Here’s Your Anti-Aging Strategy for Wrinkles Around the Mouth
Smile easy. We’ve got top tips on how you can address your laugh lines.
Nasolabial folds, defined as the skin creases that extend from both sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth, are a normal part of aging and have a tendency to become more prominent as you get older.
They are the creases you see whenever you smile or laugh, thus earning them their more common—and poetic—appellations: smile lines and laugh lines. You could say they represent the many happy moments you’ve had throughout your life. But if these wrinkles bother you, there are a few measures you can take to reduce the risk of developing laugh lines, delay their onset, and minimize their appearance.
- Quit smoking, or better yet, don’t take up smoking at all.
According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking can speed up skin aging, contributing to wrinkles and other changes to the appearance of your face including, but not limited to, smile lines. The Mayo Clinic points out that nicotine, other chemicals in cigarettes, smoking behaviors, and other factors related to smoking may contribute to premature skin aging and the formation of wrinkles.
- Apply sun protection regularly.
Aside from smoking, sun exposure can also lead to a higher risk of developing smile lines and/or their more pronounced appearance. Because ultraviolet rays can cause premature skin aging and wrinkles, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. It is recommended that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 regularly and that you reapply every two hours—or more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming.
Try: Heliocare Ultra 90 Gel SPF 50+, P2,550
A premium gel sunscreen, this provides very high protection from intense sun exposure and is suitable for normal to oily skin types.
Mesoestetic Sun Protective Repairing Stick, P2,000
This easy-to-use sunscreen stick is especially formulated for sensitive areas like the eye contour, lips, as well as on scars and spots. Plus, it provides twice as much protection as the minimum protection required from an SPF50+ sunscreen (UVB 124, UVA 32).
- Eat healthy
Because sudden weight loss or weight gain can also contribute to the development of smile lines, it’s important to eat healthy. “If you lose a lot of weight, you may have extra, looser skin. If you gain weight, you may have bigger cheeks. Both situations can accentuate nasolabial folds,” explains the Cleveland Clinic.
That said, Dr. Maximin Navarro, resident dermatologist at Bella Pelle Skin Solutions and a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), acknowledges though that eating healthy can be a challenge for some people. “If you are unable to eat a balanced diet, taking [nutritional] supplements can help,” he advises. Check out some of his recommendations below:
Metagenics PhytoMulti, P2,200
This dietary supplement features a proprietary blend of 13 concentrated extracts and phytonutrients to boost cellular health and overall wellness.
NutriDyn Fruits & Greens, P2,670
A nutrient-rich superfood formula, this provides a blend of 100% natural fruit and vegetable extracts, vitamins, enzymes, and other healthy ingredients to support the body’s natural processes.
- Massage skincare products onto your skin.
Studies have shown that giving yourself a face massage could help reduce signs of skin aging. One such study concluded that massaging the skin helps with the production of proteins responsible for keeping the skin firm and elastic. Another study shows that face massages help improve the blood flow to the skin, which in turn lead to healthier, firmer skin.
A word of advice: If you do decide to give yourself a facial massage, always massage the skin upwards and make sure you apply enough skincare product to facilitate the massage without tugging at your skin.
And speaking of skincare products…
- Include retinol, vitamin C, and peptides in your skincare routine.
Try: ZO 10% Vitamin C Self-Activating, P3,650 (from P7,300)
This potent vitamin C brightens and evens out skin tone, diminishes discoloration, fights free radicals, and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles.
Cosmetic Skin Solutions Supreme Serum Ferulic, P3,650
A powerhouse antioxidant serum, it fights free radicals while boosting the effectiveness of vitamins A, C and E. Ferulic acid stabilizes vitamin C while also increasing photoprotection.
Derm Biologiques Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Acid Serum
This multitasker also delivers potent anti-aging and skin rejuvenating ingredients in one formula.
Meanwhile, retinol is known to increase skin cell production, exfoliate your skin, and increase collagen production, which can, in turn, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
For products with retinol, check out the formulas from the Mesoestetic Age Element Anti-Wrinkle line:
Mesoestetic Age Element Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate, P5,700
This serum intensively treats wrinkles by stimulating endogenous collagen production. It is enriched with hyaluronic acid that fills the expression lines by retexturizing the face and restoring its younger appearance.
Mesoestetic Age Element Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream, P6,000
Optimize skin’s natural regeneration process at night with this evening cream that restructures the skin and smoothens out marked wrinkles.
Mesoestetic Age Element Anti-Wrinkle Lip and Contour, P4,500
It’s not just the skin around the mouth that’s prone to wrinkling—your lips are, too. Restore your lips’ juicy appearance with this formula that delivers anti-wrinkle and volumizing benefits.
Peptides are also key skincare ingredients that have been shown effective in aiding collagen production and promoting skin elasticity. They penetrate deep within the skin to trigger the production of collagen and elastin, leading to less visible lines and firmer-looking skin. For skincare products rich in peptides, a range to try is the Mesoestetic Age Element Firming line.
Mesoestetic Age Element Firming Concentrate, P5,700
This treats the loss of elasticity by intensively stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis.
Mesoestetic Age Element Firming Cream, P5,000
This firming cream is specially formulated to treat flaccidity on the face.
If you’re unsure which products to use or which key ingredients to look for that would best address your smile lines, talk to your dermatologist to ask for the best options for your particular skin type and needs.
For customized skin care recommendations, you can book a virtual or face-to-face dermatological consultation with Dr. Maximin Navarro, our resident dermatologist and a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) fellow, here. You can also inquire at the Bella Pelle Skin Solutions Center via (+63) 999-887-1944. View our full treatment menu here.
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SHOP OTHER PRODUCTS:
 Mesoestetic Age Element Firming Elixir, P7,000 |
 Mesoestetic Age Element Firming Eye Contour, P4,500 |
 Evenswiss Booster No.1 Anti-Wrinkle, P3,100 |
 Neostrata Dermal Replenishment, P3,470 |
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- 5 Reasons Why Your Anti-Aging Routine Isn’t Working
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