Face Yoga, Gua Sha, EMS or Microcurrent: Do Facial Workouts Work?

We exercise our bodies to help maintain strength and muscle tone as we age. But what about the muscles in our face?

The face contains more than 40 muscles involved in expression and movement. Like other parts of the face, these muscles also change as we age.

This has helped fuel growing interest in face yoga, facial massage, gua sha and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) or microcurrent.

But what do these different techniques actually do?

Let’s look at what the research tells us.

What Happens to the Face as We Age?

Facial ageing is much more complex than simply developing wrinkles.

Over time, changes occur across several layers of the face, including:

• skin collagen and elasticity

• facial fat compartments

• connective tissue and ligaments

• facial muscles

• underlying bone structure

Together, these changes can influence the appearance of facial volume, firmness and contour.

Skincare plays an important role in supporting the skin itself, particularly hydration, texture and protection from environmental stressors.

But skincare applied to the surface of the skin does not exercise the muscles underneath.

That is where facial movement, massage and muscle-stimulation techniques become interesting.

Can Facial Muscles Be Exercised?

There is some early research suggesting that facial exercise may influence facial appearance.

A study published in JAMA Dermatology followed middle-aged women completing a facial exercise program for 20 weeks.

The exercises involved around 30 minutes of facial movements designed to engage different facial muscles. Sixteen women completed the full study.

At the end of the study, independent evaluators reported improvements in the appearance of upper and lower cheek fullness.

The researchers proposed that changes in the facial muscles may have contributed to the difference in appearance.

If we think about maintaining the muscles in the rest of our body as we age, should facial muscles also be part of the conversation?

What About Gua Sha?

Gua sha has roots in traditional East Asian practices, although the gentle facial gua sha commonly used in modern skincare is quite different from traditional therapeutic techniques.

Today, facial gua sha generally involves gliding a smooth stone across lubricated skin using light, controlled movements.

Many people enjoy it around the cheeks, jaw and forehead as part of a relaxing skincare ritual.

Research into facial gua sha is still relatively new.

A 2025 randomised controlled study compared facial gua sha with facial roller massage over eight weeks.

Researchers measured facial contour, skin elasticity and properties of the facial muscles.

Both techniques produced measurable changes, although they appeared to affect the face differently. The gua sha group showed changes in measured muscle tone and stiffness, while the facial roller group showed greater changes in measurements of skin elasticity.

It is a small study, so larger studies are needed, but it adds to growing interest in how mechanical facial massage may interact with both the skin and tissues beneath it.

Why Use Facial Oil With Gua Sha?

A gua sha tool should glide comfortably across the skin rather than drag it.

A few drops of facial oil provide slip and make slow, controlled movements more comfortable.

SilkyBare's Youthful Glow Face Oil, with plant oils including prickly pear, rosehip, meadowfoam, marula, jojoba and argan, can be used as part of a facial massage or gua sha ritual.

The aim isn't heavy pressure. Gentle movement is enough.

And What About Facial Massage?

You don't necessarily need a tool.

Using your fingertips to massage the face can be a simple way to create movement across the cheeks, jaw, temples and forehead.

Many people also find facial massage relaxing, particularly around areas where they tend to hold tension.

It can turn applying skincare into more of a ritual rather than simply putting on a cream and moving on.

What About EMS?

EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation.

Instead of deliberately contracting a muscle yourself, electrical stimulation uses controlled electrical impulses to cause muscle contractions.

This type of technology has been used in different forms for many years, and researchers have also investigated its use on facial muscles.

One randomised controlled study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology involved 108 women.

The treatment group used a facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation device for 20 minutes, five days per week, for 12 weeks.

Researchers reported an increase in the measured thickness of the zygomatic major muscle — one of the muscles involved in movement of the cheek and corner of the mouth — in the treatment group.

This is encouraging evidence that facial muscles can respond to electrical stimulation.

What About Microcurrent?

Microcurrent uses very low-level electrical currents rather than the stronger muscle-stimulating impulses associated with EMS.

In cosmetic facial devices, microcurrent is commonly used as part of facial toning and skincare routines designed to support a firmer, more lifted-looking appearance.

Rather than creating noticeable muscle contractions, microcurrent is generally much gentler and is often described as working at a lower intensity.

Research into facial microcurrent is still developing, but studies have explored its use in relation to facial appearance, skin tone and muscle stimulation.

For at-home skincare, the main difference is simple: EMS is more focused on stimulating facial muscles, while Microcurrent uses a much lower-level current as part of a gentler facial toning routine.

That makes the two technologies complementary rather than interchangeable.

For an introduction to the two technologies, read our EMS and microcurrent facial-device guide.

Red Light Therapy: A Different Approach to Facial Care

Red light therapy offers a different approach to facial care, using specific wavelengths of light rather than facial movements or electrical muscle stimulation. It can be a gentle, non-invasive addition to a relaxing skincare routine. Research into certain red and near-infrared light treatments suggests potential benefits for supporting collagen production and improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and skin texture over time. Results vary depending on the device, light output and treatment routine.

While face yoga, Gua Sha and EMS focus on facial movement, massage or muscle stimulation, LED light therapy focuses on light-based skin treatments. For more information about the different technologies, explore our guide to choosing a facial device for your skin.

Face Yoga, Gua Sha, Massage or EMS?

They aren't really doing the same thing.

Face yoga uses voluntary facial movements to repeatedly engage facial muscles.

Gua sha uses a smooth tool and controlled sweeping movements across the face.

Facial massage uses the hands to create movement across the skin and underlying tissues.

EMS uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contractions.

Rather than asking which one is "best", it may be more useful to think about how each one fits into your own facial-care routine.

Some people enjoy taking time for face yoga.

Others love the ritual of gua sha and facial oil.

And some prefer using a facial device.

For everyday life, a facial-care routine also needs to be practical. Some people enjoy taking time for face yoga or gua sha, while others prefer incorporating a facial device into an existing skincare routine. The SilkyBare Lift & Sculpt Facial Massager is designed for approximately 5–10 minutes of use, 3–5 times per week, following the supplied instructions.

Bringing Facial Care Into a Simple Routine

The research also highlights something else: these techniques generally involve regular use over time.

The facial-exercise study continued for 20 weeks. The EMS research involved repeated sessions over 12 weeks, while the recent gua sha research followed participants for eight weeks.

That doesn't mean you need to copy those research routines.

It simply reinforces something we already know from skincare — consistency matters.

At SilkyBare, our philosophy has always been to keep facial care simple enough to become part of real life.

The SilkyBare Lift & Sculpt Facial Massager brings several cosmetic facial-care features together in one handheld device:

• Separate EMS and microcurrent modes

• massage

• gentle warming

• red, blue and amber LED light

• nine adjustable settings

It is designed to be slowly moved across the face for approximately 5–10 minutes, 3–5 times per week, following the supplied instructions.

The massager is used with Peptide Restore Gel, which provides comfortable glide while leaving the skin feeling hydrated.

These studies did not evaluate Lift & Sculpt. Their findings apply to the devices and protocols studied and should not be used to predict results from this massager.

Discover the Lift & Sculpt Facial Massager →

Where Does Skincare Fit In?

Skincare and facial tools play different roles.

A simple SilkyBare routine might include:

Hydrate
Apply Hyaluronic Acid Serum to support skin hydration.

Facial-care ritual
Apply Peptide Restore Gel before using the Lift & Sculpt Facial Massager.

Nourish
Finish with Youthful Glow Face Oil, or use it with your gua sha for a slower facial massage ritual.

In the morning, Vitamin C Serum can be incorporated into your usual skincare routine.

You don't need a complicated 10-step routine.

A few well-chosen products and a ritual that you actually enjoy using is far more realistic.

So, Does Your Face Need a Workout?

Not necessarily in the same way that your body does.

Facial ageing involves the skin, fat, connective tissue, muscles and bone, so no single cream, exercise or device can address every change.

But research into facial exercise, gua sha and electrical muscle stimulation gives us a reason to look beyond the surface of the skin.

The evidence is still developing, and exaggerated promises about dramatically lifting, sculpting or reversing ageing should always be treated cautiously.

Perhaps the more interesting idea is simply this:

Facial care isn't only about skin. It is also about muscle, movement and the rituals we choose to maintain as we age.

And just like skincare, the most useful ritual is usually the one simple enough to keep doing.

Explore the SilkyBare Lift & Sculpt Facial Massager →

Understand how skin, muscles and facial structure change with age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Referenced

Alam M, Walter AJ, Geisler A, et al.
Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging. JAMA Dermatology. 2018;154(3):365–367.
doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142

Kavanagh S, Newell J, Hennessy M, Sadick NS.
Use of a neuromuscular electrical stimulation device for facial muscle toning: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2012;11(4).
doi:10.1111/jocd.12007

Ahn SH, Hwang UJ, Han HS, et al.
Comparative Effects of Facial Roller and Gua Sha Massage on Facial Contour, Muscle Tone, and Skin Elasticity: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2025;24(6).
doi:10.1111/jocd.70236

This article is for general educational purposes. The SilkyBare massager is an at-home cosmetic facial-care device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a medical condition. Individual experiences may vary. Always follow the instructions supplied with your massager.

Written by Marie Conlon, Founder, SilkyBare.