How to Lift Hooded Eyes Naturally: 3 Simple Techniques
Sep 10, 2026If your eyes are beginning to look heavier, more hooded, or more tired, it may be tempting to focus only on your eyelids. But your eyelids are not the only area that can affect the appearance of your eyes.
Your scalp, forehead, temples, and eyebrows are all connected. When tension builds in these areas, it can restrict the movement of the surrounding muscles and tissues, making the upper face appear heavier.
In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through three gentle techniques to release this tension and help your eyes look more open, rested, and refreshed.
In the video below, I’ll guide you through all three techniques step by step. We’ll release tension between the eyebrows, across the forehead and temples, and throughout the scalp.
Why Do Eyes Begin to Look More Hooded?
Hooded eyes can be part of your natural facial structure. They can also become more noticeable with age as the skin loses elasticity and the tissues surrounding the eyes change.
Muscle tension may also affect how heavy the eye area looks. Squinting, worrying, looking at screens, clenching your jaw, and carrying stress in your upper face can create tension around the eyebrows, forehead, temples, and scalp.
Facial massage cannot permanently change your natural eyelid structure or remove excess skin. However, releasing tension in the surrounding areas may help your upper face look more relaxed and your eyes appear more open.
The Three Areas We Will Target
Instead of working directly on the delicate eyelids, this routine focuses on three connected areas:
- The muscles between the eyebrows
- The forehead and temples
- The scalp
Let’s look at why each area matters and how to work on it safely.
Step 1: Release Tension Between the Eyebrows
The corrugator muscles are small muscles located between your eyebrows. They help pull your eyebrows inward and downward when you squint, concentrate, worry, or look at a screen.
When these muscles remain tense, the space between the eyebrows can look tighter and the eye area may appear heavier.
Place your index fingers in a hook position between your eyebrows. Lean your head slightly forward and use small, slow, controlled movements to spread your fingers apart.
Work underneath and slightly above the eyebrows. If you find a tense area, stay there a little longer while taking slow breaths.
Continue for approximately 60 seconds. Keep your shoulders relaxed, your jaw unclenched, and avoid holding your breath.
Step 2: Relax the Forehead and Temples
The frontalis is the main muscle across the forehead, while the temporalis muscles are located on the sides of the head.
Tension in these areas may contribute to a tight or heavy feeling above the eyebrows. The temporalis muscles can also become tense when you clench your jaw because they help with chewing.
Apply a small amount of facial oil to give your skin enough glide. Using your knuckles, begin near the outer corners of your eyes and slowly massage outward toward the hairline.
Gradually move higher across the forehead. Use slow, controlled movements and lift the tissues rather than dragging or stretching the skin.
When you reach the hairline, add a small wiggle to help release deeper tension. Continue for approximately 60 seconds while keeping your shoulders and jaw relaxed.
Step 3: Massage and Mobilize the Scalp
The scalp is connected to the forehead through a layer of connective tissue called the galea aponeurotica. The forehead, scalp, and muscles at the back of the head work together as one connected system.
When the scalp feels tight or has limited mobility, it may contribute to tension across the forehead and upper face.
Place your fingertips firmly against your scalp. Instead of rubbing across your hair, allow your fingers to sink into the scalp and move the tissue in slow circles.
Massage the sides of your head, the top and back of your scalp, the base of your skull, and behind your ears.
Finish by gently taking sections of your hair close to the roots and giving them a light pull. This can feel incredibly relaxing and stimulating.
How Often Can You Practice This Routine?
You can practice these gentle techniques regularly, depending on how your face and scalp feel.
Some days, you may need the entire routine. On busy days, you can choose the area where you notice the most tension and spend one or two minutes releasing it.
Facial massage should feel comfortable and relaxing. More pressure is not always better. Avoid massaging irritated or injured skin, and stop if you experience pain, dizziness, visual changes, or unusual symptoms.
Do You Need Facial Oil?
You need some glide when massaging the forehead to avoid pulling excessively on the skin.
I like to pair facial oil with a hydrating mist or another water-based product. Oil helps nourish the skin and provides glide, while a water-based product supports hydration.
For the scalp massage, wipe or wash the oil from your hands first if you do not want to transfer it to your hair.
Can Facial Massage Permanently Lift Hooded Eyes?
Facial massage cannot permanently change your genetics, natural eye shape, or the amount of skin on your eyelids.
What it can do is help release muscle and fascial tension, improve your awareness of facial habits, and encourage relaxation. This may help the upper face look softer, more rested, and more open.
Consistency matters, but the goal is not to force your face into a different shape. The goal is to understand your face and care for it in a gentle, supportive way.
A More Complete Approach to Your Face
After 15 years of working with thousands of faces as a licensed esthetician and former massage therapist, one of the most important things I have learned is that the area bothering you is often not the only area that needs attention.
Everything is connected. That is why random exercises or working only on one visible concern may not give you the complete care your face needs.
Inside my 7-Day Release & Lift Method, I guide you through your entire face in the correct order. You’ll learn what to release, what to strengthen, how long to perform each technique, and how to do it correctly in approximately 12 minutes a day.
You receive lifetime access, so you can repeat the program whenever your face needs a reset.
JOIN THE 7-DAY RELEASE & LIFT METHOD
Remember, taking care of yourself and your beauty is not vanity. It is knowing that you are worthy of your own care.
