When we think about how a face changes with age, we usually think about skin. In reality, several layers are involved, and understanding them helps you build a routine that is realistic and kind to your face.
The layers of the face
- Skin: with time it becomes thinner and drier and produces less collagen. Sun exposure is the biggest controllable factor.
- Fat pads: the soft cushions beneath the skin shift and lose volume, which changes how cheeks and eyes look.
- Muscles: facial muscles lie under the skin and move it with every expression. They can hold tension or be underused.
- Bone: the facial skeleton changes slowly, which also affects how the layers above it sit.
Where face fitness fits in
Facial exercise works on the muscle layer. It can help you become aware of tension, relax habitual frowning or clenching, and practise controlled movement. Research on how much it changes the appearance of the face is limited, so we present it as a healthy daily habit rather than a way to reverse ageing.
A balanced approach
- Protect your skin from the sun every day.
- Keep a simple routine: cleanse, moisturise, and use an ingredient like retinol only if it suits you.
- Move your face gently with a short face fitness routine.
- Look after sleep, hydration, posture and stress.
Read more in How skin and face change with age, start with the Face Yoga guide or meet the muscles in the Facial Muscle Dictionary.
