Hmmm, what do those indentations around your mouth say? (And no, we don’t mean those adorable dimples.) They say you did a lot of sunbathing once, or that you were a smoker, or simply that you’re growing older and lines and folds happen. If they bother you—some of us think they are great signs of character—our friend Arielle Kauvar, MD, a dermatologist in New York City, has a few suggestions:
For deep grooves: Treat with a fractional ablative CO2 laser, like Lumenis ActiveFX or DeepFx. The laser vaporizes small portions of the top layers of skin, which smoothes and tightens skin. Your skin will be very red, swollen, and flakey for about a week; some redness may last another month, Arielle says, but you’ll be able to cover it with makeup. Cost: from $800.
For “early” lines: Have a dermatologist inject small amounts of a filler like Restylane or Juvéderm into the border of the lip (where you put lip liner). That prevents an accordion effect when you purse your lips or talk. Cost: from $600.
Don’t want a procedure? Use a retinoid at night, followed by a moisturizer that contains peptides—both boost collagen production. In the morning, apply an antioxidant serum. And if you do nothing else, Arielle says, always use an SPF 30 sunscreen.
