Celebrity Trainer Reveals 5 Face Exercises That Lift Everything in 14 Days (No Surgery)

Let’s be honest for a second. We’ve all been there—scrolling through TikTok or Instagram at 11 PM, watching a woman with impossibly glowing skin claim she “lifted everything” in two weeks just by making funny faces. No surgery. No needles. Just… yoga?

Part of you rolls your eyes. Yeah, right.

But another part of you—the part that just noticed a shadow near your jawline that wasn’t there last year—thinks, Wait. Could I do that?

I get it. The idea that we can take control of aging with our own two hands is incredibly seductive. It feels cleaner, safer, and infinitely cheaper than the alternatives. But as someone who loves a good deep dive, I couldn’t just take the viral “14-day challenge” at face value. I wanted to know what is actually happening under our skin.

So, I looked at the clinical data, the anatomy, and the landmark studies. And what I found is fascinating—it’s not magic, it’s biology. But it definitely doesn’t work the way the influencers say it does.

Here is the truth about the “Non-Surgical Facelift.”

It makes sense, right? But here is where the internet gets it wrong.

This is the biggest discrepancy I found, and it’s important we clear it up so you don’t quit on day 15.

If you look at the chart above, you’ll see two different stories. The viral videos promise a “snatched” jawline in two weeks. And surprisingly, people do see results that fast. But it’s not because their muscles grew.

The First 14 Days = The De-Puff If you look better after two weeks, it’s mostly lymphatic drainage. Our faces hold a lot of stagnant fluid (thanks, salty food and lack of sleep). The movement of face yoga acts like a pump, draining that fluid away. You look sharper and less puffy, which is great! But you haven’t structurally “lifted” anything yet.

The 20-Week Mark = The Real Lift True muscle growth—hypertrophy—takes time. In the landmark JAMA Dermatology study, it took 20 weeks for dermatologists to notice a significant difference in cheek fullness. That’s five months of consistency.

So, if you’re in this, you have to be in it for the long haul.

The “Big 5” Routine: How to Actually Do It

Okay, let’s get to the fun part. The “viral” protocol usually boils down to five specific moves. These cover the main anchors of the face: cheeks, mouth, jaw, eyes, and forehead.

I’m going to walk you through these, but fair warning: you will look ridiculous doing them. Just lock the bathroom door.

1. The Cheek Lifter (The “Push-Up” for Your Face)

This is the money move. It targets the zygomaticus muscles—the ones that pull your mouth corners up.

How to do it: Make a long “O” with your mouth. Fold your upper lip over your teeth (this smoothes out lip lines). Now, smile—but only with your cheeks. Visualize lifting the corners of your mouth to your eyes. The trick: Put your fingers lightly on the top of your cheeks. You should feel the muscle jumping. Do 10 reps, and on the last one, hold it for 20 seconds. It burns more than you’d expect.

2. The Big O (The Wake-Up Call)

This one is all about blood flow. It wakes up the whole face and counteracts the “phone face” drooping we all get.

How to do it: Drop your jaw into a massive vertical “O”. Press your upper lip firmly against your teeth. You should feel a stretch right under your nose. Why it works: It boosts microcirculation. It’s like a shot of espresso for your skin cells.

3. The Swan Neck (Goodbye, Turkey Neck)

I honestly love this one because it feels good after staring at a laptop all day. It targets the Platysma—that thin sheet of muscle that runs from your chest up to your jaw. How to do it: Turn your head to the right. Tilt it back 45 degrees. Now, pucker your lips toward the ceiling (duck face style). You’ll feel a massive stretch on the side of your neck. Hold for 10 seconds, then switch sides.

4. The V (For Tired Eyes)

This is a favorite of Danielle Collins (a big name in face yoga). It’s for crow’s feet and droopy lids.

How to do it: Make a “V” with your fingers. Put your middle fingers at the inner corner of your brows and index fingers at the outer edges. Look up at the ceiling and squint your lower eyelids up. Safety Tip: You must apply pressure with your fingers! If you don’t, you might just be scrunching your skin, which causes wrinkles. The fingers act as a stabilizer so the muscle works but the skin stays smooth.

5. The Forehead Smoother (The “Natural Botox”?)

We all hold tension in our foreheads. This move trains you to stop furrowing.

How to do it: Make two “C” shapes with your hands. Place them over your eyes like binoculars. Pull down firmly while you try to raise your eyebrows. It’s a battle between your hands and your forehead muscles.

The Consistency Problem (And Why People Quit)

Here is the hard truth I found in the data: Most people quit.

In that Northwestern University study, nearly 40% of the participants dropped out before the 20 weeks were up. It’s tedious. It takes 30 minutes a day at first. But look at the satisfaction score for the people who actually stuck with it.

They rated their satisfaction at a 9 out of 10. They looked nearly 3 years younger on average. The lesson? It works, but only if you do it.

Need a Little Help? 5 Tools That Actually Make a Difference

Look, you technically don’t need any equipment to make faces in the mirror. That’s the beauty of it. But if you want to turn this from a “chore” into a “ritual”—and ensure you aren’t dragging your delicate skin—a few strategic tools can be game-changers. I’ve rounded up a few things that help with the “slip” (crucial for safety), the swelling, and the consistency.

1. The Face Yoga Journal by Danielle Collins

This is written by one of the experts I mentioned earlier. It’s fantastic for tracking your 20-week journey and ensuring you’re actually doing the moves right.

2. Cliganic Organic Rosehip Seed Oil

Never, and I mean never, do face yoga on dry skin. You need “slip” so your fingers glide rather than tug. Rosehip oil is lightweight, doesn’t clog pores, and is packed with Vitamin A (natural retinol).

3. MAANGE Ice Roller

Remember how we talked about lymphatic drainage? This boosts that process by 10x. Keep it in the fridge and roll it over your jawline first thing in the morning. It wakes you up better than coffee.

4. Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha

I prefer stainless steel over jade or rose quartz because it’s non-porous (no trapped bacteria) and stays naturally colder. Use this after your exercises to relax the tension in your jaw and neck.

5. Fishers Finery Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

You spend 8 hours a night with your face smashed against a pillow. Cotton creates friction (and sleep lines). Silk lets your skin slide. It’s the easiest anti-aging step you’ll ever take.