frown lines

How to Help Reduce Frown Lines & Smooth Out Facial Wrinkles

Learn the best ways to help prevent frown lines and care for facial wrinkles using targeted skincare and glabellar wrinkle exercises.

What's in this article:

What is a Frown Line?

Frown lines - also known as “glabella lines” or “11 lines” - are the short vertical creases that form between the eyebrows. Initially, they are fine and only visible when making facial expressions, but over time they can become deeper and more noticeable even when the face is relaxed.

How to Help Reduce the Appearance of Frown Lines & Glabella Wrinkles

Wondering how to get rid of frown lines? From causes to prevention, this guide covers everything you need to know about helping to reduce the appearance of glabella wrinkles.

6 Glabella Wrinkles Causes

Young woman using Nivea Q10 Anti Wrinkle Expert SPF 50
1
Repeated facial movements:

Frown lines commonly develop due to frequent expressions like frowning and squinting. Over time, the skin loses firmness and elasticity, making these lines more noticeable.

2
Ageing:

Natural collagen and elastin levels decline as we age, reducing the skin’s ability to spring back after movement. As this support structure weakens, repeated facial expressions like frowning leave more permanent lines in the glabella area.

3
Sun exposure:

UV rays can break down collagen and accelerate the appearance of facial wrinkles and frown lines. collagen is what helps keep skin firm and smooth, so when it weakens, the repetitive movements of frowning can more easily leave lasting lines across the glabella area.

4
Dehydrated skin:

A lack of moisture can make lines appear more pronounced because dry skin loses its plumpness and elasticity, causing wrinkles to be more prominent.

5
Stress:

Constant muscle tension or furrowing of the brow due to stress may deepen glabella lines over time.

6
Lifestyle habits:

Smoking, poor diet, and a lack of sleep, can all affect skin health and contribute to premature wrinkles between the eyes.

How to Help Erase Frown Lines

How to Help Prevent Frown Lines?

While frown lines are a natural part of ageing, there are gentle yet effective ways to help reduce their appearance:

Use targeted skincare products:

Look for formulas with ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 (Q10), and Pro-Retinol to hydrate, firm and support collagen renewal. Products such as the NIVEA Q10 range can help visibly soften the look of glabellar wrinkles over time.

Protect with SPF daily:

UV protection is essential to help prevent further deepening of expression lines because UV rays break down collagen and elastin, which are vital for skin firmness and elasticity. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF moisturiser that suits your skin type.

Keep the area moisturised:

Well-hydrated skin appears plumper and more elastic, helping to smooth the look of frown lines. Apply a hydrating day and night cream daily, focusing on the brow area.

Practice gentle facial massage:

Light tapping or upward strokes between the brows may help relax tense muscles and support circulation, which can improve skin tone and may help to reduce the appearance of frown lines over time.
Woman using Nivea Q10 Anti Wrinkle Power Firming Eye Cream
Woman applying Nivea face cream

Get enough sleep:

Rest allows the skin to repair itself, and getting 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night supports this vital regeneration and may help against the formation of frown lines.

Stay hydrated and eat well:

Drinking enough water and eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fats helps to nourish your skin from within. This could support collagen and help keep skin smooth and more resistant to frown lines.

Avoid smoking:

Smoking reduces blood flow and damages collagen and elastin fibres, which can make frown lines appear deeper and more pronounced over time. Choosing to avoid smoking helps protect your skin’s structure and maintain a fresher, firmer appearance.
What to do Against Frown Lines

Facts Overview

What are frown lines: Frown lines, also called glabellar wrinkles, are vertical creases that appear between the eyebrows. 

Frown Lines Causes: Facial wrinkles often develop due to repeated muscle movement, age-related collagen loss, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors like stress and smoking.  

Frown line Prevention: Daily SPF, a nourishing skincare routine, and mindful habits can help delay and reduce the appearance of frown lines. 

Anti-Wrinkle Skincare: Products containing Q10, Hyaluronic Acid, and antioxidants support skin firmness and can soften glabella lines with regular use. 

Glabella Wrinkle Exercises

While facial exercises won’t erase deep wrinkles, they may help to reduce their appearance, by promoting muscle tone and skin elasticity, especially when done regularly. 

Here are three facial exercises to try:

Eyebrow Lift: Place your index fingers just above your eyebrows. Try to frown while gently resisting the movement with your fingers. Hold for 5 seconds and release. Repeat 10 times.

Smooth the Forehead: Place both hands on your forehead, apply gentle pressure, and try to raise your eyebrows slowly against the resistance. Hold for 5 seconds, repeat 10 times.

Frown Release: Use your fingers to lightly tap the area between your eyebrows to relax muscles. Follow by raising your eyebrows as high as possible, hold for 5 seconds, and repeat 10 times. 
Woman Using Nivea Serum Filler for Frown Lines
dark blue background
Nivea Q10 routine range
How to Help Smooth out Facial Wrinkles

NIVEA Q10 Products to Help Support Smoother Frown Lines

To complement your facial exercises, support your skin with NIVEA’s Q10 range. From nourishing day and night creams to targeted facial serums, each product is formulated to help replenish Coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring antioxidant that helps maintain skin firmness, which gradually declines with age. 

Some formulas also include Creatine to support collagen renewal, and GLYCOSTOP™ to help defend against sugar-induced skin damage - both of which play a role in the formation of fine lines. Used regularly, NIVEA Q10 products work to help visibly smooth frown lines and leave your skin feeling firmer and more radiant.
Discover NIVEA Q10 Products
Treatment for Glabella lines

Help Reduce Frown Lines with a Targeted Skincare Routine

Glabellar wrinkles can be stubborn, especially as we age. But with a dedicated skincare routine using active ingredients, you can help to soften their appearance. 

Here’s how to care for the skin between your brows:

Step 1: Cleanse and Prep the Skin

Start by cleansing your face to gently remove impurities, excess oil, makeup, and environmental pollutants. Using a gentle yet effective cleanser helps prepare your skin to better absorb active ingredients in your skincare routine, leaving it feeling fresh and comfortable.  

NIVEA offers a wide range of cleansers designed for different skin types and needs, ensuring a perfect fit for your daily care.
Discover NIVEA Facial Cleansers

Step 2: Apply a Frown Line-Focused Serum

Serums are ideal for addressing glabellar wrinkles, delivering potent ingredients to targeted areas. The NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Expert Dual Action Serum combines pure Q10 with Glycostop™, a powerful technology that helps defend the skin’s structural proteins from Glycation - a process that can lead to premature wrinkling and frown lines. 

To Apply: Smooth the serum across the brow area and forehead using upward strokes to help relax tension and support skin firmness. The appearance of wrinkles can be reduced with continued use.
Woman using NIVEA Q10 Targeted Wrinkle Filler

Step 3: Moisturise + Protect with SPF

Daily hydration is key to supporting skin elasticity and resilience, particularly in areas prone to expression wrinkles between the eyebrows. The NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Day Cream SPF 15 offers multi-tasking care containing a collagen booster duo with Q10 and creatine, as well as sun filters to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. This cream provides long-lasting hydration and strengthens the skin barrier to help make the skin on your face smoother and firmer. The cream delivers lasting moisture and reinforces the skin’s barrier, helping to keep facial skin looking smoother and more refined.

Step 4: Use a Targeted Line-Filling Treatment

When it comes to frown lines, a regular moisturiser helps with hydration, but isn’t always enough to target deeper wrinkles. That’s where a targeted treatment can make a real difference. These advanced formulations are designed to work on specific areas by supporting collagen and elastin, while delivering line-plumping technology exactly where your skin needs them most for visible results. 

The NIVEA Q10 Targeted Wrinkle Filler offers a concentrated formula to help support smoother, more radiant skin. It features 5% Active Complex with Q10 and Bioxifill Peptides, and has been clinically shown to visibly reduce wrinkles between the brows in minutes* and improve the appearance of deeper lines over time**. Ideal for smoothing frown lines on demand, this treatment helps you achieve a smoother and youthful appearance with each use. 

*Visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles by forming a hydrating film on the skin's surface. 
 ** Self-assessed score, 4-week study with 41 women. 

Summary

Frown lines are a natural result of facial expressions and the ageing process, but there are many effective ways to help reduce their appearance. By understanding the causes of glabellar wrinkles - from muscle movement and collagen loss to lifestyle factors - you can take proactive steps to care for your skin.

With a consistent routine that includes targeted skincare featuring powerful ingredients, daily sun protection, and mindful habits such as hydration and stress management, smoother frown lines are achievable. 

FAQs

Can you get rid of frown lines permanently?

No, there is no guaranteed way to remove frown lines permanently without cosmetic procedures. However, a targeted routine using firming ingredients like Coenzyme Q10, Hyaluronic Acid, and daily SPF can make them less noticeable over time.

How to erase frown lines without treatment?

You can’t fully erase frown lines, but hydration, SPF, targeted skincare, good sleep and healthy habits can help soften their appearance.

Can I massage out frown lines?

Gentle facial massage between the brows can help relax the underlying muscles which may help reduce the appearance of frown lines.

At what age do frown lines appear?

Frown lines can start to appear in your late 20s to early 30s, depending on your skin type, level of sun exposure, and lifestyle habits.

Can you get rid of glabella lines without Botox?

No, but many people reduce the appearance of glabella lines through non-invasive methods like targeted skincare, facial exercises, massage, and sun protection.

Related products

Related articles