How to Slim Your Face

Co-authored by Danny Gordon

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Are you trying to sharpen up your jawline? It can be hard to sort through all the different face-slimming myths and hacks scattered all over the internet. Don’t worry. We’ve picked out plenty of safe, expert-approved suggestions that may help you get the results you’re looking for. Keep reading to see if any of these options appeal to you!

1

Do cardio exercise and weight training.

Cardio exercise and strength training can help you reach your weight loss goals. While cardio exercise can’t target fat loss in a specific part of your body, it can help you lose weight all over your body.^{[1]
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Research source} Balance your workouts with strength training; this way, your skin won’t sag as much if you lose weight really quickly.^{[2]
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- Try to get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, like power-walking or swimming.^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- Experts suggest strength-training at least twice a week, completing one set of 8 to 12 repetitions for your main muscle groups (arms, shoulder, legs, hips, back, chest, and abdomen). Space out your strength-training workouts by at least 2 days, so your muscles have enough time to heal.^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  Go to source}
- Studies show that regular aerobic exercise can help with weight loss overall.^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}

2

Perform facial exercises.

Try doing facial exercises twice a day and see if you notice a difference. A lot of internet hacks talk about face-slimming facial exercises. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough scientific evidence out there to support these exercises.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Still, they could be worth a shot—try doing some facial exercises twice a day and see if you notice a difference. Here are a few to get you started:^{[7]
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- Fish Face: Pull in your cheeks and pucker your lips. Stay in this position for about 15 seconds, and then do a few more reps.
- Puffer Fish: Fill your mouth with air, pushing it back and forth between your right and left cheeks.
- Psycho Smile: Clench your teeth and pull your lips into a huge smile. Hold this smile for a few seconds, and then relax.

3

Stay hydrated.

Drink plenty of water so your face doesn’t look puffy. When you’re dehydrated, your body tries to hang onto any leftover water, which may make your face look bloated. To prevent this, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and see if you notice a difference.^{[8]
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- Experts advise women to consume at least 11½ cups (2.7 L) of fluids each day, and men to consume at least 15½ cups (3.7 L). You’ll get about 20% of these fluids from your meals and snacks.^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

4

Drink less alcohol.

Alcohol leaves you dehydrated, which can make your face look puffy.^{[10]
X
Research source} Plus, research shows that heavy drinking may play a role in weight gain.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} While it’s okay to drink sometimes, experts recommend that women limit themselves to 1 drink per day, and men limit themselves to 2.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

5

Cut back on sodium.

Too much sodium can make your face look puffy. If you can, use pure salt, like the pink Himalayan salt, instead of traditional table salt—this might help cut down the puffiness.^{[13]
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Research source}
- Unfortunately, table salt tends to make your face look extra puffy.
- For reference, experts recommend eating around 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day.^{[14]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Heart Association
  Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education
  Go to source}

6

Snack on anti-inflammatory foods.

Fresh fruits and veggies, like lemons and beets, won’t leave your face puffy. Add plenty of these foods to your meals and snacks, like zucchini, turmeric, ginger, and coconuts.^{[15]
X
Research source} Foods like tomatoes, olive oil, leafy greens, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, nuts, strawberries, oranges, and cherries are other great options.^{[16]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
- Try to avoid ingredients like soy, shellfish, dairy, gluten, corn, and processed foods. These foods might lead to inflammation.

7

Add more fiber to your diet.

A fiber-rich diet might help you reach your weight loss goals. Fiber helps lower your appetite and makes you feel full. ^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} In fact, studies show that eating more fiber can help with weight loss overall, including your face.^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Snack on some high-fiber fruits and veggies, like pears, apples, oranges, broccoli, carrots, and spinach. Or, enjoy a helping of kidney beans, spaghetti, lentils, or brown rice.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}
- Plums, apricots, raisins, dates, seeds, and nuts are other great sources of fiber.

8

Try to sleep 7-9 hours every night.

A poor sleep schedule may lead to weight gain in the long run. When you get a bad night’s sleep, your cortisol levels increase.^{[20]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} As a stress hormone, cortisol isn’t good for your body, and can lead to weight gain.^{[21]
X
Research source} If you can, try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night if you’re an adult, and 8-10 hours if you’re a teen.^{[22]
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- Don’t drink any caffeinated beverages in the afternoon, or 10-12 hours before you plan going to bed. Unfortunately, caffeine can mess with your sleep schedule.^{[23]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  HelpGuide
  Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
  Go to source}
- Try not to use your phone, computer, or TV 1-2 hours before heading to bed. The blue light from your devices might keep you awake.

9

Contour your face with makeup.

Subtle contouring can really bring out your jawline. Dip a contouring brush into your contour powder of choice. Then, buff the powder along the edge of your jaw, which may help your jawline look a bit slimmer.^{[24]
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- Pick a contour powder shade that’s a little bit darker than your natural skin tone.
- You can contour your cheeks, too—just suck your cheeks in and layer contour powder and bronzer below your cheekbones. Then, press translucent powder on top to finish the look.^{[25]
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10

Get cosmetic surgery.

Talk to a plastic surgeon about possible procedures. If diet, exercise, and other remedies aren’t quite doing the trick, plastic surgery might be the best option for you. Search online for a highly-rated surgeon in your area who can help walk you through your options.^{[26]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What can I do to help slim my face?

Danny Gordon
Certified Personal Trainer
Danny Gordon is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer and Owner of The Body Studio for Fitness, a fitness studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 20 years of physical training and teaching experience, he has focused his studio on semi-private personal training. Danny received his Personal Trainer Certification from the California State University, East Bay and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Danny Gordon

Certified Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

There isn't really a specific exercise you can do for your face, but it will get leaner if you exercise and live a healthy lifestyle.
Question

Are there any shortcuts I can take other than makeup? I am disabled and already have a very strict diet that I have to follow.

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Small, healthy habits can really make a difference in the long run. Talk with your doctor and see if you can add any anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, like lemons, coconuts, beets, and tomatoes. Drinking plenty of water and getting a good night’s sleep may also help.
Question

I only seem to have fat in my face. How can I get rid of this?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Try creating a regular exercise plan for yourself that includes both cardio and strength training. Also, try making small adjustments to your diet, like eating anti-inflammatory and fiber-rich foods. Small lifestyle changes might help you reach your goals over time!