Although the existence of a smile line that generally appears in the area around the nose to the corners of the mouth indicates that you are living a happy life, sometimes its presence is disturbing because it makes facial skin wrinkle and looks less youthful. To reduce, disguise, or even eliminate annoying smile lines, try applying skin care products such as exfoliants, seeing a dermatologist, exercising facial muscles, and improving your diet and lifestyle.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Skin Care Products
Step 1. Use a moisturizer every day
Do this to hydrate the skin and reduce wrinkles and smile lines around the lips. For best results, use a moisturizer that contains collagen to improve skin elasticity and overall health.
Step 2. Exfoliate the skin regularly
Exfoliating the skin is necessary to remove dead skin cells and make the skin look healthier and younger. In addition, doing so is also able to reduce smile lines that arise from laughing or smiling too much. Choose an exfoliant that suits your skin type. After that, wet your face with warm water, and rub the exfoliant with the help of a soft towel in a circular motion. After that, rinse your face again with warm water until clean.
Step 3. Make a natural exfoliant from brown sugar and coconut oil
While you can actually use any oil, a mixture of brown sugar and coconut oil is a classic, time-tested combination. To make it, mix 2 tbsp. brown sugar with 2 tbsp. coconut oil, then apply the mixture to the face in a circular motion. After exfoliating your skin for a few minutes, rinse your face with warm water until clean.
The combination of brown sugar as a scrub and coconut oil as a moisturizer is effective in refreshing facial skin as well as disguise the texture of smile lines in the long term
Step 4. Protect skin from direct sunlight
In fact, sun exposure can make or worsen the condition of the smile lines on your face, you know! Therefore, protect facial skin by wearing sunscreen cream every day, immediately take shelter when the sun is shining very hot, and wear a wide hat when you have to move in the midst of very hot weather. It's a good idea to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more for daily use, and an SPF of 30 if you must engage in intense outdoor activities (such as playing at the beach or picnicking).
If you want, you can also use a foundation that contains SPF to disguise facial lines while protecting your skin from the sun
Step 5. Use a primer or blurring cream to hide the smile lines on your face
Both are able to disguise wrinkles around the lips temporarily. First of all, apply sunscreen cream to the facial skin. Then, apply a small amount of primer or blurring cream (a type of moisturizer as a makeup base) to areas of skin that have wrinkles or smile lines with the help of your fingers. After that, you can immediately apply other makeup such as foundation or powder.
Step 6. Perform dermal filler therapy
In fact, dermal filler is a therapy that injects natural nutrients to fill the cavities behind the layers of the skin, including the cavities that cause wrinkles and smile lines to appear on the face. Several types of dermal fillers that have been tested for safety and have received marketing authorization from the American Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) are Restylane and Juvederm; both are able to disguise the annoying smile lines on your face. This therapy can only be done by a plastic surgeon, and takes about 15 minutes to an hour.
- Remember, the effect of dermal filler is not permanent. In fact, a single syringe can only maintain its effect for four to nine months, so you'll need to repeat the therapy at regular intervals for longer lasting results.
- In Jakarta, generally you need to spend four to eight million per syringe to do dermal filler therapy.
Step 7. Ask your dermatologist for treatment recommendations
In addition to dermal fillers, you can also apply anti-wrinkle creams or retinol products, as well as perform laser therapy or botox to disguise wrinkles and smile lines on the face. Consult these various methods with your doctor to get rid of annoying smile lines more permanently.
Method 2 of 3: Exercising Facial Muscles
Step 1. Exercise facial muscles by pulling the corners of the lips manually
Doing facial yoga can tighten facial muscles, disguise wrinkles, and slow down skin aging. To do this, pull the corners of your lips with the middle finger of your hand. After that, tighten the skin on the area from the inside, and hold the position for 5 to 10 seconds. Instead, repeat the process 10 to 25 times without a break each day.
Step 2. Tighten your cheek muscles by holding your breath in your mouth
To tighten the cheek muscles and soften facial skin texture, take a deep breath through your mouth, then hold it with your mouth bulged. While holding your breath, try to move the air in your mouth from side to side. Exhale, and repeat the process again.
Step 3. Smile as wide as you can by closing the gap between your upper and lower teeth
In fact, smiling broadly is also able to tighten the skin around the lips, strengthen facial muscles, and disguise the smile lines on your face. Hold that position for 10 seconds; relax the facial muscles, and repeat the same process 10 to 20 times each day.
Step 4. Pull the cheek skin up
Use both palms to pull the facial muscles and soften the texture of existing wrinkles and smile lines. First, place your palms on your cheeks and make sure your fingers touch the edges of your face. After that, pull the corners of the lips until your teeth show; hold that position for 30 seconds. Release, and repeat the same process three times.
Method 3 of 3: Improving Lifestyle
Step 1. Increase the consumption of water
Drinking water is one of the most ideal and easiest ways to naturally hydrate the skin and disguise wrinkles and smile lines on the face. Therefore, increase your daily water consumption. In addition, replace the consumption of soda, coffee, and sugary drinks with water, especially because coffee and sugary drinks are at risk of making the skin more dehydrated and accentuating the shape of the smile lines on your face.
Step 2. Exercise regularly
Exercising will increase blood flow to the skin, increase the production of natural oils and moisture in the skin, and encourage the growth of new cells; completely able to eliminate wrinkles and smile lines on your face. Therefore, try to do aerobic exercise such as running, hiking, dancing, or swimming at least a few times a week.
Step 3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants are natural substances that are full of vitamins and can increase the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. That's why, eating foods that are rich in powerful antioxidants can disguise wrinkles and smile lines on your face. Some examples of foods that are high in antioxidants are blackberries, cranberries, vegetables such as tomatoes and broccoli, and green tea.
Step 4. Increase consumption of omega 3 fatty acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are effective in reducing inflammation in the skin and, therefore, are able to reduce smile lines and improve overall skin health. Some examples of foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids are tuna, salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
Try eating one serving of fish, 2 tbsp. flaxseed, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, 60 grams of walnuts, or 400 grams of soybeans to meet your daily omega 3 fatty acid needs
Step 5. Quit smoking
Be careful, the chemicals contained in most brands of tobacco and cigarettes can destroy the collagen and elastin layers on the skin, thereby increasing the risk of worsening your smile lines. If you are a smoker, immediately stop the habit to reduce wrinkles and eliminate annoying smile lines.
Tips
- Before undergoing any invasive treatment at a cosmetic surgeon, consult a beautician first. Most beauticians are also able to provide a professional skin diagnosis and recommend different methods of removing smile lines based on your skin type.
- Are you currently experiencing skin problems or doing certain skin treatments? If so, consult a dermatologist before applying any external product to the face.
