Do Jowl Exercises Really Work? Two Moves Worth Trying

By: Linda Robison — Certified Facial Fitness Specialist

Disclosure: As an affiliate partner and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

By: Linda Robison — Certified Facial Fitness Specialist

Disclosure: As an affiliate partner and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

If your jawline looks softer than it used to, you might be wondering whether jowl exercises actually work.

I've been doing facial exercises for over 10 years, and I've seen a real difference in my own cheeks, jowls, and jawline.

Quick answer: Jowl exercises can help strengthen and firm the muscles around your lower face. They won't remove excess loose skin or replace a facelift, but they can be a simple way to improve muscle tone and definition.

Below are two exercises worth trying, along with my before-and-after photos so you can see the changes I've experienced.

And if you're looking for other ways to firm your jawline, jowl lifts without surgery covers more options beyond facial exercises.

What causes jowls

Jowls are the loose, sagging areas that develop along the jawline as we get older.

And it's not just loose skin. Our cheeks can lose fullness, facial muscles change, and the skin doesn't bounce back the way it used to. All of this can make the lower face look heavier and less defined.

What causes facial jowls in first place?

Weight loss can make jowls more noticeable, too. Here's how weight loss can affect jowls.

Side-by-side drawing of a youthful face with a pointed chin and an older face with sagging jowls and a wider lower face.

Can facial exercises help sagging jowls?

Facial exercises work the muscles beneath your skin. And just like exercising other muscles in your body, working them regularly can help improve muscle tone.

Here's what I like about them:

Muscle tone: Helps strengthen and firm the muscles in your cheeks, jawline, and lower face.
Circulation: Gets the blood flowing, which can give your skin a healthy, natural glow.
Facial definition: Better muscle tone can help your cheeks and jawline look more defined.

Of course, exercises can't get rid of every bit of loose skin or replace lost facial fat. But they're a simple, inexpensive way to work on your lower face without injections or surgery.

And if you're also noticing fullness under your chin, these double chin exercises can help you work on that area, too.

Jowl exercises before and after

These pictures were taken more than 10 years apart. Look at the difference in my jawline, cheeks, and neck!

The first photo was taken when I was in my early 50s. The second was taken at age 63.

I'm especially happy with how much firmer and more defined my lower face looks. These changes came from doing a complete facial exercise routine, not just working on my jowls.

You can see how things progressed in my jowl before-and-after photos, including my first six months of exercises and a later update.

Facial Jowls exercises before and after facial picture.

The after picture was taken over 10 years later. My Jowls and jawline are firmer, cheeks are more defined and the neck is firmer. In my opinion, facial/jowl exercises do work.

And if you're dealing with sagging around the cheeks, mouth, and entire jawline, lower face sagging covers those concerns, too.

Exercise 1: Three-Step Cheek and Jowl Routine

This is one of the routines I learned through Carolyn's Facial Fitness, and it's a little different from the usual jowl exercises you see online.

It combines three movements designed to work the temple and cheek area, followed by a gentle smoothing massage.

Step 1: Temple pressure and chewing movements

Place the padded part of your hand against your temple, near the outer corner of your eye. Use gentle to moderate pressure.

While holding your hand in place, make small, slow chewing movements with your lower jaw, first forward and then backward.

Carolyn taught me that this movement is intended to work a small facial muscle called the malaris, which may contribute to support in the cheek area.

Step 2: Cheek-shaping exercise

Make a V with your index and middle fingers, placing them across the upper cheek as Carolyn demonstrates. Use your thumb for support.

Form a big O with your mouth, then smile and hold briefly. Move your fingers across the cheek and repeat.

Step 3: Gentle facial smoothing

Using the padded part of your hand, make a long O with your mouth by wrapping your lips gently around your teeth.

Slide your hand outward across your cheek and into your hairline, using light pressure. Repeat as demonstrated in the video.

My take: I like this routine because it works more than just the jawline. It focuses on the cheeks and surrounding facial muscles, which can influence how the lower face looks. I use gentle pressure, especially around the delicate temple area.

It's worth trying if you enjoy facial exercises, but I wouldn't expect this one routine to tighten loose jowl skin on its own.

Watch Carolyn demonstrate all three steps below. I recommend following along with her the first few times to get the hand placement right.

Exercise 2: The Jowl Press

This exercise comes from Carolyn's Facial Fitness. It's designed to work the muscles around the corners of your mouth, marionette lines, and lower jowls.

Carolyn has also updated the movement to include a slight upward push with your index fingers.

Here's how to do it:

Tuck your bottom lip over your lower teeth. Tighten the corners of your mouth until you feel firm little knots forming on each side. This creates the resistance for the exercise.
Position your index fingers. Lay each finger along the marionette line, with the fingertip just above the tightened corner of your mouth. The rest of your finger should rest against your face, extending down toward your chin.
Wrap your thumbs around your jawbone. Your fingers and thumbs should gently grasp the lower jaw area.
Squeeze and lift. Keep your mouth corners tight as you squeeze your fingers and thumbs around the jawbone. At the same time, gently push your index fingers slightly upward and hold.
Release. Relax your mouth and hands before repeating the movement.

The idea is to work the muscles around the mouth and lower jowls while keeping the contracted muscles in place with your fingers.

How often? Carolyn recommends doing this exercise once a day, four days a week for eight weeks. After that, reduce it to three days a week.

FAQ: Jowl exericses

Do jowl exercises really work?

I believe they can help improve the appearance of the lower face, based on my own experience. But results vary, and there's limited research specifically showing that exercises lift sagging jowls. I look at them as a way to work the facial muscles, not a replacement for skin-tightening treatments.

What is the best exercise for sagging jowls?

I prefer exercises that work the cheeks and surrounding facial muscles rather than just pulling or rubbing along the jawline. The three-step Carolyn's Facial Fitness routine I demonstrated above is one I've practiced myself.

Can exercises reduce or get rid of jowls?

Not completely. Exercises can't remove excess skin or reverse all the changes in facial fat and support that happen with age. But improving cheek muscle tone may help the lower face look a little firmer.

How can I tighten jowls naturally at home?

Facial exercises are one option worth trying, especially if you prefer a gentle, no-cost routine. For other approaches, including massage and skincare, see my Jowl Lift Without Surgery guide.

Can facial exercises prevent jowls?

There's no good evidence that facial exercises can prevent jowls altogether. Aging, genetics, and changes in skin and facial structure all play a part. I practice them because I like how my face looks and feels, not because I expect them to stop aging.

What research says

I've always believed that working the facial muscles can make a difference in how the face looks. After years of doing these exercises myself, I'm happy to see researchers taking a closer look, too.

Here's what they've found so far.

A 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology followed women doing facial exercises for 20 weeks. Among the 16 women who completed the program, researchers found improvements in upper and lower cheek fullness.

That's interesting to me because the cheeks are one of the areas I've noticed the biggest changes in my own face.

However, the study was small and didn't show a significant improvement in jawline sagging.

Read the 2018 facial exercise study.

A newer research review published in 2025 examined studies involving facial exercises, facial muscle training, and massage. Some reported improvements in specific areas of the face, including the cheeks and jawline.

But the researchers also pointed out that the studies were generally small and used different methods. There's still not enough evidence to say exactly how much these techniques help.

Read the research review.

My take: I find the research encouraging, even though it doesn't prove that facial exercises can get rid of jowls. For me, they're a simple, inexpensive habit that I've enjoyed sticking with. And when I compare my own photos over the years, I like what I see.

Takeaway: Facial jowl exercises

Facial exercises have become a regular part of my beauty routine because I like the changes I've seen.

If you're just getting started, take your time learning the movements. Getting the technique right is more important than rushing through them.

And remember, the cheeks, jawline, and neck all work together. That's why I prefer exercising the whole face instead of focusing only on jowls.

For more ways to work on these areas, take a look at facial exercises for sagging skin and natural ways to help firm a sagging face.

Want to explore a little more?

Jowl Lift Without Surgery — Other options for improving the appearance of jowls, including what may be worth trying and what to skip.
Facial Exercises for Cheeks — How I worked on making my cheeks look fuller and more defined.
Lower Face Sagging — A closer look at the changes that affect the lower face as we age.

You don't have to do everything. Start with one exercise, get comfortable with it, and see how it fits into your routine. Small changes can make a difference over time.

Have a question or want to share your experience?

I'd love to hear from you! Visit my Questions & Comments page to ask a question, share a tip, or tell me what's worked for you.

Stay Connected with Me

Want to see what I’m up to? I’ll keep you posted on new products I’m trying, little tricks I’ve discovered, new finds, and a few personal updates too.

Linda Robison, certified facial fitness specialist and anti-aging advisor for women over 40

About the Author:

Linda Robison is a Certified Facial Fitness Specialist and founder of Anti-Aging Beauty Zone, where she shares practical tips, products, techniques, and at-home options for women over 40. She personally tests many of the methods she writes about.

Experience: Linda spent nearly 15 years as an Anti-Aging Health Advisor at the Life Extension Foundation and has over 30 years of experience testing facial anti-aging techniques, including training in Carolyn’s Facial Fitness. Her work has been featured in GB News and Beauty Box Magazine. You can view her background on LinkedIn and follow her on Pinterest.

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Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and affiliate for other brands, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. [Read Disclosure.] A quick note: I create the content on this site and sometimes use AI tools for writing and images. I review everything for accuracy, and my before-and-after photos are my own.

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