The marks left on our faces by the passage of time are inevitable and can be beautiful – highlighting expressions our faces naturally fall into and leaving traces of smiles
But you might be one of those people who doesn’t necessarily want to age ‘au naturale’.
With celebs like Lindsay Lohan making headlines for “ageing backwards” – and rumoured to have spent £235,000 in tweakments – you might assume that going under the knife is the only way to rid your face of the signs of age.
But Sun Health spoke to two aesthetics experts who beg to differ.
Dr Nyla Raja, founder and director of Dr Nyla Medispa, says: “As we age, different areas of the face can show signs of ageing, but there’s no need to rely on surgery to maintain a youthful look.”
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FINE LINES
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According to Mariana Eidelkind, founder of Oblique House of Aesthetics, wrinkles, sagging skin and fine lines may start to appear as early as our 20s.
But she says these can be addressed with targeted skincare, non-invasive treatments, and a few lifestyle tweaks.
From your forehead wrinkles to ‘marionette’, and ‘barcode lines’ to jowls, here’s how to de-age each part of your face.
1. Forehead wrinkles
Mariana says: “Forehead wrinkles are usually the first to develop due to repeated facial expressions and a natural decline in collagen production as we age.”
Skincare is one of the first ways you can target these, in the form of retinoids – a buzzy ingredient used to prevent acne as well as ageing.
“Adding retinoids – vitamin A derivatives – into your skincare regimen can be a great way to address these lines, as they help stimulate collagen production, which plumps and thickens the skin to reduce the depth of wrinkles,” Mariana explains.
“As well as this, retinoids can exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells for a brighter, smoother complexion.
“If you’re new to retinoids, start with a lower concentration and gradually increase as your skin tolerates it.”
She recommends booking a consultation with a dermatologist to work out the best type of retinoid for your skin and how to incorporate it in your skincare routine.
“For forehead wrinkles, prevention is key,” Dr Raja says.
“Using a good quality broad-spectrum SPF daily and incorporating products with retinol and hyaluronic acid can really slow down the ageing process.
“At home, simple facial exercises can help lift the brow and strengthen forehead muscles.
“However, if you want more immediate results, non-surgical options like anti-wrinkle injections can gently soften lines without drastic changes.”
If you don’t have a problem with needles and want to splash out a bit more money, you could try Botox, Mariana says.
“For immediate and noticeable results, Botox remains one of the mostpopular non-surgical options,” she adds.
“It relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles, offering the most effective way to get rid of forehead wrinkles without the need for surgery.”
2. Smile lines
“Smile lines, also known as nasolabial folds, can deepen as the skin around your mouth loses elasticity,” Mariana says.
If you love to pamper yourself with a soothing face mask, you might be able to hit two birds with one stone by addressing smile lines too.
“For a quick fix, at-home face masks can plump and hydrate the skin to make smile lines less visible,” she says.
“My favourite ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides.
“Hyaluronic acid helps draw moisture into the skin, glycerin keeps it hydrated, and ceramides work to strengthen the skin barrier.
“Together, these ingredients can make a noticeable difference in softening nasolabial folds.”
If you have more cash to spare, microneedling may encourage the skin’s natural healing process, which smooths and tightens the area around the mouth, the aesthetics company founder adds.
3. Under-eye wrinkles
According to Mariana: “The skin underneath the eyes is much thinner and extremely delicate, which is why it is among the first areas to show signs of ageing.
“Whether it’s puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines, under-eye concerns tend to become more noticeable as time goes by.
“To combat these issues, use eye creams containing caffeine to significantly reduce puffiness and dark circles.
“For fine lines, opt for products with retinol or peptides to boost collagen and smooth the skin.”
Hydration is essential for smoothing fine lines, and a high-quality serum can make all the difference
Dr Nyla Raja
You can also try quick-fix hacks to bring down puffiness around your eyes.
Mariana suggests using ice globes or cold under-eye patches to “refresh and even out the skin tone”.
“Staying well-hydrated is important too, as dehydration can worsen the appearance of dark circles and fine lines,” she adds.
4. Bunny lines
Our various expressions can leave their mark on our faces over time and bunny lines are one such example.
These are the “small creases that form between the eyebrows from frowning or squinting”, Mariana explains.
Dr Raja recommends targeting bunny lines with serums rich in peptides, which can “help relax these lines over time”.
“Hydration is essential for smoothing fine lines, and a high-quality, peptide-based serum can make all the difference,” she notes.
Facial massage and gua sha 101
You can use exercises and massage to target different areas of your face.
“For the forehead, try gently placing your fingers above your brows and lifting them upwards with slight pressure from your fingers. Hold this for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
“This helps to strengthen the facial muscles for a subtle lift that reduces the appearance of lines.
“Another effective move for the jawline is to tilt your head back and repeatedly make exaggerated ‘O’ shapes with your mouth.
“This tones the muscles under the chin and along the jaw, helping to prevent sagging.”
You can also bring in reinforcements too, in the form of tools.
Dr Raja goes on: “When it comes to facial massage, using tools like jade rollers or gua sha stones can work wonders for lymphatic drainage and improving circulation.
“To use a jade roller, gently glide the roller in upward strokes from the centre of your face outward, focusing on areas like the cheeks, jawline, and forehead.
“For the neck and jowls, move the roller downwards from the jaw to the collarbone to encourage drainage and tighten the skin.
“A gua sha tool requires a bit more pressure so drag the stone in slow, firm strokes in the same way as you would with a jade roller, to help lift and sculpt the face.”
As for Mariana, she suggests facial massages to “release muscle tension and reduce the appearance of these lines over time”.
“When done regularly, facial massages can prevent these fine lines from deepening,” she says.
“Pair facial massages with mindfulness techniques to consciously relax your facial expressions.
“Being aware of when you’re furrowing your brow and taking a moment to release the tension can make a significant difference over time.”
5. Sagging neck
Be honest: are you remembering to spread your face creams below your chin?
Mariana says: “It’s important to remember to extend your skincare regimen to your jaw, neck and décolleté, as neglecting to treat these areas can lead to premature ageing and sagging skin.”
If you want to firm and tighten your neck, daily facial exercises are a good place to start.
Try chin lifts, tongue presses, and neck stretches to “help tone the muscles in the neck and jawline, giving a natural but temporary lift”. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube.
“As well as this, frequent oil massages of the neck by a trained therapist can promote lymphatic drainage, increase circulation, and lift the skin without the need for intrusive procedures,” Mariana adds.
6. Barcode lines
The vertical lines that form above your upper lip also have a catchy name: barcode lines.
According to Mariana, these “can age the face dramatically by up to 10 years”.
“Whilst they are a natural sign of ageing, factors such as sun exposure, smoking, and repetitive facial movements can cause these lines to deepen and worsen over time,” she adds.
“Prevention is always better than cure, so start by applying a minimum of SPF30+ daily and look for UV protection in your lip balm too.
“Avoid smoking and exfoliate the lips once a week to remove dead skin cells and boost circulation for a temporary plumping effect.”
Once formed, the lines might be tricky to get rid of.
Dr Raja’s top anti-ageing skincare picks
Recommended for those already familiar with retinol products, this mid-strength retinol cream helps achieve smooth skin, improves texture, enhances elasticity, and reduces wrinkles.
COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum, £28, Cult Beauty
Hydration is the most fundamental and essential benefit consumers expect from skincare.However, most over-the-counter formulations have a hyaluronic acid concentration of two per cent or less. This COSRX has a high concentration of it.
COSRX 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum, £23,Boots
Featuring six peptides synergistic ingredients such as copper tripeptide. this serum dubbed “Botox in a buttle” targets skin laxity, wrinkles, and pores. It also soothes, brightens and re-texturises.
Teoxane(Teosyal) Advanced Perfecting Shield SPF 50, £55,Face The Future
Containing Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA), a blend of amino acids and collagen boosting peptides, this tinted SPF can help improve and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while providing UV protection.
Hello Sunday The One That’s A Serum SPF50, £16.50,John Lewis
This moisturising serum containing vitamin C and hyaluronic acid is designed to protect against pollution, UVA/UVB, blue light, and infrared rays.
BEAUTYPRO Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, £3.99,Superdrug
This hyaluronic acid facial sheet mask contains chamomile, soybean, and wild rose to soothe redness, prevents breakouts, and leave skin feeling nourished.
BEAUTYPRO Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask, £5, Sainsbury’s
These hydrogel patches have green tea extract, aloe vera and marine-based collagen, to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles, whilst reviving a fatigued and puffy eye.
If you’re feeling self conscious about them and have a bit of extra cash to spend, Mariana suggests using dermal fillers to subtly fill them in.
“Barcode lips can create shadows that make them appear deeper than they actually are,” she explains.
“By filling in the lines, dermal fillers can minimise these shadows.
“It’s important to remember that dermal fillers in the lips don’t necessarily need to be visible.”
But make sure you’re visiting a registered aesthetic professional for any such procedures. Do your research before booking an appointment.
7. Jowls
With the passage of time, it’s normal for your jawline to gradually lose definition and begin to sag.
“Regular use of a jade roller or gua sha is a great non-invasive way to define the appearance of your jawline,” Mariana notes.
“By reducing puffiness and encouraging lymphatic drainage, these instruments help to contour and lift the jawline.”
You can also give jawline workouts a go to strengthen and tighten your muscles.
Mariana says: “Simply clench your jaw, hold it for five seconds, and then release it.
“Repeat five to 10 times daily.”