6 tips to get a Perfectly Chiseled Jawline

Otis Skincare

October 9, 2026

From Brad Pitt to Idris Elba a strong, chiseled jawline signifies a certain sharpness.

It also makes most of us look, and feel, a lot more confident.

Genes are what play the biggest part in the shape of your face - and nothing you swallow, chew or lift will move your bones. But a jawline isn’t only bone - it’s also the muscle, fat and skin that sit on top. And those are things you can influence.

There’s a lot you can do to enhance what nature gave you!

So here are six things that can improve how defined your jawline looks – as well as improving your health and your general good looks too!

What actually shapes a jawline

Think of it as four layers:

Bone. Your genetic starting point. Fixed.
Muscle. The masseter, the chewing muscle at the angle of your jaw, adds some width and definition.
Fat. A layer of facial fat softens the outline. This is the biggest variable for most men.
Skin. Firm, well-hydrated skin holds a clean line. Skin that loses collagen and moisture with age starts to soften and sag along the jaw and neck.

Most of the tips below work on the last three.

#1: Look after the skin over your jaw

This is the best place to start.

From our late twenties, we lose roughly one per cent of our skin’s collagen every year. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure and bounce. So as it declines, skin thins and loses firmness, and the jaw and neck are among the first places a man notices it: a slightly softer edge, a little less definition.

Can a collagen supplement help?

Here is where the research stands.

Several randomised trials of hydrolysed collagen peptides (collagen broken into small pieces the body can absorb) found improvements in skin hydration and elasticity after around eight to twelve weeks.
With a 2023 meta-analysis of 26 trials finding a significant benefit for both.
Another double-blind trial in 2025 found better skin hydration, density and firmness after twelve weeks on 5 g a day, still present four weeks after stopping.
But more research neds to be done.
What we do know is that collagen won’t change your bone structure or build jaw muscle. But it will support the skin that sits over them, making it firmer.

So essentially collagen is a low-risk way to look after the skin over your jaw and neck, and the best evidence points to firmer, better hydrated skin within a couple of months.

It won’t reshape your face, but it helps the skin that frames it look its best. Give it at least eight weeks.

FIRM UP Collagen Peptides

Bioactive hydrolysed collagen, absorbed into your bloodstream, where it signals your fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen, to ramp up production.

The aim: firmer, better hydrated skin along your jaw and neck.

One level scoop a day in 8 to 10 oz of chilled liquid. Stir it into water, coffee or a smoothie and forget about it.

Grass-fed bovine hide collagen, gluten-, lactose-, corn- and sugar-free, made in the USA.

Want ideas for how to take it?:

3 Collagen Smoothies for Firmer, Healthier-Looking Skin

A strong, chiseled jawline signifies a certain sharpness

#2: Lose a little facial fat

For most men, this is the biggest lever. A round face is usually a layer of fat softening the jawline, not a weak jaw.

You can’t choose where fat comes off, so there is no “jaw fat” exercise. But it does come off the face eventually as it comes off the body.

And in one study of how much weight loss people notice in a face, men needed to lose about 4 kg (roughly 9 lb) before others could see a difference in their face, and about 18 lb before they were rated as more attractive.

That sounds like a lot, and it is, but it also tells you the effect is real.

What helps: a modest calorie deficit, enough protein, and strength training and cardio you’ll actually keep doing.

Our guides to losing body fat and building muscle and strength training are good starting points.

#3: Catch up on your sleep, and watch your salt intake

Puffiness makes a face look rounder and softer, especially in the morning, and the usual culprits are either too little sleep or too much salt.

The World Health Organization recommends adults keep sodium below 2,000 mg a day (about 5 g of salt).

Cutting salt won’t carve a jawline, but it will take out some temporary puffiness. Alcohol and lying flat do the same.

If your face looks different at 7am than at 7pm, then lack of sleep could be the reason.

Aim for seven to nine hours sleep a night, go easy on processed food and drink plenty of water. Good sleep is also when your skin does most of its repair.

Recommended reading:

The Connection Between Collagen and Sleep

Jerome using Otis Skincare products for men in front of mirror

Instagram @jeromeadamoli

#4: Use your hair and beard to your advantage

This isn’t a permanent fix, but it’s a quick and immediate improvement.

A haircut or beard shape can change how your face reads in an afternoon.

Hair. Height on top lengthens a round face and makes the jaw look sharper. Keep the sides short and tight.
Beard. A goatee, or a short beard kept tight along the jaw and fuller at the chin, adds length and structure. Keep the neckline clean, just above the Adam’s apple. More in growing a beard for a stronger jawline.
Skin. Breakouts and irritation along the jaw spoil the effect fast. Our guide to clearing up jawline acne helps.

#5: Chewing gum: the honest verdict

Chewing works your masseter, the muscle at the angle of your jaw, so the theory is a bigger, more defined lower face. People who chew a lot do develop larger chewing muscles.

The catch is the downside. A 2025 systematic review linked regular gum chewing with jaw disorders, including pain, clicking and stiffness. Chew it if you like, but not for hours as a workout, and if your jaw clicks or aches, stop.

Evidence: weak for the benefit, real for the risk.

#6: Jaw and neck exercises

There is no evidence that jaw exercises will chisel your jaw.

The only controlled trial of facial exercise was in middle-aged women, and it found modestly fuller cheeks, not a sharper jaw.

But they have other brilliant effects: a stronger neck and better posture, both of which improve how your chin and jaw sit.

They’re free and take minutes. Here are four simple ones:

Chin lift. Tilt your head back, look at the ceiling and push your lower lip up over your upper lip. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat 15 times.
Tongue press. Press your whole tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth and hold. Release and repeat 15 times.
Collarbone back-up. Sit tall and slide your head straight back, as if making a double chin, then hold for 10 seconds and build up to 30. Repeat 10 times.
Neck curl. Lie on your back, tuck your chin and lift your head slightly. Start with 10 reps and build to 3 sets of 10.

Ease in. If you feel strain in your neck or jaw, stop, and if you have a neck or jaw condition, check with your GP or physio first.

The right hairstyle (and beard style) can visibly improve the look of your jawline

FAQs

Can you get a chiselled jawline if you don’t have one naturally?

You can’t change your bone structure without surgery, but you can make a real difference to how defined your jaw looks. Losing facial fat, caring for your skin and choosing the right hair cut and beard style do the most.

Does collagen give you a sharper jawline?

Not directly. Collagen peptides don’t change bone or muscle. The research is mostly about skin hydration and elasticity, so think of it as looking after the skin that frames the jaw rather than reshaping it. Allow at least eight weeks.

How long does it take to see results?

Facial fat loss depends on how quickly you lose weight overall. Collagen trials ran for eight to twelve weeks. Hair and beard changes are immediate.

Does mewing work?

There is no good clinical evidence that tongue posture reshapes the adult jaw. It's popular online, but I’d treat it with caution, and extreme versions may strain your jaw. Tongue posture is a different thing from the facial exercises above.

Is chewing gum good for your jawline?

It can build the chewing muscle, but a 2025 review linked regular gum chewing with jaw disorders. I wouldn’t rely on it.

How much weight do I need to lose to see it in my face?

In one study, men needed to lose about 4 kg (9 lb) before others noticed a difference in their face, and about 18 lb to be rated as more attractive.

The Takeaway

You can’t change the jaw bone you were born with, but you can change a lot of what sits on it.

Sleep well, stay active, keep your weight healthy, pick the right haircut and beard style, and look after the skin that frames your jaw. All of this is good for your health as well as your looks. And then treat gum and jaw exercises as extras.

And if you want to support that skin from the inside, Firm Up Collagen Peptides is how I’d start: one scoop a day, for at least eight weeks, with sunscreen on top.

You can see the full Firmer Jawline collection too.

Sandra x

(originally published in 2020, updated in 2026)