How To Manage Lip Wrinkles and Lines

If you were asked to describe your perfect pout, we’re guessing the words “smooth,” “soft,” and “plump” would factor into your description in one way or another. “Textured” probably wouldn’t make the cut. Lip wrinkles, however, are something we all have to some degree. The skin on your lips is thin and highly flexible (and it has to be—if it weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to talk, eat, or smile). But if your lip wrinkles are deep and prominent, it can make scoring the perfect lipstick application challenging, to say the least. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to smooth the appearance of wrinkled lips. Here, we’ll explain what causes lip lines—both on the lips and around the lips—and detail what you can do to score a smoother, plumper-looking pout. 

What Are Lip Wrinkles?

Typically, when someone talks about lip wrinkles, they’re referring to creases on the lips themselves. Fine lines on the lips are a normal part of human anatomy, but over time, these creases can become deeper and more prominent, making your pout look rough or dry. However, in some cases, the term “lip wrinkles” is used to describe visible creases on the skin around your mouth. These can exist on their own or coincide with true lip wrinkles, but they’re separate concerns. 

Types of wrinkles around the lips

There are a few different types of wrinkles that can develop around the mouth. Here’s a look at the most common:

Vertical lip lines: These thin lines typically extend from the bottom of the nose to the top of the upper lip. Sometimes, the lines are mirrored on the underside of the lip, too. You may hear these lines on the lips referred to as “smoker’s lines,” though smoking isn’t the only thing that can cause them to occur. 

Marionette lines: Marionette lines are a type of crease or wrinkle that extend from the outer corners of the lips down toward the chin. They’re so named for their resemblance to a marionette puppet’s mouth.

Nasolabial folds: Nasolabial folds, more commonly known as laugh lines or smile lines, extend from the outer edges of the nose to the corners of the lips. When you’re young, these creases only really appear when you smile. However, with age, they can become noticeable even when your face is at rest. 

What Causes Lip Lines?

As you can probably imagine, there’s more than one factor that can contribute to lip lines and wrinkles. Here are a few of the most common.

The natural aging process

With age comes a natural decline in the amount of collagen and elastin our bodies produce. According to the Mayo Clinic, these proteins are responsible for giving skin its structure and elasticity; without enough of them, the skin can become lax, and fine lines and wrinkles may become more prominent. Though there’s no way to avoid this natural process entirely, maintaining a proper skincare routine can help keep your skin looking firm and youthful for longer (more on that in a bit). 

Repetitive facial movements

Any type of repetitive facial movement can lead to the formation of lines and wrinkles. Lines on the lips themselves are often caused by puckering your lips frequently, while creases around your mouth, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines, can be caused by smiling, frowning, laughing, or grimacing.

Dryness and dehydration

Dryness may not directly cause your skin to wrinkle, but a lack of moisture in your skin can make fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominent. If you’re suddenly noticing your lips look more textured than normal, try upping your water intake—it might help smooth things out.

Sun exposure

Like all age-related skin concerns, lip wrinkles and lines are heavily influenced by sun exposure. Frequent exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can damage the skin, causing it to sag and wrinkle prematurely. That’s why it’s important not to skip sun protection—even for your lips. Look for a lip balm that contains broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it frequently, especially when outdoors. 

Certain lifestyle habits

We mentioned earlier that vertical lip lines are sometimes referred to as smoker’s lines, and that’s because the puckering movement that you might make to smoke can contribute to these wrinkles. Smoking, however, isn’t the only culprit: Pursing your mouth to drink out of a straw can also contribute to vertical lip lines, per the Cleveland Clinic.

How To Manage Lip Wrinkles

If you’re wondering how to get rid of lip wrinkles, we’ll be the first to tell you that you can’t—not completely, anyway. As mentioned, having fine lines on your lips is totally normal, and it’s necessary so you can speak, smile, and move your mouth with ease. However, if you’re dealing with extremely wrinkled lips (or are looking to improve the appearance of creases around your mouth), there are a few things that you can do. Here’s what we recommend. 

Wear sunscreen every day

Broad-spectrum sunscreen is arguably the best product for lip lines—both those on the lips and those surrounding your mouth. To protect your skin from the sun, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and applying it every two hours (more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming). For added protection, you can swap out your standard face moisturizer for a formula with SPF. We’re fond of the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Moisturizer SPF 30, which contains vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid and helps smooth and firm aging skin. For your lips themselves, we recommend using a lip balm with SPF for hydration and protection. 

Keep your lips hydrated

If you have deep, prominent lip wrinkles that make your lipstick look textured or uneven, prioritize hydration—giving your lips lots of moisture can help plump them up, making them appear smoother and softer (at least, temporarily). For a healthy-looking pout, try swapping out your matte lipstick for a hydrating gloss or oil, such as the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil. The non-sticky formula contains hyaluronic acid and tripeptides and provides up to 24 hours of hydration for smoother, plumper-looking lips. The 10 flattering shades are on the sheerer side, but you can layer your gloss over lip liner for a bolder lip look, if desired. 

Pay attention to the skin around your lips

Sunscreen isn’t the only skincare product that should be applied around your lips—nearly everything you use on your face can be applied around your mouth, too. To instantly plump up the look of those marionette lines and nasolabial folds, try adding the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum to your regular skincare routine. The non-greasy formula delivers intense, fast-absorbing moisture and helps plump the skin to diminish the look of lines. With regular use over time, both fine lines and deeper wrinkles will become less noticeable. Just take care not to get it (or any other skincare product) on your lips themselves—unless the product is specifically designed for use on the mouth.

Visit a dermatologist 

If your lip wrinkles are very bothersome, consider scheduling an appointment with your dermatologist. They have access to professional lip wrinkle treatments (such as microneedling, fillers, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels) that may help to improve the look of your lip lines and wrinkles. These treatments aren’t for everybody, but your dermatologist should be able to help you determine which (if any) is right for your needs.

Next Up: 10 Tips To Get Smooth Skin

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris