Face Yoga and Gua Sha Glossary: 40 Terms Explained

This face yoga glossary explains, in plain English, the 40 words you are most likely to meet in face yoga, gua sha, facial anatomy and skincare content. Each entry gives a short, neutral definition, a note on why the term matters, and a link to the full guide if you want to go deeper. Muscles are described from standard anatomy references, medical treatments are described without judgement, and nothing here promises a result: facial exercise and massage have limited research behind them, and this glossary says so where it matters.

How to use this glossary

The terms are grouped alphabetically, so you can jump straight to the letter you need. Each term has its own heading, followed by a short definition and a link to the article that covers it in depth.

Jump to: A–C · D–F · G–J · L–M · N–O · P–R · S · T–Z

Where a term names a muscle, the definition follows the StatPearls anatomy chapters on the facial muscles and related structures. For a visual tour of how the muscles fit together, read our face muscles guide. If you would rather learn the areas by doing, Gluvy’s features include face yoga plans organised by area (forehead, eyes, cheeks, mouth, chin and jawline, neck) and gua sha courses that follow the same map.

Terms A to C

Treatments, collagen, a brow muscle and crow’s feet.

Botox (botulinum toxin, neuromodulator)

Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin, a prescription drug that a licensed clinician injects in small doses to temporarily relax specific muscles. Because it blocks the nerve signal that tells a muscle to contract, the lines that muscle creates look softer while the effect lasts. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that results wear off over months, so treatment is repeated (AAD). Clinicians often use the broader term “neuromodulator.” Face yoga is not an equivalent; our face yoga vs Botox comparison explains how they differ.

Buccal massage

Buccal massage is a facial massage in which a trained practitioner, wearing gloves, works on the cheek muscles partly from inside the mouth (“buccal” means relating to the cheek). It is a professional treatment, not a home technique. Research on it is very limited. If you want a gentle version you can do yourself, our guide to hands-only facial massage techniques stays on the outside of the face.

Collagen

Collagen is the main structural protein in your skin. It forms a supportive network in the dermis, the skin’s deeper layer. Your body makes less of it with age, and ultraviolet light from the sun breaks it down faster, which is one reason sun-exposed skin wrinkles earlier. Daily sunscreen and, for many people, a retinoid are the habits dermatologists most often suggest; our anti-aging skincare routine puts them in order.

Corrugator supercilii

The corrugator supercilii is a small muscle that sits under the inner part of each eyebrow and draws the brows down and together when you frown, squint or concentrate. It works alongside the procerus, a tiny muscle over the top of the nose that pulls the skin between the brows down. Together they fold the skin into the vertical “11 lines.” Learning to notice and release this frown habit is the focus of our guide to 11 lines between the eyebrows.

Crow’s feet

Crow’s feet are the fan-shaped lines at the outer corners of the eyes. They form where the ring of muscle around the eye (the orbicularis oculi) folds the skin each time you smile or squint. Over the years, sun exposure and thinner, drier skin can make them visible at rest. Our crow’s feet guide covers sun protection, night care and a very gentle massage for the area.

Terms D to F

Depuffing, double chin, the 11 lines and face yoga itself.

Depuffing

Depuffing means reducing temporary fluid swelling that makes the face, especially around the eyes, look fuller, often in the morning or after a salty meal. Common depuffing steps are cool water, getting upright and moving, and light massage strokes from the centre of the face out toward the ears and down the neck. The effect is temporary. Swelling that is sudden, painful or one-sided needs a doctor. See how to debloat your face and why your face is puffy in the morning.

Dermal filler

A dermal filler is an injectable gel, most often based on hyaluronic acid, that a licensed clinician places under the skin to add volume to an area such as the cheeks, lips or the folds around the mouth. Results are temporary because the body gradually breaks the material down; discuss the risks with a qualified practitioner. Fillers change volume; exercise and massage do not. If you have had filler recently, ask your clinician before pressing or massaging the area, as explained in our article on face yoga side effects.

Double chin (submental fullness)

“Double chin” is the everyday name for fullness under the chin, which clinicians call submental fullness (“submental” means below the chin). It comes mainly from genetics, overall body fat, age-related skin changes and posture. Chin and neck exercises can work the muscles under the jaw and train posture, but they don’t reduce the fat in that spot. Our double chin exercises guide sets out what is realistic.

Effleurage

Effleurage is a long, gliding massage stroke made with flat fingers or the palms. In classic massage it spreads oil and warms the skin. In facial massage it usually means slow, broad strokes from the centre of the face outward and down the neck, with light pressure. It is the warm-up in our guide to facial massage techniques, followed by kneading, tapping and pressure holds.

Eleven lines (glabellar lines)

Eleven lines, also called glabellar lines or frown lines, are the vertical creases between the eyebrows. The glabella is the smooth skin between the brows. The lines form where the corrugator and procerus muscles fold the skin when you frown or squint, and sun damage and age-related thinning of the skin make them more likely to stay visible at rest. Our guide to 11 lines between the eyebrows covers frown habits, relaxation moves and the options people consider.

Expression lines (dynamic wrinkles)

Expression lines, or dynamic wrinkles, are lines that appear when a muscle moves the skin: forehead lines when you raise your brows, crow’s feet when you smile, frown lines when you concentrate. They smooth out when your face relaxes. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that repeating the same expressions over many years can make those lines permanent, which is why it suggests sunglasses to reduce squinting (AAD). Our forehead wrinkles guide shows how this plays out on the forehead.

Face pilates

Face pilates is a name some teachers and brands use for their facial exercise methods. There is no standard definition: it can mean facial muscle exercises, massage, breathing work or a mix. In practice it overlaps heavily with face yoga, and the same caution applies to both, since research on facial exercise is limited. Our complete face yoga guide explains the core elements most of these methods share.

Face taping

Face taping means applying strips of tape, usually to the forehead or between the brows, to limit movement and smooth the skin, often overnight. Some people use it as a reminder not to frown. The evidence is anecdotal: there are no good studies showing that taping changes wrinkles. If you try it, use tape made for skin, peel it off gently and stop if your skin becomes red or irritated. Our forehead wrinkles guide covers taping alongside habits with better support, such as sunscreen.

Face yoga

Face yoga is a routine of facial exercises, stretches, gentle self-massage and relaxation that you do regularly, usually for a few minutes a day. The best-known study, a small 2018 trial in which 16 middle-aged women completed 20 weeks of exercises, found that dermatologists rated their cheeks as fuller in standardised photos; it had no control group, so larger controlled studies are needed (Alam et al., 2018). Our complete face yoga guide covers the evidence, and the 5-minute face yoga routine for beginners is an easy start.

Frontalis

The frontalis is the broad, flat muscle across your forehead. It is the only muscle that raises the eyebrows, and the procerus, corrugator supercilii and orbicularis oculi pull against it (StatPearls). Each time you lift your brows, the frontalis folds the forehead skin into horizontal lines. Face yoga for this area focuses on relaxing the frontalis rather than working it harder, as in our guide to forehead wrinkles.

Terms G to J

Glass skin, gua sha, hooded eyes and jowls.

Glass skin

Glass skin is a term from Korean beauty (K-beauty) for skin that looks very smooth, clear and dewy, as if it reflects light like glass. It describes a look, not a medical skin state, and it is usually built with gentle cleansing, layers of hydrating products, moisturiser and daily sunscreen. Real skin has pores and texture, so treat it as a style goal rather than a standard to meet. Our glow up tips cover the everyday habits behind healthy-looking skin.

Gua sha

Gua sha comes from traditional Chinese medicine: “gua” means to scrape, and “sha” refers to the reddish marks that appear after traditional body treatment. Facial gua sha is a much gentler adaptation in which a flat stone glides outward with light pressure; it should not hurt or leave marks. Research on facial gua sha is limited. Start with our complete gua sha guide and the step-by-step gua sha routine.

Hooded eyes

Hooded eyes describes an eye shape in which a fold of skin from the brow area sits over the eyelid crease, so less of the upper lid shows when your eyes are open. For many people it is simply their natural eye shape. It is different from ptosis, a drooping of the eyelid edge itself, which is a medical condition worth having checked (Cleveland Clinic). See our guide to hooded eyes.

Jowls

Jowls are the slight drop of skin and fat along the lower jaw, just below and to the sides of the mouth corners. They come mostly from normal age-related changes in skin, facial fat and bone, with genetics playing a large part. Daily sunscreen and not smoking slow skin aging. Read what causes jowls and how to slow them and our face yoga for jowls routine.

Terms L to M

Lymphatic drainage, the lower face, mewing and microcurrent.

Lymphatic drainage (lymph nodes)

Your lymphatic system is a network of thin vessels and small nodes that carries excess fluid (lymph) from the tissues back into your circulation. Lymph nodes in front of the ears, under the jaw and along the neck filter that fluid. A lymphatic drainage face massage uses very light, skin-stretching strokes toward those nodes and may temporarily reduce the look of puffiness. It is not a detox. The clinical version for lymphedema is done by trained therapists (Cleveland Clinic). See our lymphatic drainage face massage guide.

Marionette lines

Marionette lines are the creases that run down from the corners of the mouth toward the chin, named after marionette puppets with hinged jaws. They sit below the nasolabial folds and often appear alongside jowls. They come mostly from age-related changes in bone, fat and skin, plus the downward pull of a small muscle at each mouth corner, the depressor anguli oris. There is no evidence that exercise makes them go away. Our guide to face yoga for marionette lines offers gentle moves and honest expectations.

Masseter

The masseter is a thick, strong chewing muscle on each side of the face. It runs from the cheekbone (the zygomatic arch) down to the angle of the lower jaw and closes the jaw with force when you bite (StatPearls). It is one of the main muscles at work when you clench or grind your teeth. Gentle massage and a relaxed jaw position may help it feel looser; our jaw tension relief routine shows how.

Mewing

Mewing is a social media trend of pressing the whole tongue flat against the roof of the mouth, often for hours a day, in the hope of reshaping the jaw and face. There is no good evidence that it changes an adult’s jaw or bone structure. A relaxed resting position, with your tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth, lips closed and teeth apart, is comfortable and fine; forcing it is not useful. Our guide to facial exercises for men looks at mewing and similar jaw trends.

Microcurrent

Microcurrent refers to handheld devices and salon treatments that pass a very low-level electrical current through the skin of the face. They are marketed for toning and a lifted look, but good-quality research on visible results is limited. Follow the device’s instructions and safety warnings, and check with a doctor first if you have an implanted electronic device, epilepsy or a medical condition, or are pregnant. Our article on natural face lift exercises covers what non-surgical approaches can and can’t change.

Terms N to O

Smile lines, neck lines, a skincare label and two ring muscles.

Nasolabial folds

Nasolabial folds, often called smile lines or laugh lines, are the natural folds that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth (“naso” means nose, “labial” means lips). Everyone has them. They tend to look deeper with age as skin, fat and the supporting tissues of the mid-face change, and sun exposure and smoking can add to that. Read our smile lines explainer and exercises for smile lines.

Neck lines

Neck lines are the horizontal creases across the front of the neck. Some are natural skin folds; others deepen with gradual collagen loss, sun exposure and genetics. Spending a lot of time looking down at a phone folds the neck in the same places, which is why they are sometimes called “tech neck lines,” though evidence for that link is limited. Daily sunscreen down to the collarbone and posture habits are the practical steps; see our guide to neck lines.

Non-comedogenic

Non-comedogenic is a label on skincare and makeup meaning the product is formulated not to clog pores. A comedo is a clogged pore. The label is useful for oily or acne-prone skin, and the American Academy of Dermatology suggests non-comedogenic products and makeup removers for people with acne (AAD). It is not a guarantee, because skin reacts individually, so patch-test new products. Our guide on how to minimize pores explains more.

Orbicularis oculi

The orbicularis oculi is the ring of muscle around each eye that closes the eyelids, from a gentle blink to squeezing your eyes shut. It sits just under the thin eyelid skin and also helps with tear drainage (StatPearls). Its outer part is the muscle that folds the skin into crow’s feet when you smile or squint. Eye-area face yoga uses the lightest touch; see our guide to crow’s feet.

Orbicularis oris

The orbicularis oris is the muscle that surrounds the mouth within both lips. It closes the lips, purses them and pushes them forward. It is not a simple ring: its fibres run in several directions, and many other mouth muscles attach into it (StatPearls). Repeated pursing, for example around a straw, is often linked with fine lines above the lip. Our face muscles guide shows how it works with the cheek and chin muscles.

Terms P to R

Gua sha marks, the main neck muscle and retinoids.

Petechiae (sha)

Petechiae are tiny, flat red, purple or brown dots that appear when small blood vessels near the surface leak a little blood under the skin. Unlike a rash, they don’t fade when you press on them (Cleveland Clinic). In traditional body gua sha these marks, the “sha,” are the expected result of firm scraping. On the face they are not a goal: they mean the pressure or angle was wrong. Unexplained petechiae need a doctor. See our guide to gua sha side effects.

Platysma

The platysma is a thin, wide sheet of muscle that lies just under the skin of the front and sides of the neck, running from the upper chest and collarbone area up toward the jaw and mouth (StatPearls). It helps pull the lower lip and mouth corners down and tenses the neck skin, as in a grimace. Its edges are related to the vertical bands some people see on the neck. See our turkey neck exercises.

Retinoid

Retinoids are a family of vitamin A–based ingredients used on the skin. They include retinol and other over-the-counter forms, and stronger prescription forms such as tretinoin. The American Academy of Dermatology explains the difference between retinoids and retinol and how to use them (AAD). Retinoids can cause dryness and irritation at first, so most people start a few nights a week and use daily sunscreen. Our nighttime skincare routine shows where a retinoid fits.

Terms S

Sunscreen, spot reduction, lines at rest and the under-jaw area.

SPF (sun protection factor)

SPF, short for sun protection factor, is a number on sunscreen that indicates how well it protects against UVB rays, the main cause of sunburn. It doesn’t describe protection against UVA rays, which also contribute to skin aging; for that, look for “broad-spectrum” on the label. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed skin, (AAD). Our skincare routine order shows where it goes.

Spot reduction

Spot reduction is the idea that exercising one part of the body burns the fat in that spot. It isn’t supported by evidence. In one randomised trial, six weeks of abdominal exercises improved muscle endurance but did not reduce belly fat (Vispute et al., 2011). There is no reason to expect the face, chin or neck to work differently: fat there changes with overall body weight, genetics and age. Read more in our article on the face fat myth.

Static wrinkles

Static wrinkles are lines that stay visible when your face is completely relaxed. They often start as expression lines that, after years of the same movements combined with sun exposure and the natural loss of collagen and elasticity, no longer smooth out at rest. Face yoga that focuses on relaxing overworked muscles is a low-risk habit, but it is not shown to smooth static lines. Our forehead wrinkles guide covers the habits with better evidence.

Submandibular area

The submandibular area is the region just beneath the lower jaw on each side of the face (“sub” means below, “mandible” is the lower jawbone). It contains the submandibular salivary glands and a group of lymph nodes. It is different from the submental area, directly under the chin. Keep pressure light here and see a doctor about any new lump. Our guide to gua sha under the chin and jaw shows safe strokes.

Terms T to Z

Tech neck, the temple muscle, turkey neck and the smile muscle.

Tech neck

Tech neck is an informal name for the stiffness, aching and forward-head posture that can build up when you spend hours looking down at a phone, tablet or laptop. It is not a formal diagnosis but a pattern of strain. One modelling study estimated that the load on the neck rises as the head tilts further forward (Hansraj, 2014). Read what tech neck is and try our tech neck exercises.

Temporalis

The temporalis is a fan-shaped chewing muscle that covers the side of the head at the temple. Its fibres narrow into a tendon that attaches to the lower jaw, and it helps close the jaw and pull it back (StatPearls). Along with the masseter, it often holds tension in people who clench or grind. Slow temple circles feature in our jaw tension relief routine.

Turkey neck

Turkey neck is an informal term for loose or sagging skin at the front of the neck, sometimes with visible vertical bands. The Cleveland Clinic describes it as a matter of the neck’s skin, fat or underlying muscle, or a combination of the three (Cleveland Clinic). Neck exercises can work the muscle and posture side, but they don’t change loose skin. Our turkey neck exercises guide sets out what is realistic.

Zygomaticus major

The zygomaticus major is the main smile muscle. It runs from the cheekbone (the zygomatic bone) down to the corner of the mouth and pulls the corner up and out when you smile. Its smaller neighbour, the zygomaticus minor, helps lift the upper lip. They don’t change the bone underneath: cheekbone height and width are set by genetics. Read our guide to cheekbones and the face muscles guide.

Learn the areas on video with Gluvy

Definitions are a starting point; the muscles make more sense once you feel them move. Gluvy’s face yoga video workouts include 200+ guided exercises organised by area, from the forehead and eyes to the cheeks, mouth, chin and jawline and neck, with 3-week plans of 5 to 10 minutes a day and a timer on every step. The app also has about 34 gua sha and facial massage video courses and short skincare lessons. For a calm evening practice, try our bedtime face yoga routine.

Sources

• Alam M, et al. “Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging.” JAMA Dermatology, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142
• StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf: Facial Muscles; Frontalis Muscle; Orbicularis Oculi Muscle; Orbicularis Oris Muscle; Masseter Muscle; Mastication Muscles; Platysma Muscle
• American Academy of Dermatology: Botulinum toxin overview; Reduce premature skin aging; Acne habits to stop; Retinoid or retinol?; How to apply sunscreen
• Cleveland Clinic: Ptosis (drooping eyelid); Lymphatic drainage massage; Petechiae; Turkey neck
• Vispute SS, et al. “The effect of abdominal exercise on abdominal fat.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2011. PubMed
• Hansraj KK. “Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head.” Surgical Technology International, 2014. PubMed