Smile lines are an all too common skincare concern. Interchangeable with laugh lines, these are those little folds around the mouth between the bottom of the nose and corners of the mouth. Many of us are actually born with smile lines. Over time, they can become more prominent.
Before we discuss how to get rid of smile lines, we want to explain why they happen in the first place. The culprit is collagen: the older you get, the less of it your skin can produce. Less collagen means your skin is less bouncy, less able to stay or return to a smooth state. Some people are also just genetically prone to wrinkles and lines.
Smile lines in particular are dynamic wrinkles, which means that their appearance is triggered by moving the muscles of the face – hence their name. Smiles are undoubtedly beautiful, and we should always celebrate reasons to smile and laugh. But it’s still common to want to downplay smile lines. It wasn’t always easy to do so, but these days, a variety of available treatments, skincare ingredients, and lifestyle habits can help anyone keep those pesky smile lines at bay.
How to Get Rid of Smile Lines With Skincare
Hyaluronic Acid & Other Ingredients
A common way to target smile lines is through skincare ingredients, with hyaluronic acid at the top of the list. A hydrating humectant, or fancy word for a compound that draws moisture from its surroundings, hyaluronic acid is beloved in skincare for its incredible ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, resulting in more supple, younger-looking skin.
To tackle smile lines with skincare, try the Thom Elzner Daily Super Serum, which features two formulas of hyaluronic acid for anti-aging benefits and ultra-deep penetrating hydration.
Other ingredients that are often used to target smile lines include Retinol, a Vitamin A derivative known for its ability to speed up dead skin cell turnover; Vitamin C, a potent ingredient that stimulates collagen and can even skin tone; and Niacinamide, known for its brightening properties and ability to lessen the appearance of smile lines.
Look for products with a combination of actives, such as the Thom Elzner Daily Super Serum, Thom Elzner Purifying Gel Cleanser, or Thom Elzner Hydrating Cleanser for the most effective, complete treatment.
Daily Moisturizing
In addition to specific ingredients, it’s super important to use a daily moisturizer, which has many benefits for your skin in addition to helping to diminish smile lines. Skin becomes drier the more we age, which makes it harder for your skin to bounce back from the wrinkles caused by smiling. Try the Thom Elzner Daily Repair Moisturizer, which features a satiny texture that is easily absorbed alongside the anti-aging, reparative powers of its HydroTech Complex. Properly hydrated skin will naturally look healthier and younger for longer.
How to Get Rid of Smile Lines With Medi-Spa Treatments
OxyTrio Oxygen Facial
The next step up from skincare ingredients is to treat smile lines with medi-spa treatments. The OxyTrio Oxygen Facial is a great option if you have the dual issue of smile lines and environmentally damaged or dehydrated dry skin.
Properly hydrated skin is better able to fight free radicals, thus preventing the formation of lines and wrinkles in the first place. This treatment is infused with a specialty serum in order to boost the overall vitality of the skin while increasing its ability to absorb vitamins A, C, E and other nutrients.
Laser Genesis Facial
For an even more targeted approach to minimizing smile lines, turn to the Laser Genesis Facial. Using advanced laser science, this preventative and corrective treatment jump starts collagen production to give your skin a youthful boost, diminishing smile lines and wrinkles while improving elasticity.
Collagen Induction Therapy
If smile lines are to be blamed in part on a lack of collagen, Collagen Induction Therapy is a logical solution that aims to increase the skin’s natural collagen production. Also known as microneedling, our service utilizes the SkinPen® by Bellus Medical, the first microneedling device in the world cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
How to Get Rid of Smile Lines With Lifestyle Changes
Wear SPF
It should go without saying but one of the easiest ways to defend against early signs of aging and smile lines is to wear SPF sunscreen every single day, all year round. Sun damage both causes and worsens lines and wrinkles, so apply sunscreen liberally on uncovered skin all year round. Pair that with the Thom Elzner Total Defense, infused with a combination of HydroTech Complex botanicals that defend against sun damage and pollution for even more protection against the sun.
Drink Water
Drink water! Another obvious lifestyle habit, but one that’s always worth mentioning. There’s nothing like dehydrated skin to really make smile lines stand out even more. Stay hydrated and your skin will stay vibrant.
Maintain Health
Perhaps second-only to making sure that you drink enough water is making sure that you eat a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of vegetables, the appropriate level of exercise, and unhealthy habits (yes, even caffeine) only in moderation. Water-rich foods like watermelon, peaches, celery, zucchini, cauliflower, and cucumbers help you stay hydrated while providing essential vitamins to the skin too.
Smile lines are perfectly natural, but if you want to minimize yours, it’s clear that you have many options: skincare, medi-spa treatments, lifestyle choices. Next level treatments for smile lines such as plastic surgery are best discussed with your doctor. Keep your skin healthy and hydrated and you’ll be rewarded with natural vibrance, diminished smile lines, and a radiant complexion.