I love me a good before and after.
And for the longest time, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of naturally enhancing facial features. That sharp jawline and sculpted cheekbone look – it definitely has a certain appeal. (Hello, Brad Pitt!)
I found myself curious about alternative methods like face yoga, mewing, and jade rolling.
What if, I thought, combining these techniques could lead to results similar to surgery? (I’m a dreamer, okay?!) What if I gave myself a “before and after”?
My goals? Reduce the number of chins under my possession, get a less dough-ey jawline, and maybe lift the dropping angle of my eyes a little so my resting face doesn’t scream “I’m soooo over it”.
So, I embarked on a journey of natural face sculpting, and let’s just say, the before and after photos are… interesting?
Come, take a look.
While embracing natural ageing is absolutely a valid choice, it’s worth considering the unnatural impact our environment already has on us.
Processed foods, pollution, and stress are just a few factors that contribute to the visible signs of ageing.
Some self-care, even if it’s facial exercises or a simple skincare routine, is a way to counteract some of these unnatural influences.
Plus, let’s be honest, our society often judges based on appearance. (Though I’m not saying it’s right).
And I’m a pragmatist. I know that maintaining a youthful look can have it’s advantages.
From certain career opportunities to simply feeling more confident in social settings, looking younger can open doors and create a more positive experience. Especially as we’re poised to live longer.
My 30-Day Face Yoga, Jade Roller, & Mewing Routine
Evening Face Yoga Routine (10mins)
From all the Googling I did, face yoga seemed like it was the most “legit”. Many reported having great face-lifting results.
This is also the reason why I was the most consistent with this part of my routine, performing it every day.
After a quick Google, I chose a 10 minute evening video by the supposed “face expert”.
I chose this video because it was soothing, had no talking, and had the words “lift and firm” in the title.
The best thing about this was how relaxed I felt after doing it. The mini routine, in itself, became the prize.
I would wash the day’s sunscreen off my face, apply Inkey’s hyaluronic acid serum, and then my nighttime bakuchiol moisturiser.
After leaving it on to seep in for a few minutes, I would begin the follow-along video.
The video helps you tense and relax all of the major muscles in your face. By the time I’d finished, I’d feel super relaxed and ready for bed.
About 10 days in, I realised that I didn’t care so much if the routine was actually working.
Just like how we read our twins a story before “sleepy time”, I’d continue using this routine as my wind-down before bed.
Morning Jade Roller Routine (5mins)
Okay, so this was initially meant to be a “Jade Roller and Gua Sha” morning routine…
Buuut my twin toddlers stole my green Gua Sha and told me that it was now “the heart of Te Fiti”. (Moana reference, if you know, you know).
Why jade rolling?
I put my jade roller in the freezer overnight and it feels really nice in the morning.
It helps freshen me up, and I feel significantly more de-puffed (especially during allergy season).
The idea behind it is that it lightly presses against the lymphatic system and gets the fluids under your skin moving and draining better.
To make sure I could stick to it, I followed the easy morning jade roller routine below (which I often just did in the passenger seat while we drove the girls to school).
Mewing
Mewing was the last thing I tried to incorporate into my routine. “What the hell is mewing?” you ask. Sit down, get comfortable, and let me tell you –
Mewing has nothing to do with making cat sounds.
Mewing, named after orthodontist John Mew, involves resting your tongue on the roof of your mouth, with the tip touching the back of your upper front teeth.
The idea is that this posture, held throughout the day, can widen the jawline and improve facial definition.
My method: Have 2-hourly alarms from 7am until 7pm reminding me to mew.
After several days of this, I think my tongue is now automatically in the top position.
Now, the caveats:
Mewing is said to be a long-term thing, so I don’t expect any widening of my jawline in a mere 30 days.
I plan to do it for at least 6 months and capture any changes this way.
Also, there’s no scientific evidence to support claims by people saying their face structure has changed due to mewing.
It’s all been very anecdotal evidence, so far. But the online before and after photos are incredible, to say the least.
Which is why I haven’t been putting all my facial eggs in the mewing basket.
The Results: Before and After
The moment you’ve all been waiting for – my one month before and after results from all my efforts.
Take a look:
You don’t see it? Well, neither do I, to be honest…
Maybe there’s a slight lessening of my double-chinnage. A smidge less cheek chub? Perhaps…
But there may be another, more powerful explanation for that.
Weight Loss
During that same month, I lost around 3kgs (or 6.5lbs).
That might not seem like much, but for someone who is a mere 1.52m/ 5ft1″ tall, it really shows.
So, I’m very inclined to think that any changes seen in my face are likely a result of shedding some weight, and not really because of my efforts.
The Verdict
I don’t think my face has transformed structurally. (So, it’s a bit of a disappointing before and after, if I’m honest).
However, people have been remarking on how youthful I’m looking or how my skin is glowing.
So, I’m inclined to think that my practice and my new skincare routine have been having an effect on the quality of my skin.
I also enjoy face yoga and jade rolling as activities in and of themselves. So, it was certainly not a waste for me.
What's Next
Continuing on my quest for eternal youthfulness and beauty, as well as general health and longevity, I will continue on my weight loss journey until I return to my healthy, pre-babies weight.
I will also continue with face yoga, jade rolling, and mewing as religiously as I have been for 5 more months and documenting any changes.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I know my face won’t be either.
Consistency is always key.
Stay tuned for the next before and after!