Banish Forehead Wrinkles in 3 Easy Steps
Forehead wrinkles telegraph grumpiness, but our expert anti-aging tips and treatments erase them (without going near a needle). By Ning Chao, REDBOOK.
Freeze lines in their tracks The first step to softening the look of forehead wrinkles is plain old relaxation: The less you frown, the fainter they'll be (harder than it sounds, we know). Start by raising your electronics to eye level, says facialist Nichola Joss of London's Sanctuary Spa, whose clients include Gwyneth Paltrow. "People stare down at a phone or up at a computer screen, and they squint without even realizing it," she says. "Changing those angles eases the tension in your forehead immediately." Then you've simply got to cut down on your facial expressions. "It sounds silly, but if you put a piece of paper tape on your forehead for a day, you'll become mindful of how you move those muscles-and can train yourself to stop," says Mary Lupo, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University. You could even be grimacing in your sleep, says Patricia Wexler, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She recommends using Frownies Facial Patches, $19.95, which you stick on your forehead and temples to prevent bedtime furrowing.
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Find the right cream
The next step is to tackle the wrinkles you already have. "A retinol cream is the gold standard when it comes to building collagen, which is what helps soften lines," Wexler says. But if you find retinol to be too harsh, consider firming creams, which contain peptides to stimulate collagen production in a gentler way. We like Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, $72. "Just keep in mind that all collagen builders take a month of diligent use before you notice results," she says. If you're gunning for a little instant gratification, "apply a gel or cream wrinkle-filler in the morning to give yourself a temporary smoothing effect that'll last up to eight hours," says Lupo. Try Olay Regenerist Filling + Sealing Wrinkle Treatment, $25. Wexler also recommends Natura Bissé Diamond Ice-Lift, $155, for when you want to see a major-but again, temporary-change in minutes. "This peel-off mask uses marine extracts to tighten skin," she says. "For three days, you'll look like you had a face-lift. Even your jawline looks lifted."
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Be an expert of diguise
A few quick makeup tricks can make deep creases seem to vanish, says celebrity makeup artist Joanna Schlip, who has worked with Heidi Klum. Start with a silicone-based primer like Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Correcting Primer SPF 15, $10.95, "which acts like spackle to fill in the creases." Top it with a dab of liquid foundation, then trace the tip of a skin-toned pencil inside the crevice of the wrinkle; Schlip often uses Baby Eyes Enhancer by Paula Dorf Cosmetics, $20. "This makes the line appear more shallow," she says. Pat the area with loose powder, then play up your lips. "A bold lipstick will take the focus away from your forehead." And what a pretty fix!
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