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How this guide was made: researched from Cleveland Clinic, the FDA, the American Academy of Dermatology and MedlinePlus, plus Anna's own routine. Prices are typical 2026 US ranges.
Welcome to Comfort Mind Body, where we care for the whole face, including the parts that smile the most. Grab a cup of tea, and let’s figure out what’s happening around your mouth.
Lines around the mouth come from the best things: laughing, talking, kissing, sipping your coffee. But not every line is the same. Some come from movement, some from lost volume, and some from sun and smoking. Each one has a different fix, and knowing which one you have saves you time and money.
My own smile lines are just starting to show. Around my mouth, I use tretinoin, lip balm, and lip masks, plus gua sha and face exercises. I haven’t had filler, Botox, or a laser there, so those sections come from research, not experience. I’ll be clear about which is which.
For forehead, eye, and neck lines too, see my types of wrinkles on the face guide.
Hi, I'm Anna
I'm 34, and I first noticed my smile lines starting to form around 33. Everything in this guide is either something I use around my mouth or something I researched, and I'll always tell you which.
You can soften most wrinkles around the mouth, but the fix depends on the line. Fine lines from dryness and sun improve with daily SPF, including on your lips, plus a retinoid and moisture.
Smile lines and marionette lines are mostly about lost volume and sagging, so creams help less. Fillers can soften them for about 6 to 12 months. Lip lines respond to retinoids, lasers, and peels, and they get worse with smoking.
Start by working out which line you have. The line finder below makes that simple.
Which Mouth Lines Do You Have?
Look in a mirror with a relaxed face, then smile. Notice where the lines are and whether they stay when you stop smiling.
Read the infographic text
Mouth Line Finder: Which lines are around your mouth?
Two quick questions. Follow the arrows to your line type and the first thing worth trying.
Step 1: Where is the line?
- 1. Nose to mouth corners: smile lines, also called laugh lines or nasolabial folds.
- 2. Mouth corners to chin: marionette lines.
- 3. Above or on the lips: lip lines, often called smoker's lines.
Step 2: Is it there when your face is relaxed?
No, only when I smile or purse: start at home.
- SPF 30+ every day, plus a lip balm with SPF 30
- A retinoid at night, slowly
- Moisturize, and keep lips hydrated
- Limit smoking and straw-sipping
Yes, even at rest: keep up gentle home care.
- The same daily routine still helps
- Lines at rest are normal. Treatment is optional
- If they bother you, a dermatologist can explain the options below
If you want to explore treatment: common options by line type
1. Smile lines: hyaluronic acid filler, skin tightening. Filler effects typically last 6 to 12 months.
2. Marionette lines: filler, laser resurfacing, microneedling. Deeper folds may need surgery.
3. Lip lines: retinoids, laser resurfacing, peels, microneedling, small amounts of filler.
Good to know: smile lines are common and normal. Never buy filler online or use needle-free filler pens (FDA).
Simplified drawing. Not medical advice. Sources: Cleveland Clinic, FDA, AAD.
Comfort Mind Body
Mouth Line Types At A Glance
| Line type | Where it shows | Main causes | Start with | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smile lines (nasolabial folds, laugh lines) | From the sides of the nose to the mouth corners | Volume loss in the cheeks, sagging, sun, smoking, weight changes | Daily SPF 30, a retinoid, sleeping on your back | Filler or skin tightening |
| Marionette lines | From the mouth corners down to the chin | Collagen loss, family history, lip pursing, sun, smoking, stress | Daily SPF 30, moisturizer, not smoking | Filler, laser resurfacing, microneedling |
| Lip lines (smoker's lines) | Vertical lines above and on the lips | Repeated puckering, smoking, straws, sun | Lip balm with SPF 30, a gentle retinoid near (not on) the lips | Laser resurfacing, peels, small amounts of filler |
| Fine, crepey lines | Anywhere around the mouth | Dryness, sun damage, aging skin | Moisture, SPF, a retinoid | Peels or laser resurfacing |
What Causes Wrinkles Around The Mouth
The skin around your mouth moves all day. You talk, eat, smile, and purse your lips over and over. Over the years, a few things add up:
- Less collagen and elastin. Skin loses its bounce with age, so creases don’t smooth out as easily.
- Volume changes. Cleveland Clinic explains that cheekbones can flatten and skin can sag with age. That deepens the fold from your nose to your mouth.
- Sun. UV light breaks down collagen and elastin. Lips burn too, and many of us forget them.
- Smoking. It damages collagen and elastin, and the puckering adds lines above the lip.
- Repeated movements. A dermatologist at Ochsner Health lists sipping through a straw and smoking as habits that crease the skin around the mouth again and again.
- Weight changes. Losing weight can leave looser skin, and gaining it can make the cheeks fuller. Both can make smile lines stand out more.
- Genes. Family history plays a part, especially in marionette lines.
Smile lines are very common in women and men of all ages, and they’re a normal part of having an expressive face. Treating them is a personal choice, not a medical need.
Smile Lines: What Helps
Smile lines, also called laugh lines or nasolabial folds, run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Most people see them when they smile. Over time, they start to stay when the face is relaxed, as cheek volume drops and skin loosens.
A closer look in daylight: early lines at the corners of my mouth.
A Closer Look
Here's my mouth in daylight, with a soft smile. The lines at the corners are just starting. For me, this is the start-at-home stage: SPF on my face and lips, tretinoin and moisture.
Smile Lines At Home
- Wear SPF 30 or higher every day.
- Use a retinoid at night. Cleveland Clinic says retinoids support collagen and may soften lines over time.
- Sleep on your back if you can, so your face isn’t pressed into the pillow.
- Try a gentle face exercise. Cleveland Clinic suggests pulling the mouth corners back with your lips parallel, holding for 10 seconds, and repeating 10 to 25 times a day.
Creams can’t put back lost cheek volume, so deep folds won’t vanish with skincare alone.
Smile Lines In The Office
- Fillers add volume to the fold. Cleveland Clinic says results typically last six months to a year. The FDA has approved fillers for nasolabial folds. Juvéderm and Restylane are two common hyaluronic acid filler brands. Fillers can cause swelling, bruising and infection, and rarely serious harm if injected into a blood vessel, so see the FDA safety notes below.
- Skin tightening with lasers, ultrasound or radiofrequency stimulates collagen.
- Botox appears on Cleveland Clinic’s list, with effects that last a few months. It isn’t FDA-approved for smile lines, so this is off-label use.
- Surgery, like a cheek lift or facelift, repositions tissue for very deep folds.
Marionette Lines: What Helps
Marionette lines run from the corners of your mouth down to your chin. Cleveland Clinic says they typically appear around age 40, though faint ones can show up earlier. Aging, family history, sun, smoking, stress and frequent lip pursing all play a part.
There’s no proven cream for marionette lines. At home, the focus is prevention: daily SPF 30, moisturizer, not smoking and good sleep.
In the office, Cleveland Clinic lists fillers, Botox, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, microneedling and thread lifts, and a facelift for deeper lines. Most results are temporary, so you’ll need repeat sessions. Filler can also look unnatural if too much is used.
FDA approval depends on the exact filler and its labeled use. Ask your injector which product they recommend, whether the treatment is within its approved uses, and what risks apply.
Lip Lines And Smoker's Lines: What Helps
Lip lines are the fine vertical lines above and on your lips. You don’t have to smoke to get them. Repeated puckering, like sipping through straws, adds to them, and so does sun damage.
Lip Lines At Home
- Use a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher every day. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends it.
- Cut back on straws and smoking.
- Keep lips moisturized, especially overnight.
A retinoid can help the skin above the lip. Keep it off your lips and out of your mouth, and follow your prescriber’s and the product’s directions. Fine lines take about 3 to 6 months to improve, according to MedlinePlus. Skip retinoids if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Lip Lines In The Office
Ochsner’s dermatologist lists Botox, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, microneedling and fillers for lip lines. Lasers and peels work on the surface: they remove damaged outer skin so smoother skin can grow back, which helps fine and sun-related lines most.
Deeper treatments mean more downtime and more risk of irritation or color changes, so a dermatologist should look at your skin and history first. The FDA has approved absorbable fillers for perioral lines, the medical name for lines around the mouth.
Lip Care Products
Lip products don’t remove lip lines, but they keep lips soft and protected, which makes fine lines look softer.
My Lip Products Right Now
The eos photo is mine. The Aquaphor and LANEIGE photos come from the brands and are used for identification only.
Anna's pick: everyday balm
eos Fruity Lip Balm 4-Pack
Best fit: everyday lip comfort. The watermelon one is my favorite. The texture feels waxy but light, and it has a light fruity scent.
Price: $10.48 for the 4-pack on Amazon (October 30, 2026).
Watch: no SPF, so it doesn't replace a lip balm with SPF 30 in the sun.
Check price on Amazon
Anna's pick: daytime lip SPF
Aquaphor Lip Protectant and Sunscreen SPF 30
Best fit: daily sun protection for your lips, a key step for preventing lip lines. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 with shea butter, fragrance-free and paraben-free.
Price: $5.12 for 0.35 fl oz on Amazon (October 30, 2026).
Watch: reapply at least every two hours and after eating or drinking, and follow the directions on the package.
Check price on Amazon
Anna's pick: overnight lip mask
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
Best fit: a rich overnight mask. It's my favorite lip mask, even though it's pricier than others I've tried. The listing names shea butter, vitamin C and murumuru butter.
Price: $24 on Amazon (October 30, 2026).
Watch: it's flavored, which can bother reactive lips. Use a plain ointment when lips are cracked.
Check price on AmazonAnna’s Tip
You don't need a whole extra product for your lips. Once in a while, I use my favorite La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+ for extra moisture. The brand says it's made for face, body, lips and hands. It's also my cold-weather neck cream, which I share in my best creams for neck wrinkles.
At-Home Care That Actually Helps
Whatever your line type, the basics are the same. They won’t erase a deep fold, but they slow new lines and help every other treatment work better.
- SPF 30 or higher on your face every morning, and a lip balm with SPF 30.
- A retinoid at night, starting slowly. MedlinePlus says fine wrinkles may take 3 to 4 months to improve, sometimes up to 6.
- Moisturizer morning and night. Hydrated skin makes fine lines look softer.
- A hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid. Harvard Health explains that it attracts and binds water, which can plump fine lines so they look smoother for a while.
- An antioxidant serum, like vitamin C, in the morning under your sunscreen. Cleveland Clinic says antioxidants help limit the oxidative stress behind fine lines.
- Fewer straws and no smoking.
- Patch test new products on your inner forearm for 4 to 5 days first, as the American Academy of Dermatology suggests.
Need help choosing a sunscreen? See my Sunscreen Match Guide.
Face Exercises And Gua Sha: What To Expect
I do face exercises and use gua sha around my mouth. I enjoy both, and they feel relaxing. Here’s what the research says.
A small 2018 pilot study in JAMA Dermatology followed middle-aged women through a 20-week facial exercise program. The clearest change was fuller-looking cheeks. That matters here, because lost cheek volume is part of what deepens smile lines. It was a small study, so treat it as promising, not proven.
The face workouts I follow are from Issac Yiu, my favorite for this. He has many videos, and I switch between most of them. This one is a facial massage he calls “face firming and lifting.” Massage can’t lift sagging skin, so think of it as a gentle routine, not a fix for lines.
Video by Issac Yiu on YouTube. Comfort Mind Body isn't affiliated with him.
Gua sha can feel lovely, but no good study shows that it removes wrinkles. Use light pressure and keep it off irritated skin. I share my gua sha and Medicube routine in my forehead wrinkles guide.
Patches And Face Tape
Silicone patches, face tape, and Frownies-style patches hold the skin flat while you wear them, often overnight. They can make smile lines look smoother for a few hours.
The effect fades during the day, and there’s little independent research on them. Think of them as a short-term smoothing trick, not a treatment, and skip them on irritated skin.
My Routine Around My Mouth
My smile lines are just starting, so this is about prevention.
- Morning: sunscreen on my whole face, and Aquaphor Lip Protectant SPF 30 on my lips.
- Night: tretinoin every other night on the skin around my mouth, never on my lips. Then moisturizer.
- Lips: eos lip balm, Aquaphor Lip Protectant SPF 30 for sun protection, and the LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask overnight.
- Face care: gua sha, and Issac Yiu’s face workouts, switching between his videos.
Anna’s Note
My smile lines started showing after I turned 33. Since then, I've added more face exercises, tretinoin and the VT Reedle Shot spicule serum to my routine. I share how I use the Reedle Shot, and its safety notes, in my forehead wrinkles guide.
How To Prevent Wrinkles Around The Mouth
You can’t stop your face from moving, and you wouldn’t want to. But these habits slow down new lines. Cleveland Clinic lists most of them:
- Wear SPF 30 or higher every day, including on your lips.
- Don’t smoke, and cut back on straws.
- Moisturize your face and lips.
- Sleep enough, and on your back if you can.
- Manage stress where you can.
- Drink enough water, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Keep your weight steady. Big changes can make smile lines stand out more.
In-Office Treatments Compared
I haven’t had any of these, so this part is research only. Use it to ask better questions at a consultation.
Treatments For Mouth Lines, Side By Side
| Treatment | Best for | How long it lasts | Typical 2026 US price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid filler | Smile lines, marionette lines, lip lines | About 6 to 12 months for smile lines | About $600–$2,000 per syringe | FDA-approved for nasolabial folds and perioral lines. Needs a trained injector. |
| Botox | Lip lines; sometimes smile and marionette lines | A few months | About $10–$20 per unit; lip lines usually need only a few units | Not FDA-approved for mouth lines, so it's off-label. Ask about the risks for this area. |
| Laser skin resurfacing | Lip lines, marionette lines, crepey texture | Varies | About $500–$5,000 per session | Downtime depends on the laser. |
| Chemical peel | Fine lip lines, texture | Varies | About $100–$800 | Deeper peels mean more downtime. |
| Microneedling | Marionette and lip lines, texture | Varies; repeat sessions are common | About $200–$700 per session | Results are temporary, like most non-surgical options. |
| Cheek lift or facelift | Very deep smile or marionette folds | Varies | Varies; get a surgeon's quote | Surgery, with a longer recovery. |
Prices are typical 2026 US ranges from published med spa price guides, not official averages. They vary a lot by city, provider and how much product you need, so ask for a written quote. Durations are from Cleveland Clinic where it gives them.
Filler Safety
The FDA warns that the most serious filler risk is an injection into a blood vessel, which can cause skin damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. Never buy filler online, and never use needle-free "hyaluron pens". The FDA hasn't approved them for fillers. Get care right away for unusual pain, vision changes, or skin that turns white, gray or blue near the injection site.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Lines around the mouth tell the story of every laugh, so there’s nothing wrong with having them. If you’d like to soften them, start by naming the line. Fine lines and lip lines respond to SPF, moisture, and a retinoid. Smile and marionette lines are about volume, so creams help less, and fillers are the main in-office option. Whatever you choose, go slowly and keep your expectations honest.
For the rest of your face, see my guides to forehead wrinkles, under-eye wrinkles, and neck wrinkles. For more gentle, honest routines, browse all our Skin & Beauty guides.
Smile lines and all,
Anna
P.S. from Sushi: Smile lines? I cover mine with a paw and take a nap. Mommy says that's not a treatment. I say it's working.
Safety Notes
This article is educational and not medical advice. Patch test new products on your inner forearm for 4 to 5 days before using them on your face. Keep tretinoin and other retinoids out of your mouth, and don't use them during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.
Fillers and other injectables should only be done by a trained, licensed provider. Seek care right away for unusual pain, vision changes or skin color changes after filler. See a board-certified dermatologist if a spot or sore around your mouth changes or doesn't heal.
