While “laugh lines” sound charming and are seen as a badge of honor –you’ve smiled and laughed your way to get them–frown lines are no laughing matter. Also known as the “elevens,” these are the deep set lines between the eyebrows that can make a person look angry or tense. They are also described as a “furrowed brow” and the technical name is glabellar lines. Here’s a look at why we get frown lines, and how to get rid of them.
What Causes Frown Lines?
Frown lines are caused by a few different factors, and frowning and squinting are some of the main ones. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, when we frown, the muscles are knitting the tissue between the eyebrows into a fold. Years of this repetitive motion lead to wrinkles. Another factor is aging. As we age, skin loses its elastin and collagen which means it doesn’t bounce back as easily. Smoking is also a major culprit as it restricts oxygen flow to the blood, which also speeds up the aging process. Stress contributes to a furrowed brow as well. When we’re stressed, we tend to hold tension in our face by keeping it scrunched up. The forehead also has very thin skin with little fat, so any wrinkles here are more prominent.
How To Get Rid of Frown Lines?
Luckily there are plenty of things you can do to help soften the appearance of frown lines – and they don’t involve needles and injections. Here’s a breakdown.
Wear Sunscreen
Sun damage causes about 80 percent of the visible signs of aging – including those “elevens” that make you look permanently angry. Keep those wrinkles from getting worse by wearing a sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF every single day, no matter what the weather report is. Double up on sun protection with a hat, sunglasses and a mineral powder sunscreen.
Sleep On Your Back
It’s hard enough to carve out a solid eight hours of sleep but consider this – how you sleep can affect your wrinkles. If you always sleep on one side, that side of your face has an increased chance of developing wrinkles due to repeated, prolonged pressure. It’s hard but try and sleep on your back. One way to make it easier is to buy a special pillow to support back sleeping, or a silk or satin pillowcase to minimize facial creasing.
Facial Massage
A gentle facial massage helps increase blood flow circulation to the face, which can help minimize the look of wrinkles and give you a little glow. An easy way to sneak in a facial massage is with a jade roller; the cool stone feels soothing against the skin and helps release tension. Or just put a few drops of a face oil on your palms and apply it in a gentle circular motion.
Retinol
Vitamin A derived retinol is one of the most powerful beauty ingredients around. It works by encouraging cell turnover, which means that with prolonged use, skin will be left looking smoother and brighter, and lines will look softened. Start off slowly, using just a pea sized amount of a retinol cream and see how your skin tolerates it before building up to more frequent use.
Sleep
The next time you’re tempted to stay up late and binge watch Netflix, consider your face. There’s a good reason why it’s called beauty sleep. As we sleep, our bodies switch into skin repair mode. When we don’t get enough sleep, this leads to tired, dry and dull looking skin- and wrinkles look worse. So give your body enough time to recharge and reset itself.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels use an acid to remove the top layer of skin, revealing smoother looking skin. Think of it as a deep exfoliation which can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and scars. At home peels are available – just look for products containing glycolic acid. When they are first applied, a slight tingling sensation is common. A dermatologist or aesthetician can perform a deeper peel but keep in mind the deeper the peel, the greater the results but the greater the down time.
Eat More Antioxidants
Beauty starts on the inside, and you are what you eat. Skip the processed and sugary foods and load up on nutrient dense foods packed with antioxidants, such as berries, dark leafy greens and Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish such as mackerel and salmon.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health- and your face. Smoking accelerates the normal aging process of the skin because nicotine restricts blood flow. The chemicals in tobacco damage collagen and elastin, which are the support structures of the skin. As they get damaged, skin is more likely to crease. Quit today.
Eye Cream to the Rescue
If you want to give your furrowed brow a little extra attention and TLC, whip out your eye cream. Eye creams tend to have a high concentration of active ingredients, so apply a little dab of your favorite eye cream to your elevens wrinkles.
Get Your Vitamin C
Even if you are a beauty minimalist, one ingredient you should add to your routine is a vitamin C. It can be found in serums, cleansers and moisturizers. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps make skin look brighter and smoother. Think of it as another weapon in your arsenal against wrinkles.
Facial Tape
In the golden age of Hollywood, stars would tape their faces to temporarily smooth out their faces and minimize the look of wrinkles. It’s a simple concept but one that is still around today. Pick up some facial tape (or patches) and apply them to your forehead wrinkles. The concept is that the tape will help minimize the wrinkles by retraining and relaxing the muscle. Some people wear them while they sleep to wake up to a temporarily smoother look.
Microdermabrasion
For smoother looking skin, try microdermabrasion at a medical spa or the dermatologist’s office. The procedure removes the top layer of skin using a tool that sprays tiny crystals on the face while simultaneously sucking up the debris. A series of treatments are usually needed to see results.
Drink Up
Dry, dehydrated skin can make fines lines look worse than they are – and who wants flaky looking skin? In addition to your daily moisturizer, keep skin hydrated internally and externally. Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom and always drink at least eight glasses of water a day. An easy way to add a boost of moisture during the day is to spritz it with a facial spray.
DIY Mask
Treat your forehead wrinkles and entire face to a little TLC with a homemade mask. The goal is to soothe and nourish the skin. Try a simple mask made from coconut oil, which is packed antioxidants, or a combination of honey and avocado.
Resurfacing Lasers
If you want a more dramatic result, see a dermatologist for laser resurfacing. There are two types of laser- ablative and non-ablative. An ablative laser is like a very deep exfoliation that removes the outer layers of the skin. Recovery time can vary. A non-ablative laser works by heating up skin tissue without destroying it, so the recovery time and risk is lower.
Primer
Think of primer as the tool to create a perfect canvas. Although primer won’t erase any forehead wrinkles, what it does is fill in fine lines with a silicone based formula. This means that makeup will glide on more smoothly, and not settle into any cracks. Primers also help makeup stay put all day long.
Think About Your Facial Movement
Keeping your face frozen and expressionless is one way to minimize any facial wrinkles – although it’s just not realistic. Throughout the day, take note of your facial movements. Are you scrunching up your face? Squinting at your screen? Glaring at a co-worker? Repetitive facial movement can cause more wrinkles so try to keep your face relaxed.
Wear Sunglasses
If you’re always squinting in the sun or at your computer screen, you may be contributing to your furrowed brow. Buy a good pair of sunglasses and wear them whenever you’re outdoors, or driving, to minimize any squinting. If you’re having trouble reading, see a doctor to have your eyes tested.
Relax and Destress
If your furrowed brow is caused by tension, do what you can to manage your stress. Everyone destresses in their own way, so the trick is finding what works for you – whether it is carving out a few minutes a day for meditation, a yoga class or perhaps breaking a sweat.
