That first sip of morning iced coffee feels so right. But if you’re using a straw, your lips are making an “O” shape that presses and creases the skin around your mouth, over and over again. And that repeated motion isn’t just a cute quirk – it’s a direct route to perioral lines. These are those little vertical furrows that run from your nose to your upper lip, sometimes even around the corners of your mouth. They’re also called smoker’s lines, but you don’t need a cigarette to earn them. Any repetitive lip pursing works: straws, water bottles with narrow openings, sipping a hot cup of tea with exaggerated pucker, even blowing on a dandelion.
Here’s the thing about the mouth area: the skin is much thinner than the rest of your face, and it has fewer oil glands. That means it dries out faster and shows creasing more easily. Every time you tighten the orbicularis oris – the muscle that circles your lips – you’re folding that thin skin into a temporary pattern. Do it hundreds of times a day, and those temporary folds start to set like wrinkles in fabric. The fix isn’t to stop smiling or talking. Nobody wants that. The fix is to catch the sneaky, unnecessary habits that you can cut without losing any joy.
Let’s start with the straw. It’s a double whammy: you’re pursing your lips, and you’re often doing it while drinking something dehydrating like soda or coffee. Swap the straw for a wide-mouth cup or a glass. Yes, that iced latte tastes the same. And if you’re worried about staining your teeth? Just use a regular cup and take a sip, then swallow. Your dentist will respect you anyway. What about water bottles? Those narrow sports bottles can cause the same pucker. Try a bottle with a wider opening or just tilt a glass. Your lips will thank you.
Another big one: smoking. If you smoke, this is the single most effective thing you can do for your mouth lines. Not just the pursing – the smoke itself damages collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin springy. Quitting is hard, but there are patches, gum, and apps. Even cutting back reduces the damage. And if you vape, the same rule applies. The pucker from the device plus the hot vapor can break down skin faster than you’d expect.
But it’s not all about what you put in your mouth. Think about how you apply your lipstick, balm, or serum. If you rub your lips back and forth with a finger or tug at the corners to smooth in product, you’re stretching that delicate skin. Instead, pat the product gently with your ring finger. Same goes for blotting your lips or wiping food away – use a soft pat, not a swipe. These micro-tugs add up, especially when you do them five times a day.
What else? Chewing gum. Constant chewing keeps your mouth in motion and overworks the muscles around your lips. Gum isn’t evil, but if you chew it for hours a day, your mouth lines have more time to fold and crease. Try replacing gum with a mint that dissolves or a crunchy apple slice. Same sensory satisfaction, less repetitive motion.
Now for the skincare side. You can’t undo all damage, but you can absolutely soften existing lines and slow new ones. The key is hydration and protection. Every morning, even on cloudy days, apply a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to your entire face, and don’t skimp on the lip area. The sun breaks down skin’s structure, and thin lip skin is a prime target. Use a lip balm with SPF, too. Then, at night, that’s when a retinol cream can work down into the skin to help rebuild what habits have worn down. Start with a low concentration a few nights a week, and use a thin layer around the mouth, avoiding the lip itself. If you’re new to retinol, you might feel some flaking – that’s normal. Just back off the frequency and use a gentle moisturizer.
One more habit that’s easy to miss: sleeping on your side or stomach. Your face presses into the pillow, and your lips get crumpled into folds for hours. Yes, that’s a real thing. Try sleeping on your back if you can, or use a silk pillowcase that lets your skin slide instead of bunching. It sounds fancy, but it’s a simple swap.
The bottom line is that perioral lines aren’t a mystery. They’re an echo of your daily routine. Don’t give up your coffee or your lipstick. Just give up the unnecessary pucker. Drink from a wide glass, pat your skincare in gently, protect with sunscreen, and add a retinol at night. Your future self – looking in the mirror with a smooth mouth – will send a tiny thank-you from her chair.
