How to Get Rid of Laugh Lines

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 References

While laugh lines—running from your nose to each corner of your mouth—may indicate that you’ve led a joyful life full of smiles, they can sometimes create a wrinkly view and make you appear older than you truly are. There are several ways you can reduce or eliminate laugh lines, such as applying skin products like exfoliants, going through treatment plans, and exercising your face muscles, as well as setting healthy habits for your skin, such as having a balanced diet, drinking more water, and exercising regularly.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Skin Products

1
Use moisturizers daily. Using moisturizer can help hydrate your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, including those around your mouth.^{[1]
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Research source} For the best results, use skin moisturizer that contains collagen, which can help plump up and repair your skin.
2
Apply skin exfoliants on a regular basis. Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells to reveal the healthier, younger skin cells that lie beneath and reduce fine lines caused by laughing and smiling.^{[2]
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Research source} Purchase a skin exfoliant for your skin type. Wet your face with warm water and rub the exfoliant on your face with a washcloth in circular motions. Rinse your face with warm water.

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3
Make your own exfoliant with brown sugar and coconut oil. There are many different oils you can use to prepare your homemade remedy, but the brown sugar and coconut oil combo is a classic.^{[3]
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Research source} Mix two tablespoons of brown sugar with two tablespoons of coconut oil and apply it on your face in soft circular motions. After a few minutes, rinse your face with warm water.
- The exfoliating brown sugar and moisturizing coconut oil will refresh your face, and also help reduce your laugh lines in the long term.
4
Protect your skin from the sun on a daily basis. Sun damage can cause and worsen existing laugh lines. Apply sunscreen or sunblock to your face on a daily basis, spend more time in the shade, and wear a hat to protect your skin and reduce laugh lines. Aim for a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher for daily usage, and an SPF of 30 for intense or extended outdoor activities such as beach days or picnics. ^{[4]
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- You can also use foundations with sunscreen to both protect your skin from the sun and hide your fine lines and wrinkles.
5
Use blurring creams or primer to hide laugh lines. While you try to get rid of laugh lines, in the meantime, you can use blurring creams or primer to fill them in and smooth the skin around your mouth and lips. After putting on sunscreen but prior to foundation or powder, place a bit of primer or blurring cream on your finger, and use your finger to gently fill in laugh lines prior to applying the rest of your makeup.^{[5]
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6
Undergo a dermal filler treatment for your laugh lines. Dermal fillers are gels intended to fill the hollow surfaces on skin, including those caused by lines and wrinkles. Some of the safest dermal fillers such as FDA-approved Restylane and Juvederm can help you smooth your laugh lines.^{[6]
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Research source} Meet with a plastic surgeon to have an injection that often takes 15 minutes to an hour to complete.^{[7]
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- Be aware that dermal fillers are only effective for a limited amount of time, one syringe lasting from four to nine months, which might require you to repeat the process periodically.
- Their cost might be higher than that of other options ($450 to $750 per syringe).
7
Seek skin treatments from your healthcare provider. In addition to dermal fillers, cosmetic treatments such as anti-wrinkle creams, retinol products, laser treatment, and formulas made with botox can help reduce and eliminate laugh lines and wrinkles. Consult with your healthcare provider about undergoing one or more of these treatments to get rid of laugh lines for an extended period of time.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Exercising Your Facial Muscles

1
Exercise your face by applying resistance on your smile. Facial yoga can naturally help your face appear younger by firming up your facial muscles and reducing wrinkles. To start, hook the corners of your mouth with your index fingers, pull to the sides, and tighten the corners of your mouth to create resistance for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat 10 to 25 times at a time, ideally every day.^{[9]
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2
Firm your cheeks by holding a big breath in your mouth. To strengthen your cheek muscles and smooth your skin, take a big breath through your mouth and hold it in, making your mouth as big as a balloon. Then move the breath bubble from cheek to cheek. Release and repeat.^{[10]
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3
Smile big while your teeth are together. Smiling fully can help tighten your laugh lines while making your face muscles stronger. Keep your teeth together and smile as big as you can. Hold it for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat 10 to 20 times daily.^{[11]
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4
Pull your cheeks up. Use your hands to stretch the muscles on your face and smooth your laugh lines and wrinkles. Put your palms firmly and diagonally against your cheeks, with your fingers touching the sides of your head. Pull the corners of your lips up until some of your teeth becomes visible. Hold it for 30 seconds. Release and repeat three times.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Setting Healthier Habits

1
Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is one of the most ideal ways to naturally hydrate your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Increase your daily intake of water, and swap out sodas, coffee, and sugary drinks for water. Coffee and sugary drinks can actually dehydrate your skin further and worsen the appearance of laugh lines.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
University of Wisconsin Health
Integrated healthcare system of the University of Wisconsin focused on treating and providing support to patients and public health initiatives
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2
Exercise on a regular basis. Exercise can help reduce and eliminate laugh lines by promoting blood flow to your skin, which in turn, helps produce natural oils and moisture, and increases the rate of new cell growth. Engage in aerobic cardio exercise several times per week in the form of running, hiking, dancing, or swimming.^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
3
Consume plenty of foods rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances packed with vitamins that can help boost collagen and elastin production in your skin and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. Examples of foods rich in antioxidants are fruits such as blackberries and cranberries, vegetables like tomatoes and broccoli, and green tea.^{[14]
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4
Start eating more omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help eliminate laugh lines by reducing inflammation and naturally boosting the health of your skin. Examples of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids are tuna, salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds.^{[15]
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- One serving of fish, two tablespoons of flaxseeds, one tablespoon of chia seeds, two ounces of walnuts, or two cups of soybeans are enough to satisfy your daily need of omega-3 fatty acids.^{[16]
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5
Stop smoking. The chemicals present in most brands of tobacco and cigarettes can destroy the collagen and elastin in your skin and worsen existing laugh lines. If you are smoking, try to quit as soon as possible to help reduce and eliminate laugh lines and wrinkles.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How long does it take to get rid of laugh lines if I do all these steps?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

It depends on the speed of epidermal turnover, which depends on your age. If you are in your mid-20s, you might see improvement within a couple of weeks. If you are in your 40s, it might take up to 8 weeks to see softening of the smile lines. It is all about feeding your skin inside out, eating anti-inflammatory foods, exercising, managing stress and overall health maintenance.