The way we breathe and hold our face matters. Proper tongue posture, a natural lip seal, and comfortable nasal breathing all play important roles in facial function and healthy development.
At Zygo Labs, we believe these everyday habits deserve more attention, especially when it comes to making the most of our natural facial structure and appearance.
That's why we developed Zygomatic Tape, also known as Zygo Tape. It's designed to provide gentle physical feedback around the cheeks and chin to encourage better facial resting habits overnight without covering the lips.
Learning how to apply Zygomatic Tape correctly is the first step. Each application uses four strips: two longer strips along the cheeks (the zygomatic area) and two shorter strips beneath the chin (the mentalis area).
Here's how to position them properly and make Zygo Tape part of your nighttime routine.
1. Before You Apply: Prepare Your Skin
Start with a clean, dry face. Remove any makeup, sunscreen, skincare residue, or excess oil from the areas where the strips will be applied.
Dry the skin thoroughly before beginning. Moisture, facial oils, and skincare products can interfere with adhesion, making the tape more likely to lift during the night.
If moisturizer is part of the evening routine, allow it to absorb completely before applying the strips (usually 45 minutes to an hour prior.) Avoid applying tape directly over freshly moisturized or irritated skin.
2. How to Apply the Zygomatic Cheek Strips
The two longer strips follow the zygomatic muscle area, where the muscles help lift the corners of the mouth upward and outward when smiling. This placement is designed to provide gentle feedback in the direction of that natural movement, supporting awareness of facial muscle engagement and resting posture.
Step 1: Take one of the longer strips and anchor its starting end slightly to the side of the corner of the mouth, without touching or covering the lips.
Step 2: Gently stretch the strip upward and outward along the cheek muscles, toward the center of the ear. Keep the tape just below the prominent cheekbone, following the muscles rather than placing it directly over the cheekbone.
Step 3: Maintain gentle, even tension as you press the strip into place, smoothing it flat against the skin. The tape's flexibility allows it to stretch comfortably along the cheek without creating folds or wrinkles.
Step 4: Repeat on the opposite cheek, matching the position, upward angle, and tension.
How should it feel? As soon as the tape is applied, there should be an immediate sensation of gentle upward and outward tension. Rather than simply feeling adhesive resting on the skin, the intended sensation is one of facial muscle engagement and stimulation, making the muscles around the cheeks feel more noticeable and supported.
The tension should be immediately noticeable but comfortable, without excessive pulling. If the skin bunches, folds, or develops creases beneath the tape, too much tension has been applied. Remove the strip and reapply with a gentler, more even stretch.
When positioned correctly, both strips should follow the natural muscle lines beneath the cheekbones, creating balanced, symmetrical tension.
3. How to Apply the Mentalis Chin Strips
The mentalis muscle sits at the front of the chin and helps raise the lower lip. When someone struggles to maintain a natural lip seal, this muscle works excessively to compensate, creating tension, chin dimpling, and visible creases beneath the lower lip.
The two shorter chin strips are designed to address this pattern by providing gentle downward feedback around the mentalis area. The intention is to discourage unnecessary chin contraction and support a more relaxed lip seal without forcing the mouth closed.
Step 1: Take one shorter strip and anchor its starting end just above the most prominent, forward-projecting part of the chin, over the mentalis area. Avoid placing it too high toward the lower lip.
Step 2: Gently stretch the strip diagonally downward along the curve and underside of the chin, maintaining light, even tension as you smooth it into place.
Step 3: Apply the second strip from the opposite side, using the same starting height and gentle downward tension. The two strips should cross to form a centered X beneath the chin.
Step 4: Check that both strips lie flat, the X is symmetrical, and the skin remains smooth without bunching or creasing.
How should it feel? There should be a light, comfortable sensation of downward tension across the chin. This feedback is intended to make unnecessary mentalis contraction more noticeable and encourage a relaxed chin while the lips rest naturally together.
4. Wearing Zygo Tape Overnight
Zygomatic Tape is designed to fit naturally into a nighttime routine.
Once the four strips are positioned comfortably, no additional exercises or adjustments are required during wear.
The cheek and chin placement is designed to provide gentle physical feedback around the facial muscles, encouraging awareness of lip positioning and facial resting habits.
Unlike conventional mouth tape, Zygo Tape doesn't mechanically seal the lips shut. Its intended approach is to encourage a natural lip seal through targeted facial feedback.
The strips can be worn during a normal night's rest and removed in the morning. Zygo Tape can also be worn during the day, providing additional opportunities to reinforce awareness of proper lip closure and facial posture throughout daily activities. More consistent feedback will help make these habits feel increasingly natural over time.
5. How to Remove Zygo Tape and Avoid Common Mistakes
To remove Zygo Tape, always begin at the bottom edge of each strip and gently peel upward and outward, supporting the surrounding skin with your other hand. This helps avoid pulling the facial skin downward during removal.
Peel slowly rather than tugging sharply, especially around the cheeks and chin. If the adhesive feels resistant, a little warm water can help make removal more comfortable.
Each strip is intended for a single application. Discard the four used strips after removal and use a fresh set for the next routine.
Common application mistakes include placing the cheek strips over the cheekbones instead of along the muscles beneath them, failing to apply enough tension to feel the intended feedback, stretching too tightly and causing skin creases, positioning the chin X off-center, placing the chin strips too high beneath the lower lip, or applying excessive downward tension to the chin.
The most important rule is simple: follow the natural muscle lines, maintain gentle and even tension, and prioritize comfort.
Make It Part of Your Nighttime Routine
Becoming the best version of ourselves starts with the habits we practice every day. The way we breathe, hold our face, and care for our health all play a role in how we look and feel.
At Zygo Labs, we believe lasting improvements begin with consistency. Making Zygomatic Tape part of a daily routine is one way to bring more attention to healthy facial habits, with the goal of supporting natural facial function and making the most of our genetic potential for appearance.
Better habits. Better health. Better looks.
Explore Zygomatic Face Tape by Zygo Labs for the official product details.
For a closer look at the philosophy behind facial taping, read our Science Journal feature, Mouth Tape vs. Zygomatic Tape: Why Facial Posture Matters More Than Simply Closing Your Mouth.