As you age, your skin is likely to become thinner and more translucent, and the delicate areas around the eyes and mouth are often the first to show signs of advancing years. Vertical lines may appear on the lips and surrounding areas, and is particularly evident in female smokers. A cosmetic surgeon may use fillers to improve the appearance of lip wrinkles, or you can perform facial exercises to tone the underlying muscles and reduce the severity of the wrinkles.
Step 1
Wrap your upper and lower lips over your teeth. Biting down, move your lips from side to side, as though blotting. Without causing pain, apply enough pressure that the movement almost feels uncomfortable. Continue "blotting" for around one minute. You should notice an improvement in the appearance of your lip wrinkles immediately. Perform the exercise once or twice daily for maximum results.
Step 2
Sit in an erect position. Press your lips together. Do not purse your lips. Maintain your teeth in an unclenched relaxed position. Tap the center of your lips with your index finger, and visualize trying to crush a pencil between the center of your lips. Slowly pull your finger away from your lips and visualize your pencil growing longer. Continue to press your lips together without pursing. You should not see creases in your lips when performing this exercise. When you feel your lip muscles begin to burn, tap the center of your lips rapidly while counting to 30. According to Carole Maggio of "Facercise," when performed twice daily this lip training exercise will plump out thin lips and smooth out lines above the upper lip.
Step 3
Wash your face. Pat your skin dry and apply glycolic acid. This acid will encourage the removal of old skin cells that have assembled into lines and replace them with smoother cells underneath. Smooth the glycolic acid up to your lip line, but do not smooth it on the lip line or on the lips, as it could irritate the delicate skin and burn.
Step 4
Apply a moisturizer. Massage it into the skin above your upper lips to further reduce lines. Opt for a moisturizer that a sun protection factor of at least 15. This will help prevent future lines and stop existing lines from worsening.
Tips and Warnings
- Before beginning facial exercises, splash your face with warm water and drink a large glass of room temperature water. A well-hydrated, warm skin is easier to move than cold, dry skin. Refrain from smoking and spending too much time in the sun to help reduce the appearance or onset of lip lines.
References
- Seattle Face: Lip Augmentation
- MotherNature: Lip Lines
- "Flex Effect Facial Resistance Training"; Deborah Crowley; 2002
- "Carole Maggio Facercise"; Carole Maggio; 2002
- Skinrevision: Upper Lip Lines
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