When we think of staying fit and toned, we think of physical exercises like going to the gym or doing Pilates. But did you know that there’s a thing called “face workouts” which exercise your facial muscles? Dr. Vicki Belo is actually a fan of facial exercises and recently demonstrated a series of face workouts on her YouTube channel.

In her video, Dr. Belo explained that the facial muscles start off as tight and round and, with age and time, eventually become longer and thinner. Other factors, like water retention and gravity, can also add on to loosening of muscles and the sagging appearance of the skin. In order to tone-up these muscles, you need to constantly exercise them similar to other muscle groups.

Since there currently isn’t a machine available that can do it for us, we need to do it ourselves. She recommends doing facial exercises everyday or at least three to four times a week to maintain a lifted, youthful appearance. She’s not alone in this: a 2018 study observed that 30-minutes of daily face workouts—also referred to as face yoga—over a period of 20 weeks can make one look two to three years younger than before doing face exercises. Did we convince you of their anti-ageing benefits? Here are three exercises you can try.

Toning Exercise For A Defined Jawline

Who wouldn’t want to flaunt a defined jawline in their photos? We certainly do. To say goodbye to double-chinned moments and hello to a killer side profile, here’s a simple exercise you could do every other day.

1. Put your upper and lower lips over your teeth, covering it, while leaving your mouth slightly open.
2. Try closing your mouth, imagining some resistance in the pockets of your cheeks, while lifting your chin slightly as you close your mouth without your lips touching.
3. Repeat this at least 20 to 40 times, twice a day (Dr. Belo recommends doing it in the morning and evening).

Balloon-Bursting Exercise For Cheeks

A lot of factors, including water retention, can make your cheeks appear rounder than usually. If you want to achieve the look of a slimmer face, try this cheek exercise that Dr. Belo recommended. As a bonus, it can help reduce the appearance of laughlines around your mouth. Win-win!

1. Start by trapping some air on one side in the pockets of your cheeks.
2. Gently transfer that air pocket to the other cheek, either on your own or with the help of your kiddo, essentially “popping” the balloon.
3. Do this for 10 rounds on each cheek, a total of 20 times per session.

Stretching Exercise For A Longer Neck

Here’s another face workout that’s easy to fit in to your schedule. For that long, swan-like neck (perfect for photos!), try this simple neck stretching exercise.

1. Gently put your hands on the sides of your neck.
2. With your feet planted solidly on the ground, carefully extend your chin forward to stretch your neck muscles.
3. Hold it for 10 counts.
4. Repeat for four more sets.

Another neck exercise you could do is simply tilting your head back and pointing your chin up to the ceiling, as it also stretches the neck muscles.

Do these face workouts daily and watch as your facial muscles feel more firm and toned, while achieving that lifted appearance. It’s easy-peasy, and it’s all for free!