Of all the types of wrinkles, laugh lines (also called “smile lines,” or “marionette lines”) are one of the most difficult to treat. Technically, they fall under the “expression wrinkle” bucket, as they form by, well, smiling or laughing—and tend to stick around when collagen declines and your skin isn’t as able to bounce back from these movements. But these creases are also considered “gravitational,” too: When your facial fat pads start to sag over time (the effects of gravity afflict us all at some point), the lower cheek area becomes more hollow, which can make those marionette lines more pronounced. All that to say: Laugh lines are no joke. 

Now, we would never tell you to quit smiling and laughing—not only is that ridiculous advice, but your mental health is a vital component of skin care, anyway. But for those moments when you’re not actively engaging, experts suggest slotting in intentional movement, via a face yoga practice or mindful massage, both of which can stimulate blood flow and promote collagen production. 

If you’re in the market for some facial massage tips, you’re in luck: We recently came across an easy TikTok tutorial to target those laugh lines—with just two steps, it seamlessly fits into your skin care routine. 

With age comes changes to your skin—this I know and expect. For the most part, I find my skin transformations are welcome: In my 30s, I’ve finally figured out how to temper by breakouts and rosacea, fuel my skin so my complexion glows, and don’t criticize it too harshly if I have a “bad” skin day or two. But, I do see faint forehead lines starting to etch in. Now, I don’t begrudge or bemoan wrinkles. I know I will develop them as the years go by. But I’d be lying to you if I said that I wasn’t actively trying to smooth them now as a preventative measure. 

To do this, I use a combination of smart skin care supplements, topicals, and a diligently consistent routine. Part of that routine is facial massage and gua sha, which I do almost daily. So when I spoke with skin care expert Debbie Kung, DAOM, LAc, in a recent episode of Clean Beauty School all about gua sha, I knew I had to ask about the area. (A nice bonus of having your own beauty podcast is you get to talk to all of the best experts about your personal beauty concerns and call it work.) 

As a recap—should you not know the benefits of facial gua sha—it creates microcirculation in the face, which has been shown to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin quality overall. Traditionally and historically, it is a full body modality, but in its modern iteration in the West, it’s most famous for its facial rejuvenation benefits. And personally, I’m a full-fledged believer. I consider it one of the most valuable parts of my skin care routine.

But back to the forehead: How is it best used in this particular area? Well, Kung’s advice might surprise you—it certainly surprised me.

On that note, many turn to facial massage. A regular practice, after all, has been shown to increase blood flow to the face and deliver healthy nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells—which, in turn, has been shown to help with fine lines, promote collagen synthesis, and even tone. 

But a regular practice looks different for everyone: Some use tools; others rely on their fingers. Some dedicate several minutes to the venture; others find that a quick, two-minute technique is all they need. 

Here’s a tutorial that works for all parties, demonstrated by beauty influencer Ava Lee—founder of the popular blog, TikTok, and YouTube channel Glow With Ava: Either use it on its own or fold it into your daily facial massage repertoire.