The best routine is the one you actually do. This one takes five minutes, needs nothing but your hands, and works your cheeks, mouth corners, jaw and neck in a balanced order. Short on time? Do the first three moves for a 3-minute version.
Before you start
- Wash your hands and sit or stand tall, shoulders down and relaxed.
- Breathe through your nose, teeth slightly apart.
- Our golden rule: anchor the skin firmly with your fingers so it stays flat and does not crease while the muscle works.
The routine
1. Cheek Lifter (about 45 seconds)
Form a long, soft "O" with your mouth, tucking your lips over your teeth. Place your fingertips on the top of your cheekbones to anchor the skin. Smile upwards with the corners of your mouth, as if you are lifting your cheeks toward your temples. Hold for 5 seconds, release, and repeat 8 to 10 times. This trains the cheek elevators you use when you smile.
2. Lip Corner Release (about 30 seconds)
Place your thumb and index finger lightly at the corners of your lips. Make a very small smile against a gentle downward resistance, then relax. Do 15 slow pulses. This works the muscle that pulls the mouth corners down, so we balance every cheek exercise with a release here.
3. Upward Neck Kiss (about 45 seconds)
Tilt your head back until you are looking at the ceiling. Pucker your lips as if you are kissing the sky, and feel the stretch along the front of your neck. Hold for 10 seconds, return to neutral, and repeat 5 to 6 times. Stop if you feel dizzy or any sharp pulling.
4. Balloon Cheek (about 60 seconds)
Fill your cheeks with air, keeping your lips sealed. Move the air slowly from the left cheek to the upper lip to the right cheek to the lower lip. Do 30 seconds in each direction.
5. Apple Cheek Lift (about 60 seconds)
Smile as wide as you can without showing your teeth, and press the "apples" of your cheeks up and out. Hold for 5 seconds and release, 8 to 10 times.
How often?
Start with 3 to 4 days a week and add a day when it feels easy. If you train more than one area, alternate them and keep rest days as rest days.
A mindful finish
Finish with a few slow breaths and a gentle sweep of your hands from the centre of the face outwards. If you have a Rebel Skin tool, our train-then-release guide shows how to follow your workout with a two-minute massage.
The takeaway: five minutes, five moves, a few days a week. That is a routine you can keep.
Keep pressure light around the eyes and mouth. Stop if your jaw clicks, locks or hurts, or if a neck movement makes you dizzy. Skip resistance work on any area treated with botulinum toxin in the last six months, and check with your doctor or dermatologist first if you have an active skin condition, jaw-joint pain, facial nerve problems, or recent facial surgery or injectables. Face fitness is a wellness practice, not medical advice.
