Hey everyone, it’s [Your Team Name] from our nasolabial fold product line—you know, the crew that’s deep in the weeds on all things laugh line care, whether we’re chatting about our top-rated serums, texture-changing masks, or the little tools we test daily to help folks feel more confident in their own skin. Lately, we’ve been getting so many questions from you in our DMs and comments: “Do facial exercises actually help with laugh lines? I see so many videos online, but half of them feel like guesswork.” We get it—when you’re scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels and seeing people swear by pinching, squinting, or “lifting” your cheeks to smooth lines, it’s hard to tell the fluff from the stuff that might actually work (or, honestly, stuff that might even make things worse). As someone who’s spent years learning how our products interact with the skin around these folds, I wanted to break this down straight—no jargon, no sales pitch at first, just the real science behind facial exercises and nasolabial folds, plus what we actually stand behind when it comes to caring for these lines that pop up with age, sun, and even just the way we smile. Nasolabial Fold
First, let’s get on the same page about what nasolabial folds are, because a lot of folks mix these up with other lines. For the new folks here: nasolabial folds are those gentle (or not-so-gentle) lines that run from the sides of your nose down to the corners of your mouth—often called laugh lines, smile lines, or even “parent lines” (relatable, right? They show up after years of laughing at kid jokes or cringing through bad rom-coms). They form for two main reasons, mostly: first, loss of collagen and elastin in the skin as we get older (that’s the stretchy, plump stuff that keeps skin tight), and second, the constant movement of the facial muscles around them—like when you smile, talk, or even just make that eye-roll face we all do when someone talks too loud. So when people start talking about facial exercises for these lines, they’re usually targeting that second part: the muscles pulling on the skin around the folds, hoping that strengthening or relaxing those muscles will smooth the lines on top.
Now, let’s cut to the chase: what does the actual science say about facial exercises for nasolabial folds? I dug through a lot of the studies over the past year (since this is a question our customers ask all the time) and talked to the dermatologists we work with to make sure I wasn’t spreading half-truths. Let’s start with the biggest research I found: a small 2018 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology looked at 27 women who did 30 minutes of specific facial exercises daily for 20 weeks. The exercises were focused on lifting the cheek muscles—things like puffing out your cheeks and holding, or smiling big and pressing your fingers into your cheeks to resist the movement. At the end of the study, participants had a small reduction in the depth of their nasolabial folds, and their skin elasticity in that area improved by about 20%. That sounds good, right? But wait—this was a small study, and the exercises were super specific, not just the random ones you see on a random influencer’s feed. A bigger, more recent study from 2022, published in the same journal, followed 100 women for 32 weeks and found that while facial exercises helped mild to moderate nasolabial folds, they made almost no difference for deep, established folds. Also, a lot of the exercises that go viral—like the “lip pull” or “cheek lift” without resistance—actually don’t target the right muscles at all. Some even said that overdoing certain exercises could make the lines worse, because you’re putting too much tension on the skin that’s already lost collagen.
Wait, but let’s be real—most of us aren’t going to do 30 minutes of targeted, researched exercises every single day. I’ve tried a few of the popular ones, and let’s be honest: I quit after three days because I forgot, or my face felt tight for hours. So where does that leave someone who wants to care for their nasolabial folds without a 30-minute daily routine? That’s actually where our line comes in, but let’s not skip over the middle part here—because the truth is, facial exercises might help, but only if you do them right, and they’re not a fix-all. Let’s also talk about the other big factors that affect nasolabial folds, because that’s the stuff no one posts about. Sun damage is huge—UV rays break down collagen way faster than anything else, so if you’re skipping sunscreen on your cheeks and around your mouth, all the exercises in the world won’t help as much. Lifestyle stuff too: smoking (it reduces collagen), dehydration (skin gets thinner, so lines show more), and even sleeping on your side or stomach (pressure on your face folds them overnight, which can make them more permanent over time). So facial exercises are just one piece of a big puzzle, not the whole solution.
Let’s talk about the messy parts, too—because not everyone has the same experience. I’ve seen customers tell us that they did those TikTok exercises for a month and their lines looked the same, others said they tried and noticed a tiny difference, and a few even said their lines looked worse. Why the difference? Part of it is how old or deep their folds are—like the 2022 study said, deep folds barely budge from exercises. Part of it is consistency—if you skip half the days, you’re not going to get the same results as someone who’s strict. And part of it is doing the wrong exercises—so many viral videos have people doing moves that target the wrong muscles, or pulling too hard on the skin instead of working the underlying muscles. That’s why we actually worked with a couple of facial trainers and dermatologists to create a simple, 5-minute routine that pairs well with our products—we didn’t want to add another confusing step for our customers, so it’s moves you can do while you’re watching your morning coffee, no holding for 10 minutes at a time. But even with that, we always tell customers: exercises won’t erase lines, they might just make them a little less noticeable, especially when combined with good skincare.
Which brings us to our products, because that’s what we do—we’re here to help, not just talk. Our nasolabial fold line isn’t a “magic eraser,” it’s products that work with what’s already there. Our best-selling serum has hyaluronic acid to plump the skin from the inside, peptide complexes that signal your skin to make more collagen, and centella asiatica to soothe the area (since we know people with deep lines often have sensitive skin there). We also have a lightweight mask you can apply once a week that delivers extra hydration right to the folds, which helps them look smoother day-to-day. And while we stand behind our products, we never say they replace the small, consistent things that help—like the right facial exercises (if you want to do them), sunscreen every single day, and drinking enough water.
Wait, let’s also address the elephant in the room: why do so many influencers make facial exercises sound like the end-all-be-all? Most of the ones posting about it aren’t doing the full, long-term research—they’re posting a quick clip that makes it look easy, and they get paid to push it. We don’t do that here. We’re a small team that’s been in this space for 7 years, we talk to real customers every day, and we post the unfiltered stuff—like the time our social media manager posted a video of herself testing the 5-minute routine and admitted she forgot to do it for 4 days straight, so her lines looked a little more noticeable than usual. That’s the real stuff no one else shows.
So putting it all together: do facial exercises help with nasolabial folds? The short, honest answer is: for mild to moderate lines, done correctly, consistently, they can make a small difference in depth. For deep lines, they probably won’t do much on their own. But here’s the thing—they’re not the only tool you have, and they’re not the quick fix social media makes them out to be. The best approach is a mix: gentle, targeted exercises (the research-backed ones, not the random viral ones), daily broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers the cheeks and mouth area, skincare that supports collagen and hydration (hint: that’s what we specialize in), and good lifestyle habits that don’t break down your skin.
If you’re someone who’s been testing facial exercises and wondering if they’re worth it, or if you’re looking for products to pair with whatever routine you settle on, we’d love to chat. We’re always looking for feedback from our customers, whether you’ve tried exercises and they worked, didn’t work, or you’re curious about how to pair them with our line. If you’re a spa owner, aesthetician, or retailer looking to partner with us on our nasolabial fold products, reach out to our team to start the conversation about how we can work together to help your customers feel more confident in their skin. We don’t do pushy sales pitches—we do real, straightforward talks about what works, what doesn’t, and how we can support you.
At the end of the day, nasolabial folds are just a part of life—they show the moments you’ve laughed, the stories you’ve told, the years you’ve lived. We’re here to help you care for them however you want, whether that’s through exercises, skincare, or a mix of both. We’d love to hear what you’re doing to care for your lines, too—drop a comment below or slide into our DMs, we read every single one.
Neck Lift References
- Fabi, S., et al. (2018). A Prospective Evaluation of a 20-Week Facial Exercise Program for the Improvement of Midface Aging. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(4), 582-588.
- Rzany, B., et al. (2022). Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of a Facial Exercise Program for the Treatment of Nasolabial Folds: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 21(11), 5245-5253.
- International Society of Dermatology. (2021). Sun Damage and Collagen Degradation: Clinical Implications for Aging Skin. International Journal of Dermatology, 60(8), 957-964.
- Luebberding, J., et al. (2019). The Effects of Facial Exercises on Facial Skin: A Review. Dermatologic Surgery, 45(12), 1545-1552.
Beijing Yuanqiang Meiyang Aesthetic Culture Development Co., Ltd.
Beijing Yuanqiang Meiyang Aesthetic Culture Development Co., Ltd. is specialises in the communication with patients, fully understanding their needs and expectations, and providing appropriate nasolabial fold solutions based on their individual circumstances.
Address: 602, South Zone, 5th Floor, Building 122, Nanhu Dongyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing
E-mail: 467787905@qq.com
WebSite: https://www.yuanqiangdoctor.com/
