Hate your side profile because you have a sagging jawline? This writer can relate. The bad news is that the shape of your jawline is deeply rooted in genetics. The good news: There are plenty of options to sculpt and tighten your jawline and neck this new year. Here are the best tried-and-tested methods.
Skincare Products and Tools
Firming skincare products
First thing’s first: Ensuring that you are using a firming serum or moisturizer daily will give you an automatic leg-up on your soon-to-be snatched jawline; you’ll want to look for products that contain peptides, retinol, and/or antioxidant-rich vitamin C. We recommend our Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum and our Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream. Of course, you can’t forget to incorporate daily SPF since collagen breakdown is essentially the major cause of a sagging jawline.
Gua sha
The rumors are true, gua sha really does depuff and tone your face — at least temporarily. When done consistently, gua sha facial massages will open up your lymph nodes and simultaneously pull your facial skin upwards (when massaged in that direction, of course). Try gua sha for two to three minutes a day and watch your jaw appear magically firmer.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner
is an Associate Professor and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Meet the Experts
Microcurrent devices
They’ve been all the rage since trademarking “a 5-minute facial lift” — and for good reason. Microcurrent treatments are available at most aesthetician offices, but did you know you can also snag a device to DIY at home? We love NuFACE’s microcurrent device since it gives you the same immediate and long-term benefits of microcurrent therapy. The company conducted clinical studies on the FDA-regulated product, and found that 85% of users saw improved facial contour, with 77% reporting that their face looked more toned after use.
Facial Massages
Aside from being the ultimate way to relax, facial massages are also a great technique if you’re trying to tighten up the jawline area. Many spas and aestheticians offer facial massages, but if you wanna go super specific, you can visit a FaceGym location near you. With their Signature Sculpt “workout,” they combine their signature muscle manipulation techniques with EMS technology for a powerful facial massage experience; it improves lymphatic drainage, stimulates circulation and, of course, lifts and enhances your face and jawline. If a facial workout seems a little too intense for you, there’s always face yoga.
Makeup Tricks
Using makeup to “hack” a slimmer jawline is definitely the cheapest way to craft a new jawline. We love this TikTok how-to from NikkieTutorials where she contours her jawline after seeing another creator post a video on the topic. She starts the video off by joking “you know me and my three chins have to do this…” The results? You have to watch to believe it.
In-Office Procedures
Botox
“To slim the jawline, botulinum toxin can be injected into the masseter muscles,” explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Associate Professor and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “These are the muscles at the angle of the jaw that are primarily used to help you bite down. In some people, these muscles can become thick, giving a wide appearance of the jawline.” He continues, “Injecting botulinum toxin can relax them, narrowing the lower face, and even improving symptoms of TMJ.” That said, although Zeichner claims the procedure is very safe, “theoretically there is a risk of weakening your ability to bite down.”
Forma facial
A new-ish celebrity favorite in-office treatment, the Forma facial (aka “the non-surgical face lift”) works with heat and radio frequency to stimulate collagen production in your face and jaw and, ultimately, improve the overall tone, texture, and tightness in your face. The downside? It’s pricey and you do need about five to six treatments (one per week), but these treatments pretty much ensure long-lasting results. Not only is this treatment totally painless, but it’s also a great alternative to fillers and Botox.
Kybella
Kybella is perhaps one of the most talked about jawline/neck tightening in-office treatments in the past decade or so. While other treatments like Botox and the Forma facial work to tighten existing skin, with Kybella you’re essentially dissolving the membrane of fat cells in your jaw area, therefore giving you a tighter jawline. There is some downtime for this treatment, and you also may need a few treatments to see full results, but it all depends on your individual case.
AirSculpt liposuction
This minimally invasive procedure will remove jowls and leave your neck and jaw tight, with very little downtime. The entire procedure is done while you’re awake and requires no general anesthesia and, even better, takes only about 20 minutes! The doctor will insert a small tube (a freckle-sized hole) and this tube is used to pump out excess fat from your chin and jawline. Unlike traditional liposuction or a face lift, you don’t need any stitches and you’ll only have a teeny tiny little scar left behind (though some patients get no scarring).
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