The first thing people notice about you is your face, so it’s not surprising that as a society we’re preoccupied with wanting to look our best. Research actually shows that attractiveness is very important to humans. Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re often judging people based on their looks. This might have something to do with evolution. Certain facial traits that look particularly masculine or feminine might be how our ancestors were able to tell if a mate was healthy and fertile. Studies have shown that women tend to prefer men who have a strong, muscular jawline. Just think about Superman and the leading male actors — from Christopher Reeve to Henry Cavill — who have played the comic book hero.
As men and women age, the shape of their face goes through changes. Your jawline may become less defined if there is extra fat in the neck and jaw area, or if the muscles have begun to shrink.
While you can’t totally fight aging or genetics, there are some things you can to do to improve the look of your jawline. Exercising the jaw muscles helps build them up and give your jaw a more defined look.
To find exercises that work, we consulted two experts. Dr. Scott Michael Schreiber is a chiropractic physician who is double board-certified in rehabilitation and clinical nutrition. Cristina Osorio is a TruFusion yoga instructor.
According to Dr. Schreiber, the front neck muscles are often underdeveloped, inhibited, and almost never exercised in a gym or therapy setting. “They can be a major cause of a droopy neck and a hidden cause of neck pain,” he says.
The muscles he’s talking about attach from the sternum and collar bone (clavicle) to various parts of the jawbone (mandible). Exercises 1 and 2 are from Dr. Schreiber, and 3 to 5 are from Cristina Osorio.
Dr. Schreiber says that with the proper form, “These exercises should not only sharpen the jawline, but also prevent neck pain, headaches, and jaw pain.” He warns that if you feel pain, you should stop right away. This likely means you’re not using correct form and could hurt yourself.
1. Neck curlup
5 Exercises for a Defined and Muscular Jawline
Think of this as an abdominal curl for your neck. It’s done lying on your back with the tongue pressed on the roof of the mouth. This activates the front neck muscles.
- Bring your chin to your chest and then lift your head off of the ground about 2 inches. Don’t lift your stomach and don’t poke your chin out.
- Start by doing 3 sets for 10 repetitions and gradually build up to more.
- Take your time because these muscles are often underdeveloped and can cause neck strain if you try too much too fast.
2. Collar bone backup
This can be done seated, standing, or lying down on your back.
- Keeping your head level with the floor, bring your head back several inches to feel muscles on either side of your throat contract and relax.
- Start with 3 sets of 10 repetitions at first, and then progress to holding the position for more than 30 seconds.
- Make sure that your ears stay over your shoulders and your head stays level.
3. Tongue twister
This exercise will target the muscles underneath the chin.
- Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth directly behind your teeth.
- Press your tongue to completely close the roof of your mouth and add tension.
- Begin humming and making a vibrating sound. This will activate the muscles.
- Complete 3 sets of 15.
4. Vowel sounds
These movements target the muscles around the mouth and on the sides of the lips.
- Open your mouth wide then say “O,” followed by “E.”
- Be sure to exaggerate these sounds and movements and not show or touch your teeth.
- Perform 3 sets of 15.
5. Chinup
This exercise helps lift the face and chin muscles.
- With your mouth closed, push your lower jaw out and lift your lower lip.
- You should feel a stretch build just under the chin and in the jawline.
- Hold the position for 10–15 seconds, then relax.
- Perform 3 sets of 15.
Other things you can do
Eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise goes a long way toward keeping you looking younger. If you feel that extra weight gain is contributing to the change in shape around your jawline, making lifestyle changes can help.
Takeaway
While facial exercises can be very helpful in maintaining the neck and facial muscles and keeping the jawline sharper, they aren’t a fix-all.
In order to look and feel healthy, you’ll also need to practice good eating habits and exercise regularly.
Exercises You Can Use to Reshape Your Jawline Without a Surgeon
We usually pay enough attention to our bodies when it comes to exercising, but we forget that our face muscles may need to work out as well. And it’s not just about getting a defined jawline — an expert suggests that performing these exercises may help prevent neck pain, headaches, and jaw pain.
1. The Jawbone Restorer
How to do it: Put your thumbs below your chin, side-by-side. Then slightly push your chin down, creating resistance, and slowly slide your thumbs along your jawline to your ears.
Duration: Repeat 10 times.
Effect: This exercise helps make your jawline more strong and defined.
2. The Sagging Chin Exercise
How to do it: Sit at a table and put your fists under your chin. Keep your elbows on the table. Slowly and gently try to open your mouth, still pushing your fists up, creating resistance. Hold for a little while and release.
Duration: Repeat 10 times, and do 3 sets (if you’re ready).
Effect: This exercise works your under-chin area, making it more toned and sculpted.
3. The Chin-up Exercise
How to do it: Close your mouth and slowly push your jaw forward, lifting your lower lip up. Feel how the muscles stretch. Stay in this position for about 10 seconds, and do the exercise again
Duration: Repeat 3 sets of 15 reps.
Effect: This exercise promotes the uplifting of your facial muscles in the lower part of your face
4. The Vowel Sounds Exercise
How to do it: Your goal is to open your mouth as wide as possible, saying “O” and “E” sounds. Be sure to articulate the sounds and engage your muscles. Try not to touch or show your teeth.
Duration: Repeat 3 sets of 15 reps.
Effect: This exercise tones the muscles located around your mouth and lips.
5. The Collar Bone Backup Exercise
How to do it: Keep your head parallel to the floor, gently move it back to feel your muscles contract, and then return to the initial position.
Duration: Repeat 3 sets of 10 reps. When you’re ready, you can try staying in this position longer.
Effect: This exercise perfectly engages the muscles under your chin.
Facial Exercises: Are They Bogus?(Opens in a new browser tab)
FAQ
“You can work out your jaw, and this will definitely work out your jaw,” said Dr. … Building the jaw muscle, or masseter hypertrophy, can be achieved with the Jawzrsize. However, experts warned that this kind of parafunctional, abnormal jaw activity can actually be detrimental in many ways.
Surgical procedures generally provide the longest lasting, most dramatic results for jawline enhancement. Facelift or Neck Lift- A facelift or neck lift tightens the delicate tissues of the lower face and neck. … Chin Augmentation- Patients with a naturally weak jawline can create definition through chin augmentation.
