How to Get a Stronger and Better Jawline

According to various studies, masculine facial features are much more attractive to women overall. Those facial features would include narrow eyes, a prominent chin, and a strong jawline. The underlying reason is that strong, masculine, physical traits are attributed to high testosterone levels and a healthy immune system.

7 Ways to Sculpt Your Jawline, Straight from the Pros

Celia Shatzman is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers beauty, fashion, celebrities, entertainment, and other lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, and more.

Published on 03/16/22
Medically reviewed by

Rachel is a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology. She has contributed to Byrdie, as well as Harpers Bazaar, Marie Claire, Allure, Vogue, and the New York Times, and more

Board-Certified Dermatologist

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There’s a reason contouring is still going strong after all these years: People are forever seeking a sculpted face, especially when it comes to their jawline. After all, a defined jawline can make your entire face look lifted and firm. “With age, we lose elasticity in the skin,” explains celebrity esthetician Ildi Pekar. And while this is totally natural, Pekar says there are ways to slow the process down. “We can increase collagen and improve elasticity with non-invasive facial services and a proper home care regimen.”

We turned to the experts—Pekar and board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD—to get the scoop on the simple steps you can take at home to boost your jawline, as well as how the pros can help.

Meet the Expert

• Shereene Idriss, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City, and creator of the #pillowtalkderm Instagram series.
• Ildi Pekar is a celebrity esthetician and the owner and founder of Ildi Pekar Skin Care and I Pekar.

Tweak Your Lifestyle

“You want to put chance on your side,” Idriss says. “Having a healthy lifestyle is huge. There are little things you can do to help yourself. But, ultimately, the way your face is going to go is usually somewhat preset based on your bone structure and genetics.”

Like anything else related to your skin, what you do on the inside shows up on the outside, so eat a nutritious, balanced diet and get enough sleep. Idriss cautions to stay away from smoking, since that causes vascular constriction, meaning blood flow to the skin is decreased. That can lead to prematurely sagging skin.

Pick Up Gua Sha

Regularly giving yourself a manual face massage can be a great temporary fix. Pekar’s favorite tool is the gua sha. To make the most of your gua sha massage, she recommends starting out by applying your go-to face oil or cream to your face, neck, and decolletage. Then gently open up the lymph nodes using your hands above your collarbone, neck, and behind the ears. Apply gentle pressure, keeping the stone in an almost flat position (at a 15-degree angle), and gently pull the skin upwards. First, proceed with one side of the face and neck, then the other.

“The more you practice this, the more results you’ll see,” Pekar says. “Consistency is key when it comes to natural techniques. I like to implement two to three minutes of gua sha into my daily routine, and do a longer (10-15 minutes) massage once a week.” By improving lymphatic drainage, a gua sha massage will have your face looking firmer.

Never Skip SPF

“Having a healthy skincare routine is always worth it,” Idriss says. “Sun protection is huge because with sun damage and age comes a breakdown of collagen, which might make a sagging jawline worse.” Rain or shine, it’s crucial to wear sunscreen daily—yes, even on those days when you spend most of it cooped up inside.

Get Microcurrent Facials.

When you’re looking to improve your jawline, Pekar says your best bet for a pro facial is a microcurrent one. “If you want to see quicker and longer-lasting results I recommend seeing a professional,” she says. “Manual at-home massages are great for maintenance and even to improve the condition; however, I know many people don’t have time to practice this every day consistently. Professional services like microcurrent work with electricity, which accelerates the benefits so you can see immediate improvement.”

. or Try a Microcurrent Facial Device

The at-home version is great for maintenance when you can’t see a pro. There’s a reason DIY microcurrent devices are making a splash right now—if you stick with them, they can deliver real results. “Microcurrent is supposed to generate ATP within your cells and regenerate your cellular structure to keep it firmer and tighter longer,” Idriss explains. “It’s also supposed to help trigger your musculature slightly underneath to help contract them and tighten it.”

However, Idriss cautions that the results are short-lived. Even after getting a professional microcurrent facial, your skin will look great for the first couple of days afterward, but the effects will eventually wear off. So it’s hard to say how long the results will last on your tissue underneath. “You could test microcurrent devices at home and see the results that you get on yourself,” she suggests.

Use the Right Skincare Products

Though it’s important to curb your expectations when it comes to how much skincare products can do to improve your jawline, using the right ones can help. “I use retinoids, and right after applying I do a few minutes of gua sha massage to improve the product’s absorption and sculpt the face,” Pekar says. She also recommends using products with an ingredient focus on hyaluronic acid and collagen to keep the skin firm and plump.

Book a Surgical Treatment

For stubborn excess fat around the jawline, Idriss turns to liposuction when all else fails. “When you want to get rid of the fat, liposuction can be a huge win,” she says. “By simply removing these small little pockets of fat, the mechanical action can really tighten the skin as well, especially when you don’t have that much fat.”

“I think liposuction is a great alternative,” she continues. “It’s an in and out procedure. You don’t go under anesthesia; you’re at a dermatologist’s office and they do it under local anesthesia and the downtime is three days. I’d rather do that over Kybella, which I would reserve for resistant pockets that just don’t want to disappear.” CoolSculpting is another potential alternative treatment.

What Causes a Sagging Jawline?

Ultimately, it all comes down to genetics. “There are many things, but the biggest is your bone structure,” Idriss says. Your natural musculature also has a huge impact on your jawline. “The people who are who are genetically blessed are those who have a really strong jawline,” she says. “They tend to do better because they have the baseline support and structure of their face present as they age.”

How Can I Tighten My Jawline Naturally?

Though at-home techniques can help improve your jawline, Idriss says it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. “You can somewhat manipulate your musculature if you have the right baseline,” she says. “But it’s like a 10 percent improvement, nothing like a 90 percent. It’s all about expectations. Eventually, genetics and gravity are going to take action. Even losing weight has been the cause of sagging. I think you need a little bit of help in the technological domain in order to get the best effects.”

When Should I See a Professional?

“It depends on the person, the same as the age you start Botox, right?” Idriss says. “Everybody’s different. I think you start when it really starts to affect you and your self-esteem. It’s something you want to work on as a long game strategy. For example, if it’s an older woman who’s never had anything done and doesn’t want to get a facelift, I’ll work on tightening her skin, whether it’s through ultrasound energy-based devices or radio frequency-based devices.”
For the best results, it’s crucial for experts to observe the underlying bone structure and see the width of the jawline, the length of the jawline, and how the jawline sits in proportion to the face and neck. Certain fillers can definitely help more so than others, helping to create contours to give a more defined line.
It’s also important to consider the chin since that must be sitting in the right position as well. “The chin and the jawline go hand in hand,” Idriss says. “Last, I look at neuromodulators like Botox or Dysport to loosen up some of the muscular bands. By doing that, it looks tighter.”

How to Get a Stronger and Better Jawline

Not everyone is genetically blessed with the perfect facial features or physicality that the opposite sex finds attractive. This is especially true for the jawline.

Not everyone is genetically blessed with the perfect facial features or physicality that the opposite sex finds attractive. This is especially true for the jawline.

Luckily, there are a few ways to work around a less than perfect bone structure—namely, jawline exercises.

Keep reading to learn more about how to get a better jawline.

What Is the Jawline and Why Is it Important?

Your jawline is defined by your lower jaw and the outline it forms towards the bottom of your face. It’s also one of the many signs of attraction in both sexes, but especially among men.

According to various studies, masculine facial features are much more attractive to women overall. Those facial features would include narrow eyes, a prominent chin, and a strong jawline. The underlying reason is that strong, masculine, physical traits are attributed to high testosterone levels and a healthy immune system.

On subconscious, biological, and a more primitive level, women are naturally attracted to all of the above.

Aside from physical attraction, the jawline is also an indicator of health and vitality. Someone in peak physical condition will have a more visible jawline than someone who is overweight.

While having a “strong jawline” doesn’t necessarily equate to perfect internal health, it’s easy to tell by looking at someone’s face whether or not they take good care of themselves. In the same sense, a weak jawline also doesn’t equate to poor health.

A weak jawline refers to soft, rounded angles and a lack of definition along your lower jaw area. It’s also sometimes referred to as a “receding chin,” if your chin seems to curve back towards your neck. Just as a weak jawline doesn’t represent poor health, it also doesn’t necessarily reflect a toned, in-shape physique for some.

If you have a weak jawline that doesn’t reflect the rest of your chiselled physique, there are ways around it. The most non-invasive way is by performing facial exercises to build up the muscles in your face for more definition. Facial exercises are perfectly safe and effective, especially in combination with a healthy lifestyle.

How Jawline Exercises Can Help Your Jawline

Did you know you have about 57 muscles in your face and neck?

While you focus on exercising the rest of your muscles from the next down, you’re leaving out quite a few that can help you achieve a nice, healthy jawline. Additionally, since your facial muscles are much smaller, they’ll respond quickly to exercise. That means you won’t have to wait as long to see results compared to trying to get washboard abs.

By incorporating facial exercises, not just jawline exercises, you’ll shed fat from your face and tone your muscles. This can make your jawline more prominent and enhance your cheekbones. It’ll also improve circulation, reduce tension, and give your face a more relaxed look.

However, it’s important to mention that you’ll only get so far without regular healthy eating habits and exercise. Facial exercises alone won’t help you get rid of excess fat. So, if you don’t already engage in routine exercise and healthy choices, it’s time to start.

Exercises to Get a Stronger Jawline

If you want to know how to get a sharper jawline, the following exercises will get you started. Do these every morning when you wake up, and you’ll see results in no time:

1. The Chin Lift

Looking straight ahead and keeping your mouth closed, push your lower jaw out while simultaneously lifting your lower lip. You’ll feel a stretch in your jawline just below your chin.

Hold this position for 10-15 seconds. Repeat 15 times.

2. The Tongue Twister

Standing or sitting upright and facing forward, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Increase the pressure to add tension and begin making a humming sound. Hold for one deep breath.

Repeat this exercise 15 times.

3. The Collarbone Backup

While standing upright and keeping your head parallel to the floor, try to move your head back a few inches. Once you feel your neck contract, hold the position for 15 seconds.

Repeat this exercise 10 times, gradually working your way up to a 30-second hold.

4. The Neck Curl

Lay on your back with your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth. You’ll feel your neck muscle activate, and then you can begin lifting your chin to your chest. Carry out this exercise slowly, lifting your head from the ground about 2 inches first.

Start by doing this exercise 10 times, gradually building up to 3 sets of 10 reps. Remember to take your time with this exercise as your neck muscles are small and likely underdeveloped.

5. The Vowel Sound

Facing forward, open your mouth as wide as possible. Begin articulating “O” and “E” sounds, trying your best not to show or touch your teeth. The more you emphasize the sounds, the more you’ll engage the muscles around your mouth and lips.

Repeat this exercise 15 times, gradually working your way up to doing 3 sets.

How to Get a Strong Jawline Without Exercises

Another safe, effective, and non-invasive way to achieve a strong jawline is by using special equipment. Jawzrsize is an innovative resistance-training tool designed to help you build jaw strength and get that lean, chiseled look you’ve always wanted.

Jawzrsize works with your bite’s full range of motion. It delivers between 20 and 50 pounds of resistance to give the muscles in your jaw, cheeks, mouth, and neck a complete workout. You can use it alone or in addition to the exercises above.

If you have questions about Jawzrsize, reach out to us or check out our FAQs.