Article Overview
- Nasolabial folds – which you might recognise by their more familiar names, ‘smile lines’ or ‘laugh lines’ – are a common ageing concern.
- Your skin’s collagen and elastin naturally break down with age, which causes the skin to lose its firmness, elasticity, and bounce – especially around the mouth.
- But the best way to prevent deep smile lines from forming is through a combination of preventative and targeted anti-ageing skincare.
- In this guide, we’ll explore what causes nasolabial folds and share expert advice on how to diminish their appearance and help you preserve long-term skin longevity.
What are nasolabial folds?
In ageing or mature skin, nasolabial folds are the creases that run from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. These lines start as dynamic lines when smiling or laughing, but over time, they can deepen and become static – which means they are visible even when the face is expressionless.
What causes nasolabial folds?
Nasolabial folds are caused by a combination of gravity, a lifetime of facial movements, and natural ageing: namely, the body’s steady decline of essential structural proteins (collagen and elastin).
However, their appearance can also be accentuated by a number of other external factors:
• UV damage – environmental aggressors like UVA and UVB rays trigger oxidative stress in the skin, which can accelerate visible signs of ageing.
• Smoking – a long-term smoking habit can gradually break down collagen and elastin.
• Weight fluctuations – rapid, significant weight loss can leave skin stretched and make smile lines more pronounced.
• Genetic predisposition – your genetics also play a role in the types of fine lines and wrinkles you develop with age.
How to get rid of smile lines: 6 tips for smoothing nasolabial folds
While it is impossible to “remove” smile lines completely, anti-ageing skincare and daily SPF application can help pre-empt the depth of future nasolabial folds and smooth the appearance of existing facial creases.
Below, we’ll guide you through six supportive skincare tips to help you diminish the look of smile lines.
Wear daily SPF
UV damage accounts for about 80% of premature ageing concerns1, so sunscreen is the best method of prevention for nasolabial folds. It’s important to seek out a broad-spectrum sunscreen because it will protect your skin from both UVB and UVA rays.
SkinCeuticals’s broad-spectrum sunscreen, the Ultra Facial Defence Sunscreen SPF50, offers very high sun protection to safeguard the skin. Be sure to apply each morning at the end of your morning skincare routine and re-apply as required.
1https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention/uv-radiation/related-resources/statistics
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every two hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
Introduce peptides to your skincare routine
Collagen loss is a major factor in the appearance of nasolabial folds and skin sagging, so we recommend incorporating peptides into your skincare routine to stimulate your body’s collagen synthesis and support long-term skin resilience and structure.
You can reduce smile lines and target other visible and textural ageing concerns with our P-TIOX Peptide Serum. Enriched with our breakthrough advanced peptide complex of hexapeptide and dipeptide, this anti-wrinkle serum is designed to encourage collagen and elastin production to plump and smooth expression lines.
Apply retinol to smooth fine lines and wrinkles
As an anti-ageing powerhouse, retinol is known to boost collagen production and encourage skin cell turnover, resulting in smoother, more even skin texture – and reduced smile lines.
If you’re new to retinol, we recommend starting with a low concentration like our Retinol 0.3 Anti-Ageing Night Cream, which will allow your skin to get used to this powerful ingredient gradually. Over time, as your skin adjusts, you can increase your dosage with our Retinol 0.5% Anti-Ageing Night Cream.
Ensure that you only apply retinol at night and monitor your skin for signs of sensitivity.
Support your skin with antioxidants
Oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals is a primary driver of premature ageing concerns such as dullness, dryness, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, crepey skin, and nasolabial folds. However, antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, and ferulic acid can neutralise these free radicals and promote smoother skin.
Combining all three of these star antioxidants, the C E Ferulic Acid Vitamin C Serum helps defend the skin against environmental stressors, brighten skin tone, and visibly improve fine lines, wrinkles, and firmness.
Prioritise skin hydration
Dehydrated skin or a weakened skin moisture barrier can make smile lines and sagging skin appear more pronounced, but hydrating facial serums can promote firmer, bouncier, more resilient skin.
Formulated as an advanced skin-firming treatment, the A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum reinforces the skin moisture barrier to keep skin hydrated for longer. It also targets collagen loss and glycation – the two major causes of skin laxity.
Improve skin firmness with an anti-wrinkle cream
Like we touched on above, a robust skin moisture barrier will ensure your skin is well-lubricated – and thus less susceptible to ageing concerns like nasolabial folds. In addition to your hydrating serum, you can boost hydration with a moisturiser for ageing skin.
Our A.G.E Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream is designed to counteract loss of firmness, imparting a blend of proxylane™, blueberry extract, pomegranate and glycyrrhizic acid to skin. Proxylane™, in particular, helps reinforce the skin matrix and visibly diminish the appearance of smile lines.
If you have other ageing concerns in the vein of smile lines, explore our in-depth guide on how to manage and prevent under-eye wrinkles.
Shop Featured Products
Retinol 0.3 Anti-Ageing Night Cream
A concentrated facial cream featuring 0.3% pure retinol to improve the appearance of visible signs of ageing and minimise breakouts
C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum
A vitamin C serum for fine lines and wrinkles.
P-TIOX Peptide Serum
An advanced peptide anti-wrinkle serum designed to visibly reduce hard to treat wrinkles and fine lines
A.G.E Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream
An advanced anti-wrinkle cream formulated to target glycation, visibly improve firmness and reduce fine lines
