Smooth the Appearance of Smile Lines With These Expert Tips

Smile lines, or laugh lines, are caused by repeated facial movements to the area. If you smile or laugh a lot (which is a good thing!), it may increase signs of visible aging around your mouth. To learn how to reduce the appearance of these wrinkles and fine lines without smiling less we talked to board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Joshua Zeichner. 

What Causes Smile Lines? 

For some, laugh lines are only visible when they’re smiling or squinting. For others, these lines are permanent features of the face, even when the face is at rest. This can happen due to excess sun damage, the natural passing of time and repeated facial movements, like smiling. Unfortunately, the more repeated expressions you make with your face, the deeper and more pronounced these creases appear over time. “Smile lines around your mouth are caused by repeated folding of the skin from smiling,” says Dr. Zeichner. “This along with losses in volume in the face that occur naturally with age can cause smile lines to form.” What’s more, each time you perform a facial movement, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. With time and the natural loss of skin flexibility, these grooves have a hard time springing back into place and can eventually become permanent. 

How to Improve the Appearance of Smile Lines 

If you’ve started noticing that your smile lines are becoming more defined even when your face is at rest, there are a few things you can do to reduce their appearance. Dr. Ziechner explains that minimizing the appearance ultimately comes down to hydration and plumping up the skin. “At home, consider a mask designed for the lines,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Many contain skin-hydrating ingredients both to plump and strengthen the look of skin.” We recommend the Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Sheet Mask, which is firming and provides long-lasting hydration. Keep in mind, however, that these products help temporarily reduce the appearance of smile lines, but not prevent wrinkles from forming altogether. 

It’s also important to incorporate sunscreen into your everyday routine. If you aren’t being diligent with your sun protection, you’re increasing your chances of developing premature fine lines and wrinkles. Cleveland Clinic recommends using both sunscreen and physical blockers (think: zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) to protect your skin from the sun. Reach for one with broad-spectrum protection and an SPF of 15 or higher. We recommend the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. For the best line of protection, practice safe sun habits such as seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and avoiding peak sun hours.

Anti-Aging Products to Reduce the Appearance of Smile Lines 

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate 

This potent blend of l-ascorbic acid (also known as pure vitamin C), ascorbyl glucoside and hyaluronic acid is formulated to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while also improving skin’s overall radiance, texture and firmness. You should start to see results in just two weeks. 

SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5

Turning to a concentrated pure retinol cream can help diminish the appearance of multiple signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. For retinol beginners, we recommend Retinol 0.5 at night. Because retinol is a powerful ingredient, it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher in the morning. 

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask

During sleep, your skin undergoes natural self-repair, so take advantage of this time by applying a hydrating leave-on mask. Formulated with pro-retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, this night treatment helps plump and firm the skin, improving the appearance of facial contours.

La Roche-Posay Pure Retinol Serum With Vitamin B3

Creating an anti-aging skin-care routine is important if you're trying to combat fine lines like smile lines. We recommend incorporating this La Roche-Posay serum into your nighttime routine. It’s lightweight,hydrating, and helps soothe and plump the skin with ingredients like vitamin B3. 

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