How to Lift Downturned Mouth Corners Naturally With Face Yoga & Massage
Aug 31, 2026If the corners of your mouth are starting to turn down, you may notice that your expression looks sad or more tired, even when that’s not how you feel.
When working on downturned mouth corners, I don’t like to focus only on the area around the mouth. The muscles of the neck, lower face, and cheeks can all influence facial expression, which is why I prefer a more complete approach: release tension first, then strengthen the muscles that help lift.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you three techniques I use to work on this area naturally: a neck stretch, buccal massage around the mouth, and a cheek-lifting face yoga exercise.
3 Face Yoga Techniques for Downturned Mouth Corners
In the video below, I’ll guide you through all three techniques step by step. We’ll start by releasing tension in the neck and around the mouth, then finish with a cheek-lifting exercise.
Now that you’ve seen the full practice, let’s look at why I work on these three areas and how they can affect the appearance of downturned mouth corners.
Why Do the Corners of the Mouth Turn Down?
As we age, changes in the muscles, skin, and surrounding tissues can affect the appearance of the lower face. When the corners of the mouth begin to turn downward, focusing only on the mouth itself may not give you the complete picture.
I like to look at the surrounding muscles too, especially the platysma in the neck, the depressor anguli oris (DAO) around the mouth, and the zygomaticus muscles of the cheeks.
The DAO is involved in pulling the corners of the mouth downward, while the zygomaticus muscles help lift the cheeks and contribute to an upward smile. This is why my approach combines releasing areas of tension with activating the muscles that help lift.
My 3-Step Approach for Downturned Mouth Corners
When working on downturned mouth corners, I like to look beyond the mouth itself. My approach is to release areas that may be holding tension first, then activate the muscles involved in lifting the cheeks and mouth corners.
1. Release Tension in the Neck
I start by releasing the neck and platysma area. Instead of immediately exercising the mouth, this helps prepare the surrounding area before we move into more targeted work.
In the video above, follow along with me as I guide you through a gentle neck stretch. Remember, you should feel a comfortable stretch, never pain or excessive pulling.
2. Release Around the Mouth With Buccal Massage
Next, we work more directly around the mouth using buccal massage. The depressor anguli oris, or DAO, is one of the muscles involved in pulling the corners of the mouth downward.
I also work around the modiolus, where several facial muscles meet near the corner of the mouth. Rather than aggressively pulling or stretching the skin, the goal is to work gently into the muscles and surrounding tissues.
3. Activate the Cheek-Lifting Muscles
Finally, we activate the zygomaticus muscles of the cheeks, which are involved in lifting the cheeks and the corners of the mouth.
This is why I don’t focus only on releasing. I like to combine release + lift: relax areas where we don’t want unnecessary tension, then activate the muscles we want to work.
During face yoga, keep the rest of your face relaxed. If you notice yourself clenching your jaw, tightening your neck, or frowning, come out of the pose and reset.
Frequently Asked Questions About Downturned Mouth Corners
Can face yoga help with downturned mouth corners?
Face yoga can be used to work with the muscles involved in facial expression. My approach for downturned mouth corners combines releasing tension around the neck and lower face with exercises that activate the cheek muscles involved in lifting. Consistency matters, and I always recommend working gently without creating extra tension in the face.
What muscle pulls the corners of the mouth down?
The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is one of the main muscles involved in pulling the corners of the mouth downward. Rather than focusing only on the DAO, I also work with surrounding areas, including the platysma in the neck and the cheek muscles involved in lifting the mouth corners.
Should I massage or exercise downturned mouth corners?
I like to use both, but in a specific order: release first, then lift. I start by releasing tension in the neck and around the mouth, then use a cheek-lifting exercise to activate the muscles involved in lifting. This release-and-lift approach is the foundation of how I work with the face.
Ready to Work on Your Entire Face?
If you enjoyed this practice and want a more structured routine, my Release & Lift Method takes you through a complete 7-day approach to facial massage and face yoga.
Each day focuses on a different area of the face, helping you learn how to release tension first and then work with the muscles involved in lifting and facial expression.
