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Social media has given us quite a wide repertoire for shaping the face: face taping, gua sha, face yoga... They should not all be lumped together. We need to look at what each of them does separately.
Where does the change we see in the mirror in the morning come from?
It is very common for the face to look puffier in the morning. Lying down all night, salty food, too little sleep or alcohol can cause oedema in the face, meaning fluid collecting between tissues. This swelling decreases on its own during the day as we move around. A large part of the "before and after" changes shown on social media are related to this swelling.
Gua sha and massage
Gua sha is a massage method rooted in traditional Chinese practice, in which a flat-edged stone or similar tool is glided over the skin in certain directions. After gua sha or massage, swelling may decrease a little. Your face may look slimmer and more defined for a short while.
We can see a similar temporary effect with cold application. Cold reduces swelling by temporarily narrowing blood vessels. But this does not mean the anatomy of the face has changed. The effect disappears when the swelling comes back.
Face taping
Face taping is based on the idea of restricting expressions by sticking special tapes onto the skin, especially on the forehead and around the eyes. There is no strong evidence that face taping prevents wrinkles in the long term. Removing the tape can irritate and redden the skin, especially in the delicate area around the eyes.
Face yoga
Face yoga consists of regular exercises for the facial muscles. The data on face yoga is quite limited. And what effect constantly working the facial muscles might have on expression lines is a separate discussion, because expression lines are largely formed by the same muscles contracting again and again.
What needs to change for a lasting result?
Facial ageing does not happen in a single layer. It results from a combination of changes:
- Skin quality: thinning and loss of elasticity as collagen and elastic fibres decrease
- Volume loss: reduction and shifting of the fat in the face
- Loosening and sagging of the support structures
- Age-related changes in bone structure
These changes cannot be reversed with massage, tape or exercise. If lasting reshaping is the goal, the layer where the problem lies should be identified through an examination and suitable methods discussed.
Are these methods harmful?
When done gently, they are low-risk for most people. If they make you feel good or relaxed, there is nothing wrong with using them. But a few things need attention:
- Gua sha done with too much pressure can cause bruising and redness.
- On skin with active acne, eczema or irritation, these practices can make things worse.
- The stone or tool you use needs to be kept clean.
- Frequent, rough removal of tapes can irritate the skin.
Frequently asked questions
Does gua sha slim the face? By reducing swelling it can make the face look slimmer for a short time. But it does not change fat tissue or the bone structure of the face.
Does face yoga get rid of wrinkles? There is no strong evidence for this. It is also unclear how constantly exercising the expression muscles affects expression lines.
If I stop using these methods, will my face look worse than before? No. Because their effects are largely temporary, your face simply returns to its natural state when you stop.
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