You can lift your eyebrows naturally through targeted facial exercises, massage techniques, and skincare that supports the tissue around the brow. The results are subtle compared to surgical or injectable options, but consistent practice over several months can visibly improve brow position and reduce the heaviness that makes eyes look tired or hooded.
Why Eyebrows Drop in the First Place
Your brow position is determined by a tug-of-war between muscles. The frontalis, a broad muscle that runs from your forehead up into the scalp, is the only muscle that lifts your eyebrows. Working against it are several muscles that pull the brow downward: the corrugator (which draws brows together and down, creating those vertical “11” lines), the orbicularis oculi (the ring-shaped muscle around each eye), and the depressor supercilii (which tugs the inner brow down). When these depressor muscles are chronically tense or when the lifting muscle weakens with age, the brow settles lower.
On top of the muscle balance, the skin itself changes. Collagen and elastin break down over time, and fat pads in the forehead thin out. This combination of weaker lift, persistent downward pull, and loss of structural support is what makes brows gradually droop, sometimes unevenly.
Facial Exercises That Target the Brow
Facial exercises work on the same principle as any other resistance training: repeatedly contracting a muscle under load can cause it to grow. A Northwestern University study published in JAMA Dermatology tested a 20-week program of 30-minute facial exercise sessions done daily or on alternate days. Participants’ estimated age dropped from 50.8 years at the start to 48.1 years at the end, with improvements concentrated in mid-face and lower face fullness. The proposed mechanism was muscle hypertrophy, essentially building up the muscles beneath the skin to restore lost volume.
For the brow area specifically, exercises focus on strengthening the frontalis (the lifter) and releasing the muscles that pull the brow down. Here are the most commonly recommended moves:
- Brow raise with resistance. Place your fingertips just above your eyebrows and press down gently. Then try to raise your brows against that resistance. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, relax, and repeat 10 times. The finger pressure forces the frontalis to work harder than it would during a normal brow raise.
- Wide-eye hold. Open your eyes as wide as possible without wrinkling your forehead. Focus on lifting through the brow while keeping the forehead smooth. Hold for 10 seconds. This trains the frontalis to engage without recruiting the forehead skin into deep creases.
- Corrugator release. Place two fingers on the inner corners of your brows and gently spread them apart while trying to frown. This creates resistance against the corrugator, helping to reduce the chronic tension that pulls brows inward and down.
The Northwestern study saw measurable changes at 8 weeks, with continued improvement through 20 weeks. Expect to commit at least 30 minutes every other day for two to three months before changes become noticeable. The biggest hurdle is consistency: nearly 40% of participants in the study dropped out, so building the habit matters more than perfecting the technique.
Massage and Gua Sha for Brow Tension
Chronic tension in the muscles around the brow, especially the corrugator and the orbicularis oculi, can hold the brow in a lower position. Releasing that tension won’t build new muscle, but it can give a subtle lift by allowing the frontalis to do its job without as much opposition. Many people carry stress in this area without realizing it, particularly if they spend long hours squinting at screens.
Gua sha, a traditional Chinese technique using a smooth stone tool, is one popular approach. The tool is pressed gently along the skin to release tension in the fascia and muscles underneath while encouraging lymphatic drainage, which reduces puffiness. For the brow area, the typical approach involves light, upward strokes along the brow bone, moving from the inner corner outward toward the temple. The pressure should be gentle enough that the skin barely moves under the tool. Overly aggressive scraping can irritate delicate periorbital skin.
You can achieve similar results with your fingertips. Using small circular motions, work along the brow bone from the inner brow to the tail, spending extra time on any spots that feel knotted or tender. Then use light sweeping strokes from the brow up across the forehead toward the hairline. A minute or two per side, done daily, is enough to notice reduced tension. Some people see a temporary lift immediately after a session due to increased circulation and fluid drainage, though this fades within hours. The longer-term benefit comes from consistently releasing the chronically tight muscles that contribute to a heavy brow.
Skincare That Supports Brow Firmness
No topical product will physically lift a muscle, but maintaining the structural integrity of the skin around the brow keeps it from contributing to further drooping. The two categories worth focusing on are retinoids and peptides.
Retinoids (retinol and its prescription-strength relatives) remain the most evidence-backed topical for stimulating collagen production and thickening the dermal layer. When the skin above and around the brow is firmer and more elastic, it resists gravity better. Start with a low-concentration retinol product applied to the forehead and brow area a few nights per week, gradually increasing frequency as your skin adjusts.
Peptides are shorter chains of amino acids that signal skin cells to produce more collagen, elastin, or other structural components. Several have solid evidence behind them. Copper tripeptide-1, found in serums typically at around 1% concentration, promotes collagen and has antioxidant properties. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, often marketed as Matrixyl, stimulates collagen and other matrix components even at very low concentrations. These won’t produce dramatic tightening, but over months of consistent use they help maintain the skin’s ability to “hold” the brow area in place rather than stretching and sagging.
Sunscreen is the unsexy addition to this list, but UV damage is the single largest external driver of collagen breakdown. Protecting the forehead and brow area daily preserves whatever structural gains your other products and exercises are building.
How Sleep Position Affects Your Brows
If you’ve ever noticed that one eye looks more hooded or one brow sits lower than the other, your sleep position may be a factor. A study published in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that people who consistently sleep on one side develop a measurably lower upper eyelid position on that side compared to the other. The compressed side shows greater asymmetry in eyelid height, likely from hours of sustained pressure against the pillow each night.
The study found no significant difference in actual eyebrow position between sides, but the lower eyelid opening on the preferred sleep side can make the brow appear heavier and more hooded. If asymmetry bothers you, alternating sides or sleeping on your back can help even things out over time. A silk or satin pillowcase reduces friction but won’t eliminate the compressive effect of side sleeping.
Putting It All Together
A realistic routine for naturally lifting your brows combines several of these strategies rather than relying on any single one. A practical daily approach might look like this: spend a few minutes each morning doing brow-raise exercises with resistance (10 to 15 repetitions), follow with a brief gua sha or fingertip massage session along the brow bone, and apply a peptide serum and sunscreen to the area. At night, apply retinol to the forehead. On its own, each of these produces a modest effect. Together, they address muscle strength, chronic tension, fluid retention, and skin structure simultaneously.
Set realistic expectations on timing. The best available evidence suggests 8 weeks as the earliest point where changes become measurable, with continued improvement through 20 weeks of consistent practice. The changes will be subtle, typically described as looking more “refreshed” or “awake” rather than dramatically different. For people with significant brow ptosis caused by aging or anatomical factors, natural methods can improve the situation but won’t replicate the results of a surgical brow lift or neurotoxin injections. For mild heaviness, a tired look, or early signs of drooping, they can make a meaningful difference.