Sep 1, 2021
Categories
Skin Care
Do lip lines bother you? As you get older, vertical lines can show up around the mouth and make an otherwise youthful face look older. Here’s a simple look at what causes lip lines and how to reduce their appearance.
What Causes Lip Lines?
Vertical lines around the lips come from several things: aging, environmental damage, repeated facial movements, and lifestyle habits.
Aging
The skin around your lips is thinner and more fragile than other facial skin, so it shows signs of aging sooner. Vertical lines can appear above the upper lip as early as your 20s. After that, collagen production drops by about 1% each year. As elastin and hyaluronic acid also decrease, the skin becomes weaker and less springy. When lip volume and firmness decline, fine vertical lines can deepen into more noticeable creases.
UV Exposure
Sun exposure speeds up aging by reducing collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The lip area is often left unprotected, so it’s especially vulnerable to UV damage. UVA rays generate free radicals that break down skin cells, accelerating the formation of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.
Repetitive Movements
Lip lines form much like other dynamic wrinkles (such as frown or laugh lines). Repeated actions — speaking, smiling, or pursing your lips — make the muscles around the mouth contract, eventually leaving lasting creases. As Dr. Amanda Doyle has explained, it’s like folding and unfolding a piece of paper: the fold leaves a crease that stays over time.
Smoking
Smoking is another major cause of vertical lip lines — often called “smoker’s lines.” The repeated motion of drawing on a cigarette and the oxidative damage from smoke speed up wrinkle formation. Over time, this damage deepens lines and dries out the skin, making the lips look pinched and puckered.
How To Reduce Lip Lines
Caring for your lips should be part of your daily skincare routine. Try these steps to keep your lips smooth, soft, and youthful-looking:
1. Exfoliate
Dry, flaky skin can make fine lines more noticeable. Gently exfoliate the lip area to smooth away dryness. Our Citrus Enzyme Lip Exfoliator from the Lip Trio uses citrus and pineapple enzymes to buff and soften lips, helping lines look less pronounced.
2. Treat
Use a plumping lip serum to improve elasticity and reduce the look of lines. The Marine Flower Peptide Lip Serum is a rich cream-serum that helps lips appear fuller and reduces fine lines both immediately and over time.
Follow with the Hibiscus Instant Line Filler for quick results. Instead of injections, this Advanced Instant fX treatment visibly diminishes fine lines in as little as two minutes.
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Lip Trio
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Marine Flower Peptide Lip Serum
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3. Moisturize
Keep lips hydrated with a petroleum-free balm that locks in moisture and helps reduce visible aging. Our Citrus Lip Balm contains hibiscus-derived botanical peptides to smooth wrinkles and give a plumper look.
Going outside? Sun exposure worsens lip lines, so protect the area with the Rosehip & Lemongrass Lip Balm SPF 15. This hydrating balm includes zinc oxide, rosehip oil, and lavender for natural SPF protection and relief from dryness.
Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar also shares tips in an In The Mix video — check out her advice for smoother-looking lips.
How do you care for your lip area? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you for personalized recommendations from a licensed esthetician.