Face yoga glossary: the terms explained
Face yoga content borrows terms from anatomy, dermatology and massage therapy, often without defining them. This glossary covers the terms that appear most often, in plain language, grouped by what they describe.
Key takeaways
- Anatomy terms describe where something is or what it is made of.
- Technique terms describe what you do: drainage, release, isolation.
- Concern terms name what bothers people: jowls, hooding, laxity.
- Knowing which layer a term refers to tells you whether exercise can reach it.
- Marketing terms are flagged where they have no technical meaning.
Anatomy terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Platysma | The broad thin muscle sheet from chest and collarbone over the jaw |
| Masseter | The chewing muscle at the jaw angle. Bulks from clenching |
| Frontalis | The forehead muscle. The only one that lifts the brow |
| Corrugator | Between the brows. Pulls them down and inward |
| Orbicularis oculi | The ring muscle around each eye |
| Orbicularis oris | The ring muscle around the lips |
| Buccal fat pad | A deep fat pad in the cheek |
| Vermilion border | The edge between the lip and surrounding skin |
| Nasolabial fold | The crease from nose to mouth corner |
| Lymph nodes | Filter points fluid drains into, clustered near the collarbone and neck |
Technique terms
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Lymphatic drainage | Light manual technique moving fluid toward the collarbone |
| Release | Reducing tension in a muscle that is chronically contracted |
| Isolation | Working one muscle while keeping the rest of the face still |
| Resistance | Using fingers to give a muscle something to work against |
| Stabilising the skin | Holding skin with fingers so it does not crease during a movement |
| Gua sha | Massage using a flat tool drawn across oiled skin |
| Cupping | Massage using small suction cups kept in continuous motion |
| Microcurrent | Low-level electrical stimulation delivered by a device |
| Photobiomodulation | The proposed mechanism behind red and near-infrared light therapy |
Concern terms
| Term | Plain meaning | Reachable by exercise? |
|---|---|---|
| Jowls | Sagging along the jawline either side of the chin | Partly |
| Hooding | Upper eyelid skin resting on or over the lash line | Barely |
| Laxity | Loss of skin firmness and elasticity | No |
| Volume loss | Reduction and descent of facial fat pads | No |
| Dynamic line | A line visible only during expression | By reducing movement only |
| Static line | A line visible at rest, the crease has set | Partly |
| Glycation | Sugars binding to collagen, associated with skin aging | No |
| Hyperpigmentation | Patches darker than surrounding skin | No |
| Post-inflammatory pigmentation | A mark left after a spot or injury heals | No |
Terms to treat carefully
Some terms used in marketing have no agreed technical meaning. "Detox" describes something your liver and kidneys already do and no topical product achieves. "Lifting" is used loosely for anything from a temporary de-puff to implied surgical results, so ask what is specifically claimed.
"Natural facelift" is the clearest example. A facelift is a surgical procedure that repositions tissue. Nothing done by hand achieves that, so the phrase is doing marketing work rather than describing a mechanism.
"Clinically proven" also warrants a check: proven by whom, in how many people, against what comparison, and funded by whom. Those four questions resolve most of it.
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Take the 2-minute assessmentFrequently asked questions
What is the platysma?
The broad, thin muscle sheet running from the chest and collarbone up over the jaw. It is the muscle most relevant to the jaw and neck line.
What does lymphatic drainage mean?
A light manual technique that moves fluid along its natural route toward lymph nodes near the collarbone.
What is the difference between a dynamic and static line?
A dynamic line appears only during expression. A static line is visible at rest, meaning the crease has set.
What is the masseter?
The chewing muscle at the jaw angle. It bulks with clenching and gum chewing, which widens the lower face.
Is a natural facelift a real thing?
No. A facelift is a surgical procedure that repositions tissue. The phrase is marketing rather than a description of any mechanism.
This guide is general education about facial muscles, skin and daily habits. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose or treat any condition. If you have a medical concern, or you have recently had injectables or another cosmetic procedure, speak with your own clinician first. See our terms and privacy policy.