Article: Do Laugh Lines Go Away? What Laughing Really Does to Your Skin
Do Laugh Lines Go Away? What Laughing Really Does to Your Skin
Short answer: not completely, once they are set. Laugh lines are expression lines, formed by years of repeated facial movement plus sun exposure and the natural loss of elasticity that comes with age. Laughing is not something to avoid. What you can change is how they look: daily broadband sunscreen, a good moisturizer and a gentle routine all support that. No cream removes them, whatever the label says.
Key takeaways
- Keep laughing. Movement is one part of how laugh lines form, but sun exposure and the natural loss of elasticity matter just as much, and those are the parts you can do something about.
- Set lines do not fully go away on their own. They can look softer or deeper depending on how your skin is cared for, but they do not disappear by themselves.
- Know which line you have. Lines that show only when you smile, lines that stay at rest, and dehydration lines that soften with water each call for a different first step.
- Sunscreen comes first. Daily broadband sunscreen is the single most useful habit for the look of lines, ahead of any cream.
- No jar removes an etched line. Moisturizer helps skin look smoother and more comfortable. For deeper lines, a board-certified dermatologist is the person to talk to.
Does laughing cause wrinkles?
Laughing plays a part, yes. It is not the villain, and I never want anyone to read an article like this and start holding back a real laugh.
Every time you smile or laugh, the muscles around your mouth and eyes fold the skin above them in the same places. When you are young, skin springs straight back. Over the years, three things change that. First, sun exposure, which is the biggest outside factor in how skin ages. Second, the natural loss of elasticity and firmness that happens to everyone with time. Third, the simple repetition of the same expressions, thousands of times a year, for decades.
So laugh lines are not caused by laughing alone. They are where movement, sun and time meet. Someone who laughs a lot and wears sunscreen every day will often have softer-looking lines than someone who rarely laughs and spent years in the sun without protection. The fold is the map. The sun and time decide how deeply it gets drawn.
That is also why people call them happy wrinkles. They sit exactly where your face moves when you are enjoying yourself. I see them as a record of a life with joy in it, and I would rather help you care for that skin than tell you to stop smiling.
Here is how the main factors break down, and what is within your reach.
| Factor | What it does | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated expression | Folds the skin in the same lines, day after day | Nothing you should change. Keep laughing |
| Sun exposure | The largest outside contributor to how skin ages and how lines set | Broadband sunscreen every morning, shade, a hat, and reapplying when you are outdoors |
| Natural loss of elasticity | Skin bounces back more slowly as the years pass | Consistent moisturizing and a gentle routine to support how skin looks and feels |
| Dehydration | Makes fine lines look sharper and skin look flat | Moisturizer on slightly damp skin, a cleanser that does not leave you tight |
| Smoking | Adds repeated pursing around the mouth and is linked to premature skin aging | Not smoking, or getting support to stop |
| Sleep and stress | Show up as skin that looks tired, dull and more lined that day | Regular sleep, and treating stress as part of skin care rather than separate from it |
Do laugh lines go away on their own?
Honestly, once a line is set, no. It may look better on some days and worse on others, but it will not fade away by itself, and nothing you buy will make it disappear.
What does change, sometimes a lot, is how visible the line is. On a dry winter morning after a short night, the same laugh line can look much deeper than it does on a well-rested, well-hydrated day. That difference is real and it is worth chasing. It just is not the same thing as the line going away.
There is one exception worth knowing about. Some lines that look like laugh lines are mostly dehydration. Those can soften a great deal once skin is properly hydrated, which is why the next two sections matter. Before you decide your lines are fixed features, or spend money on something aimed at deep lines, work out which kind you actually have.
Does laughing make you look younger?
Here is the honest version. Laughing does not reverse lines, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.
What laughing and a good mood can change is how rested your face looks on a given day. Feeling relaxed tends to soften the tension you carry in your face. Better sleep shows in your skin by morning. A good laugh brings a little color to the cheeks for a while. People who are relaxed and well slept often simply look fresher, and others notice that.
Stress works the other way. There is published research on stress and the skin barrier, which I link in the research section below, and many people find that stressful months show up in skin that looks duller, drier and more reactive.
So if you have seen claims that laughing is a kind of facial, or that it makes you look years younger, take them as a nice thought rather than skin care. Laugh because it is good for you and good for the people around you. Care for your skin separately, with the steps further down. Nothing I know of shows that laughing reverses lines that are already there.
Which kind of line do you actually have?
This is the part most articles skip, and it is the part that saves you money. Stand in front of a mirror in good daylight and try this.
- Relax your face completely. Look at the lines from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth, and at the outer corners of your eyes.
- Now smile broadly, then relax again. Notice which lines appear only with the smile, and which ones stay when your face is still.
- Gently press the skin next to the line with a clean fingertip. Does it look crepey, with lots of tiny criss-cross lines, or is it one clean fold?
- Check again after moisturizing. Apply moisturizer to slightly damp skin, wait twenty minutes, and look a third time.
Then compare what you saw with this table.
| Type of line | What you see | Likely cause | What to try first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic (expression) lines | Lines that appear when you smile or laugh and are gone when your face is relaxed | Normal movement of the face. Skin still springs back | Daily sunscreen and a consistent moisturizer to help keep them this way. Nothing else needed |
| Static (etched) lines | Lines that stay visible when your face is completely still | Years of movement combined with sun exposure and the natural loss of elasticity | Sunscreen and moisturizer to support how they look. Ask a board-certified dermatologist about retinoids and procedures |
| Dehydration lines | Fine, crepey, criss-cross lines that look noticeably softer after moisturizing | Low water content in the upper skin, often from harsh cleansing, dry air or heat | A gentler cleanser, moisturizer on damp skin, and watching how your skin responds over a couple of weeks |
Many people have a mix: a mild static fold with a layer of dehydration on top. The dehydration is the part that responds most to daily care, and it often makes the fold look deeper than it is. If you are not sure whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, I walk through the signs in dehydrated skin vs dry skin: how to tell.
One more thing. If a line is new, very deep, painful, or comes with a change in how your face moves, see a doctor rather than a skincare shelf.
What actually helps the look of laugh lines?
None of these steps is exciting. All of them matter more than the most expensive cream on a store shelf. In order of importance:
1. Sunscreen, every single morning
Broadband sunscreen is the first answer to almost every question about lines. Apply it to the whole face, including the sides of the nose and the outer corners of the eyes where laugh lines sit, and reapply when you are outside. The American Academy of Dermatology has a clear guide on how to apply sunscreen, and it is worth reading even if you think you already know.
2. A moisturizer you will actually use twice a day
Well-hydrated skin looks smoother, and fine lines look softer when the skin around them is comfortable and supple. Look for humectants such as hyaluronic acid and beta glucan, which hold water, and barrier lipids such as ceramides, which help keep it there. Apply to slightly damp skin.
3. Gentle cleansing
If your face feels tight after washing, your cleanser is working against you. Stripped skin loses water faster and dehydration lines show up quickly. Lukewarm water, no harsh scrubbing, and a cleanser that removes sunscreen and makeup without leaving you squeaky. The AAD's Face washing 101 covers the basics.
4. Sleep
Short nights show up in the mirror the next morning, around the eyes especially. You cannot moisturize your way past chronic tiredness.
5. Not smoking
If you smoke, stopping is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your skin, and for everything else.
6. Retinoids, and a conversation with a dermatologist
Retinoids exist, and many people use them as part of an anti-aging routine. They can also irritate sensitive skin, and they are not right for everyone, including during pregnancy. A board-certified dermatologist can talk you through whether a retinoid makes sense for you, and can also discuss in-office procedures for etched lines. I cannot promise what any of those will do for your face, and neither can a jar. That is a conversation for someone who can examine your skin.
If you do all of the above consistently, you can expect skin that looks more rested, more comfortable and more even. Over weeks of consistent use, many people find dehydration lines look softer. Results vary, and etched lines remain.
What does the research say? General context, not about our products
The sources below are third-party, general information about skin, sun and aging. They were not written about Bohemia Skin, they did not test any Bohemia Skin product, and we never use them to support any claim about our products. They are here so you can read the source material yourself.
- The American Academy of Dermatology publishes 11 ways to reduce premature skin aging, a plain-language list of everyday habits.
- For readers in the age group most worried about laugh lines, the AAD also has Skin care in your 40s and 50s.
- On sunscreen technique, see the AAD's How to apply sunscreen, and on cleansing, Face washing 101.
- For the science of sun and aging, the paper UV light and skin aging is indexed on PubMed.
- On stress and skin, PubMed also indexes Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women.
- For a broader overview of skin conditions, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases keeps a skin diseases health topics page.
What we make, and who it is for
We do not make a laugh line cream, and I would be suspicious of anyone who says they do. What we make are everyday basics that support the habits above: a cleanser that does not strip, a moisturizer that keeps skin comfortable and smooth-looking, and a three-step set that puts them together. Here is exactly what each one is.
Cleanse
An evening cleanse that melts makeup and sunscreen without leaving skin tight. If you are wearing sunscreen every day, as you should be, you need something that takes it off properly at night.
$39.99
Auto Refill: 20% off every order at $31.99, every 8 weeks. Skip, change, or cancel anytime.
Seal
A lightweight cream with hyaluronic acid, ceramides NP, EOP and AP, beta glucan and a firming peptide, for skin that looks smoother and feels comfortable. Use it AM and PM. It is lavender scented and it is not fragrance free.
$64.99 for 1.7 oz
Auto Refill: 20% off every order at $51.99, every 10 weeks. Skip, change, or cancel anytime.
All three steps together
Cleanse, treat and seal: Boho Cleansing Balm, Kay's Glow Oxygen Serum and Infinite Aura Moisturizer together. Kay's Glow Oxygen Serum contains vitamin C and an AHA trio of glycolic, lactic and malic acids, so wear broadband sunscreen every morning while you use it.
$167.99, which is $16.98 less than buying the three separately
Auto Refill: 20% off every order at $134.39, every 10 weeks. Skip, change, or cancel anytime.
A sunscreen reminder, because it matters here. Kay's Glow Oxygen Serum contains AHAs, and AHAs can make skin more sensitive to the sun. If you use The System, broadband sunscreen every morning is part of the routine, not an optional extra.
You want a cream that removes etched lines. None does, ours included, and a board-certified dermatologist is the right person to ask about procedures. You are sensitive to lavender or to fragrance in general, since Infinite Aura is lavender scented. You want a gel or an oil-free finish, since Infinite Aura is a light cream. Or you are not willing to wear sunscreen every day. No product here is a substitute for sunscreen, and I would rather tell you that than sell you something you will be disappointed by.
A simple three-step routine for laugh lines
Fewer steps, done every day, beat a crowded shelf used now and then. This is the routine I suggest for women who want their skin to look rested and smooth without a ten-product evening.
- Cleanse in the evening. Massage Boho Cleansing Balm over dry skin to melt the day's sunscreen and makeup, then rinse with lukewarm water. In the morning, plain water is often enough.
- Moisturize, morning and night. Press Infinite Aura Moisturizer into slightly damp skin, including the sides of the nose and the corners of the eyes. If you want a treatment step between the two, The Bohemia Skin System adds Kay's Glow Oxygen Serum.
- Sunscreen every morning. Broadband, generous, and last. This is the step that does the most for the look of laugh lines.
If you are adding a retinoid from your dermatologist or have reactive skin, the order you layer things in matters. I cover that in skincare layering order for sensitive skin. You can also compare all our Bohemia Skin routines side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get rid of laugh lines without procedures?
You can change how they look, but you cannot fully remove a set line with skin care alone. Daily broadband sunscreen, a moisturizer used twice a day and gentle cleansing help skin look smoother and more rested, and dehydration lines often look softer with consistent care. For etched lines, a board-certified dermatologist can talk through options with you.
At what age do laugh lines start to show?
It varies a lot. Many people notice lines that appear only when they smile in their twenties, and lines that stay at rest later, often in their thirties or forties. Sun exposure, genetics, smoking and how expressive your face is all change the timing, so comparing yourself to a friend the same age tells you very little.
What are the benefits of laughing for your skin?
Laughing does not repair skin or reverse lines. What a good mood, regular laughter and better sleep can change is how rested your face looks on a given day, because tension softens and you simply look fresher. Stress tends to show in skin that looks duller and drier, so anything that helps you relax is worth keeping in your life.
Do facial exercises help laugh lines?
I do not recommend facial exercises for laugh lines. Laugh lines form partly from repeated movement, so adding more repeated movement is not an obvious fix, and I am not aware of good evidence that it softens etched lines. Your time is better spent on daily sunscreen, consistent moisturizing and good sleep.
Will a moisturizer get rid of laugh lines?
No. A good moisturizer helps skin look smoother and feel more comfortable, and it can make dehydration lines look softer, which often makes laugh lines look less deep. It will not remove a line that is etched into the skin, and any product that promises to do that is promising something no cream can deliver.
Does sunscreen really make a difference to laugh lines?
Yes. Sun exposure is one of the main reasons expression lines set and deepen over the years, and it is the factor you have the most control over. Wear broadband sunscreen every morning, cover the sides of your nose and the corners of your eyes, and reapply when you are outdoors.
Can dehydration make laugh lines look worse?
Yes, often noticeably. Dehydrated skin shows fine, crepey lines that sit on top of and around a laugh line, so the whole area looks deeper and more lined. A gentler cleanser and moisturizer applied to slightly damp skin usually help those fine lines look softer with consistent care, though results vary.
When should I see a dermatologist about laugh lines?
See a board-certified dermatologist if you want to discuss retinoids or in-office procedures for etched lines, if a line appeared suddenly, or if it comes with pain, numbness or a change in how your face moves. A dermatologist can also check whether a mark you think is a line is actually something else.
