If you are a smoker or former smoker and over 50, chances are, you have smoker’s lines around your mouth. In this article, I’m going to share 7 different ways how to get rid of smoker’s lines (aka barcode lines, perioral lines), some cosmetic, some natural.
Let’s face it: Those smoker lines are plain ugly. If you love wearing lipstick, you also know that depending on what brand or quality you’re using, you can end up getting lipstick lines too. You know, all those vertical lip lines where your lipstick gets stuck in?
Ya those. And it’s frustrating and gross, not to mention slightly embarrassing as well.
So how do we get rid of these lines?
Well, if you are looking for a more natural way to get rid of these smoker’s lines, I have some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that most homemade remedies are easy to make and do produce results. The bad news is that it won’t get rid of these lip wrinkles 100%.
Unfortunately (or not, depending on what you’re looking for), the best results will come from cosmetic treatment options. Now while that’s not an entirely bad thing, there is cost involved, depending on where you live, it could be high, and it will hurt.
I will share everything I researched for you plus I’ll add in some over the counter creams and serums that will reduce the appearance of fine lines and may minimize your smoker’s lines. May.
(this article may contain affiliate links so if you make a purchase I may make a small commission-affiliate disclosure here)
What Causes Smoker’s Lines?
Now this may go without saying, but naturally smoking causes wrinkles around the lip area but that’s not the only thing.
Here is a list of things that can cause lip lines:
- sun exposure
- sun damage
- cigarette smoking/vaping (e-cigarettes)
- drinking through a straw all the time
- facial expressions
- aging process (our collagen production slows down with age)
- chronic dryness
- continuous and excess exposure to UV rays (tanning beds)
Of course, the main cause is def smoking, so if you haven’t quit yet, please consider doing so. I quit 2 years ago (at 58 years old) and have never felt better! Some methods I have used to try to quit in the past were:
- Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Allen Carr
- Nicotine Gum (that’s what worked best)
- Hypnotherapy (I was smoke-free for 3 years with this method)
- Champix (no no no, I hated these pills), and
- Cold turkey
You have to want to quit. Period. I don’t care what method you use or how often you try, keep trying and make sure your mindset is right to help you quit.
Ok quit smoking lecture done. Sorry, not sorry.
Time to talk about treatments.
How to Get Rid of Smoker’s Lines
I’m going to share 3 non-surgical treatments with you and then 4 cosmetic procedures. Take what you want, and leave the rest.
Please note there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having cosmetic surgery done, though, personally I’m not a fan of having a medical procedure done on my face.
Non-surgical treatments
I have used and have this, and I truly love it. There are so many more now on the market. Do your research and find the ones you love.
These little vials are super easy to use and produce immediate results. While the results are temporary, they are awesome. I use these on my deeper wrinkles in between my eyes, my nasolabial folds, my marionette lines and the tiny little stubborn wrinkles around my eyes.
These work. Trust me. I love them!
2 Coconut oil and baking soda
This is a great and easy at-home treatment that helps to resurface the skin and slough off dead skin cells, promoting new cell growth. You must be really careful though with when using abrasive treatments on your skin unsupervised. Easy and gently and only once or twice a week. No more.
Here’s a really good article to tell you how to use, when to use it and so much more.
You can also use other facial scrubs to exfoliate and promote new cell growth but I would use all natural ingredients and make sure to test them first for allergic reactions.
You might really like these articles I wrote on all-natural skincare routines and how to stay younger-looking.
3 Facial Exercises
Don’t knock it ’til you tried it. Did you know that face yoga is a big thing and many women swear by it. Our bodies are full of muscles that we take the time to exercise and keep them in good health but we forget our face is full of muscles too!
When I’m sitting on the couch watching TV, I’ll do some facial exercises or face yoga, and it actually feels really good.
I also recently bought a new Jade Roller and Gua Sha set and I am so in love it’s crazy. It makes my face feel and look amazing.
This is the set I have (rose quartz crystal), and it’s so beautiful. If you do order one make sure to watch videos on how to use or read instructions. You need to use a serum or gentle oil with them.
Best All Natural Homemade Skin Care: Results in a Week!
Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine: Easy and Affordable
How to Stay Young Looking Over 50: 7 Simple Steps
Let’s move on to the cosmetic procedures. Always do your research first before choosing a plastic surgeon / dermatologist and check reviews and recommendations.
This is your face! You surely want only the best care!
4 Dermal fillers
I had a dermal filler about 2 years ago when I was in Mexico. I had those deep lines between my eyes filled and I’ll be honest, I didn’t like it one bit, but that’s just me.
Many women I know have had lip fillers done and love them.
These hyaluronic acid fillers help to renew collagen loss and promote new production
So injectable fillers are quick and effective. They instantly smooth out the upper lip lines, the side of the mouth, and all other mouth lines. I’d love to tell you they’re painless, but I’d be lying.
I’m not sure how much dermal filler injections cost as I’m sure it varies around the world. Do your research!
5 Chemical Peel
All I can say is big ouch BUT chemical peels are amazing at destroying not only wrinkles but skin damage as well (acne scars, age spots, sun spots, etc).
A chemical peel is basically a procedure where a light chemical solution is applied to your face to remove the top layers of skin. The results? Fresh new skin and a youthful appearance. Yay!
The best thing about a peel is that you only need to do it once and then once your face is completely healed, make sure you take really good care of it.
6 Botox Injections
I’ve had botox injections and again, not a big fan (maybe I just hate sticking needles in my face..lol). They are really good for forehead wrinkles, upper lip wrinkles, and other problem areas you might have.
While Botox certainly does work, you have to keep in mind that it basically reduces the muscle movement in your face, so your facial muscles are basically numb. It’s a weird feeling to be honest, but it does work.
7 Laser Resurfacing
Yes, that is exactly what it sounds like. So what is laser resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing uses lasers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars, to even out skin coloring (pigmentation), to tighten skin and to remove lesions, both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant.
Source: Clevelandclinic.org
The laser technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. Laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely, layer-by-layer by vaporizing it. Lasers remove the outer layer of your skin – the epidermis – and heats the underlying layer, called the dermis. The lasers stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers resulting in new skin that is smoother and firmer. This popular procedure is known by several other names, including lasabrasion, laser peel or laser vaporization.
Source: Clevelandclinic.org
That article described it perfectly and way better than I could have!
How to get rid of smoker’s lines isn’t all that difficult, though it can be costly, depending on the treatment you decide upon.
Choose the Best Treatment For You
It’s easy to want to follow what your best friend did or the girl who works at the beauty store but please don’t. It’s important you choose the best treatment for YOU.
Whether it be cosmetic surgery or something a bit more natural and non-invasive, make sure that you are happy with your decision and don’t get too caught up on aging and wrinkles.
I hope this article on how to get rid of smoker’s lines really helped you, and I’d love it if you shared it with your friends!
We can only stay youthful in our energy and spirit, not our looks. Remember, beauty is skin deep.
ox iva xo
