6 Facial Exercises to Do for Pretty, Glowing Skin

What facial exercises can realistically do for your skin

Moving the muscles under the skin increases blood flow to the area, similar to how a short walk can bring colour to your cheeks. That improved circulation is the main, honest benefit behind facial exercises, and it can leave skin looking a little brighter and more awake shortly after a session.

Some people also notice their face feels less tense after a short session, particularly around the jaw and forehead, which are common spots for people to unconsciously clench during a stressful day. Releasing that built-up tension will not change your bone structure, but it can genuinely change how relaxed and open your expression looks by the end of a session.

What facial exercises are not proven to do is remove deep wrinkles or replace the structural changes that come with age, sun exposure, and genetics. Treating them as a small addition to your routine, rather than a stand-in for skincare and sun protection, keeps expectations honest.

Six simple facial exercises to try

1. Cheek lifter. Smile without showing teeth, then place two fingers lightly on your cheeks and gently push up while releasing the smile. Repeat ten times.
2. Forehead smoother. Place your palms flat on your forehead, gently press down, and try to raise your eyebrows against that light resistance. Hold for a few seconds, then release.
3. Eye area taps. Using your ring finger, tap gently around the orbital bone under the eyes to improve circulation without pulling the thin skin there.
4. Jawline release. Open your mouth slightly, move your jaw gently side to side and in small circles to release tension that can make the lower face look tighter than it needs to.
5. Neck stretch. Tilt your head back slightly and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which engages the muscles along the neck and jawline.
6. The fish face pucker. Suck in your cheeks and lips to make a fish face, hold for a few seconds, and release. This works the cheek muscles gently.

How to make facial exercises part of a real skincare routine

A few minutes, three or four times a week, is a realistic amount to expect yourself to keep up, rather than an ambitious daily routine that quietly stops after the first fortnight. Doing them on freshly cleansed skin, and applying moisturiser afterward, avoids adding friction to dry skin.

Gentleness matters most around the eyes, since that skin is thin and stretches easily. Light taps rather than firm pressing or pulling protect that area while still improving circulation. Good posture at a desk also plays a role in how the face and neck look and feel over a day, and our guide to desk posture and mobility covers more on that connection.

Pairing the exercises with a short warm-up, like gently massaging the jaw and temples for a minute first, can also make the movements feel less abrupt on skin that has been still all day, particularly first thing in the morning.

What glowing skin really needs beyond facial exercises

Sleep, hydration, sun protection, and gentle daily skincare do more heavy lifting for how your skin looks over months than any facial exercise routine can on its own. Facial exercises work best as a small addition on top of those basics, not a replacement for them.

Think of the whole routine as layered, not competing. Sunscreen and moisturiser protect and support the skin itself. Sleep gives it time to repair. Facial exercises simply add a few minutes of circulation and tension release on top, which is a modest but genuine bonus rather than the main event.

If tiredness is showing up on your face more than you would like, our sleep and recovery guide is worth reading alongside this one. For more practical beauty and wellbeing guides, our lifestyle hub and the fitness hub both cover more on how movement, in different forms, supports how you look and feel day to day.