yoga’, a series of targeted facial exercises designed to tone and strengthen the muscles in the face. Subsequently, there have been 192,000 Google searches for ‘face yoga’ online.

Source: TikTok

As interest increases, Annabelle Taurua, beauty expert at Fresha, has commented on the trend, its popularity, benefits and potential risks to consider when adopting the method.

Face yoga can result in a more youthful look

“Face yoga is a series of targeted facial exercises that are designed to tone and strengthen the muscles in the face. It works to stimulate circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage, which in turn can reduce puffiness, tighten and lift loose areas and give the skin a natural, healthy glow.

If performed regularly and consistently, face yoga can improve muscle tone and improve skin elasticity, giving your face a more sculpted and youthful appearance.”

Celebrities combine face yoga with injectable treatments to enhance results

“Celebrities such as Kylie Jenner are known for their interest and uptake in injectable treatments, so it may seem like a ‘show of face’ when they are seen to be adopting more holistic, natural approaches to skincare. However, facial massage techniques such as face yoga can actually work hand in hand with injectables, enhancing their results. Combining face yoga with fillers or enhanced skincare treatments can help encourage circulation and keep the muscles in the face active, thereby helping everything look more natural and balanced.”

Adopting this method at home is easy

“Face yoga is accessible to everyone and is easily performed at home, needing no special tools or products. Just follow these simple steps:

Before you begin, ensure your hands are clean and your face is freshly cleansed. You will then want to apply a facial oil or serum that you know is suited to your skin type and free of comedogenic ingredients, as this will help you avoid skin tugging during the facial exercises.

Before you get to the massage movements, it is important to open your lymph nodes, as this will help lymphatic fluid drain away and get rid of any puffiness. For face draining, you’ll want to open the nodes in your collar bones, behind the ears, below your jawline and the sides of your neck. If you don’t open your lymph nodes, you won’t get the full benefits of the facial massage.

Focus on performing lifting movements on the areas of your face you’d like to sculpt. Never work in downward motions! A good example starting point is your cheekbones. Using your index and middle finger knuckles, place your cheekbone between them and slide them firmly upwards whilst smiling softly. This will stimulate the muscles in the mid-face for a natural lifting effect. Make sure to keep all movements slow and controlled, and avoid aggressively stretching the skin.

The method Kylie uses in her video is called the ‘wow’ method, which can be used in conjunction with the more hands-on approach. Saying ‘wow’ in an exaggerated way, making sure to use all your facial muscles, can help to reduce smile lines and strengthen the muscles in your neck.”

Consistency is key to seeing results

“Like many things, consistency is the only way to see results. Making this a part of your morning or evening skincare routine will help to make this an easy-to-maintain habit and allow you to see results faster. You could also incorporate it into your shower routine, using a gentle cleanser instead of an oil.

Spend 10-15 minutes each time and aim for a minimum of five times per week – this should be enough to help you start seeing results in about six weeks. The longer you continue, the more your results will increase.”

Overdoing it can backfire!

“As with any facial treatments, natural or injectable, there are always risks, and face yoga is no different. When I say keep movements gentle and controlled, it is for good reason. Working on your face too aggressively, using heavy hands, and erratic movements can actually cause tension in the muscles in your face. This can lead to headaches and even cause fine lines, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.

I would recommend learning some tried and tested routines by either following a guided video by a trusted practitioner or visiting a professional who can show you exactly how to perform the exercises at home, teaching you correct finger placement, movements and pressure to get the most optimal results.”