As your ageing skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity and sees a depletion in collagen levels, it's not uncommon to see the development of vertical lines above your lips and marionette lines below them.
Drinking through straws, smoking cigarettes, sun exposure and dehydration also play their part in producing above-the-lip wrinkles.
While the formation of these lines is a normal sign of ageing, plenty of women are keen to get rid of them.
A dermatologist with more than 40 years of experience shared her top "at-home" hack for combatting lip lines.
Frowning can lead to the development of marionette lines, which extend from the corners of the mouth downwards
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Taking to TikTok, Dr Loretta (@drloretta) revealed an easy way to "maintain fuller lips" and "prevent - or sometimes even reverse - those dreaded lip lines".
Offering a free and easy hack, the dermatologist advised women to get into the habit of smiling more.
Stressing the importance of being mindful about your facial expressions, she added that too much frowning, pursing or puckering your lips can cause unwanted lines to develop.
The expert explained that when a person frowns, they "emphasise the muscles that can give us marionette lines in later life".
Marionette lines - also referred to as 'smile lines' - are caused when the depressor muscle pulls down on the corners of the mouth, causing lines which extend downwards.
When a person puckers their lips, they "use all the muscles that strengthen the lip lines".
In contrast, for youthful skin that remains line-free around the mouth, smiling is your best bet.
Dr Loretta explained that when you smile, you use the lips to "create more musculature".
She said: "And just like [how we] build up our biceps, we can build up our lips to give us that coveted volume."
An article entitled Enhancing Facial Aesthetics with Muscle Retraining Exercises - A Review, published in the National Library of Medicine, confirmed that "muscle conditioning, training and strengthening through daily exercises will help to counterbalance ageing effects".
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Pursing or puckering your lips can cause vertical lines to develop
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The experts said: "The maintenance of a firm face is the privilege of youth and becomes the symbol of physical health, vigour and efficiency associated with that period of life, whereas older individuals usually exhibit sagging and wrinkles.
"The sagging of the face that cannot be totally explained through the phenomenon of gravity indicates that facial muscles are not used to their full capacity.
"Most people opt for quicker and easier methods like facelift surgeries or botox, not realising what such procedures hold in store for them. Muscle conditioning, training and strengthening through daily smile exercises help to counterbalance the ageing effect of gravity and disuse."
In a deep dive into mouth wrinkles and barcode lips, GB News revealed what you need to stop doing now - plus the crucial drink you need to hydrate the skin.
