You look in the mirror one morning and notice them. Those tiny, vertical "smoker" lines or the deeper brackets framing your smile that weren't there a few years ago. It’s annoying. Most people immediately run to the nearest Sephora and drop $200 on a "miracle" cream that basically just acts as a glorified moisturizer. Honestly? That's usually a waste of money if you're looking for a real fix.
The skin around your mouth is incredibly thin. It’s also attached to muscles that never stop moving. You talk, you eat, you laugh, you pout. Every single one of those micro-movements contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin. If you want to know how to get rid of wrinkles around your mouth, you have to stop thinking about it as a single problem. It’s actually a combination of volume loss, sun damage, and repetitive muscle movement.
Some people call them perioral lines. Others call them nasolabial folds or marionette lines. Whatever name you give them, they're stubborn. But they aren't permanent if you know which tools actually work and which ones are just marketing fluff.
Why your current skincare routine isn't touching those lines
Most over-the-counter creams only hydrate the top layer of the skin (the epidermis). This makes the skin look "plump" for about four hours, but it doesn't change the structure of the dermis where the wrinkle actually lives. If you're serious about results, you need ingredients that have been clinically proven to stimulate fibroblasts.
Retinoids are the gold standard. Period. Whether it’s over-the-counter retinol or prescription-strength Tretinoin, these vitamin A derivatives speed up cell turnover. Dr. Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, often points out that consistent use of retinoids can actually thicken the deeper layers of the skin over time. It takes months. You won't see a change tomorrow. You might even peel and look worse for a few weeks—the "retinoid uglies" are real—but it's the only topical that truly moves the needle.
Vitamin C is your second essential. It’s not just for brightening. It’s a necessary cofactor for collagen synthesis. Without it, your body can’t effectively knit together those new collagen fibers. Think of it like the glue that holds your skin’s scaffolding together. If you apply a high-quality L-ascorbic acid serum in the morning, you're also protecting your skin from the UV-induced oxidative stress that eats your collagen for breakfast.
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The lifestyle factors you’re probably ignoring
It’s not just about what you put on your face. It’s what you do with it.
Stop using straws. Seriously.
The repetitive motion of pursing your lips to sip through a straw is exactly the same mechanical action as smoking a cigarette. Over time, this creates those vertical "barcode" lines on the upper lip. If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of wrinkles around your mouth while sipping a daily iced coffee through a plastic straw, you’re fighting a losing battle. Drink from the rim.
Sunscreen is non-negotiable. Even on cloudy days. Even in the winter. UV rays account for roughly 80% of visible skin aging. If you aren't wearing at least SPF 30 every single day, no amount of expensive laser or filler is going to save your skin in the long run. The sun destroys the elastin fibers that allow your skin to snap back after you smile. Once that elasticity is gone, the lines stay etched in place even when your face is at rest.
Professional treatments that actually move the needle
Sometimes, topicals aren't enough. When the wrinkles are deep, you're looking at structural issues that require professional intervention.
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Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm Volbella or Restylane Refyne are specifically designed for the mouth area. They are thinner and more flexible than the fillers used for cheekbones. This is crucial because your mouth moves constantly. You don't want a filler that looks like a "sausage" when you smile. A skilled injector can place tiny amounts of filler directly into the fine lines or use it to replace the lost volume in the "fat pads" of the cheeks, which lifts the skin and softens the nasolabial folds naturally.
Microneedling with Radiofrequency
Devices like Morpheus8 or Vivace have become huge in the last few years. They use tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries while simultaneously delivering heat (radiofrequency) deep into the skin. This dual-action approach forces the skin to remodel itself. It’s intense. You’ll be red for a couple of days. But the results for skin tightening around the jawline and mouth are often better than what you’d get from a traditional laser.
Fractional CO2 Lasers
This is the big gun. If you have deep, etched-in smoker's lines, a fractional CO2 laser is often the only thing that will truly erase them. It works by removing columns of skin, leaving surrounding tissue intact to speed up healing. It basically resurfaces your face. The downside? You’ll have about a week of downtime where you look like you have a severe sunburn. The upside? The results can last for years because you've essentially "reset" the skin's texture.
The role of facial "yoga" and massage
There is a lot of buzz on TikTok about facial massage and gua sha. Let’s be real: it’s not going to get rid of deep wrinkles. However, it can help with lymphatic drainage and temporarily soften the appearance of lines by relaxing the muscles.
The orbicularis oris is the circular muscle around your mouth. If you carry a lot of tension there—which many people do when they're stressed—those muscles stay contracted. Constant contraction leads to deeper lines. Taking two minutes at night to gently massage the area with a face oil can help release that tension. It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s a healthy habit that costs zero dollars.
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What about home devices?
You’ve probably seen LED masks or microcurrent devices like the NuFace. These aren't useless, but they require extreme consistency. Red light therapy (633nm and 830nm wavelengths) has some solid evidence for reducing inflammation and boosting collagen. But you have to use it every single day for at least 10 to 20 minutes. If you’re the type of person who buys a gadget and lets it sit in the drawer after a week, don't bother. These devices provide a cumulative benefit, not an instant fix.
Microcurrent is slightly different. It "trains" the muscles of the face to stay lifted. By lifting the cheeks slightly, you reduce the weight of the skin pressing down on the mouth area. It’s basically a temporary "workout" for your face.
Addressing the "smoker's lines" misconception
You don't have to be a smoker to get vertical lip lines. They are often just a result of genetics and the way you speak. If you have a very expressive mouth or "thin" skin genetically, you're more prone to them.
Hydration is your secret weapon here. When skin is dehydrated, wrinkles look 50% deeper. Using a lip treatment with peptides and ceramides can help bridge the gap. Look for ingredients like Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1. Studies suggest it can help stimulate collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, which keeps the lip border sharp and prevents "bleeding" of lipstick into fine lines.
Summary of actionable steps
If you want to see a real difference in the texture and depth of the lines around your mouth, you need a multi-pronged approach.
- Start a Retinoid: Use a pea-sized amount for the whole face, focusing on the perimeter of the mouth, every other night.
- Daily Vitamin C & SPF: Protect the collagen you still have. This is the most important "preventative" step.
- Ditch the Straws: Stop the repetitive pursing motion that deepens vertical lines.
- Consider "Baby Botox": A tiny amount of Botox (or Dysport) injected into the upper lip border (a "lip flip") can relax the muscle just enough to prevent the skin from folding, without affecting your smile.
- Hydrate Internally: It sounds cliché, but cellular hydration affects skin turgor. If you're dehydrated, your skin will look like crepe paper.
- Consult a Professional for Resurfacing: If the lines are already deep, skip the expensive department store serums and put that money toward a chemical peel or laser treatment. The ROI (return on investment) is significantly higher.
Getting rid of wrinkles around your mouth isn't about finding one "holy grail" product. It's about consistency, sun protection, and knowing when to call in the professionals. Start with the basics—sunscreen and retinoids—and give them at least six months to work before moving on to more invasive procedures.