A Guide to Downturned Lips: Causes and Best Treatments

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Expert dermatologists share the best natural solutions to lift your lips
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Downturned lips are a common lip shape where the corners of your mouth point downward. Many people are born with this lip shape, but it can also develop as you age. If you think you might have downturned lips and want to learn more, keep reading! We’ll go over what this lip shape looks like and what can cause it. If this is something that you want to change, we also spoke to board-certified dermatologists and professional makeup artists to learn ways to help lift your lip corners with makeup, skincare products, and cosmetic procedures.

What does it mean to have downturned lips?

Downturned lips are a common lip shape characterized by the corners of the lips slanting downward. They can be caused by genetics, aging, and lifestyle factors like sun exposure. Ways to lift downturned lips include applying lip liner strategically, wearing sunscreen and retinol, or getting Botox or dermal fillers.

Section 1 of 7:

What are downturned lips?

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  1. Downturned lips are a lip shape where the mouth corners point down. Downturned lips naturally slant downwards at the corners of the mouth (formally called the oral commissures), which is where the upper and lower lips meet. People with this lip shape have a downturned mouth when their face is completely relaxed—they aren’t frowning or purposefully pulling their lips down. [1]
    • Celebrity examples of downturned lips : Britney Spears, Emma Stone, Cara Delevingne, Natalie Portman
    • Downturned lips can sometimes give someone a more aged, tired, sad, or angry appearance. So, some people might want to lift their lips. We’ll provide some natural ways and cosmetic treatments to help lift downturned lips in the sections below.
    • There’s nothing wrong with having downturned lips, though! They’re a unique and beautiful feature that can give someone a pouty and sensual look, too.
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Section 2 of 7:

What causes downturned lips?

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  1. 1
    Genetics For many people, downturned lips are simply the lip shape they’re born with. This lip shape is often determined by your genes and passed down to you by someone in your family who also has downturned lips.
  2. 2
    Aging Many people develop downturned lips as they age. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kaveri Karhade, MD, “as we get older, our collagen tends to break down, and we stop producing elastin, which is what makes young skin bouncy” (AKA, plump and firm). So, the natural loss of these proteins can cause the corners of the mouth to sag, turn downwards, and form more visible lines.
    • Facial fat also decreases with age, causing you to lose volume around your mouth, which can emphasize the appearance of downturned lips. [2]
    • Fat also moves down with gravity as you get older, which can pull down the corners of your mouth.
    • You also lose bone density as you age, which can cause you to lose structure in your face and increase the appearance of downturned lips. [3]
  3. 3
    Lifestyle factors “Sun exposure, smoking…stress, and sleep deprivation” can damage the skin and collagen production, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adarsh Mudgil, MD. These factors can speed up the effects of aging, cause your skin to lose its elasticity and plumpness, and pull the corners of your mouth downward.
    • Dr. Mudgil says it’s important to protect the collagen you have, as what you have right now “is the best collagen you'll ever have.” He recommends "eating foods rich in antioxidants, getting sleep, exercising, and protecting your skin from the sun,” using at least SPF 30.
  4. 4
    Facial muscle weakening The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is the muscle that allows you to frown and pull your lips downward. [4] Stress to this muscle can weaken it and contribute to downward-turning lips. For instance: [5]
    • Repetitive facial expressions, like frowning, can overactivate the DAO muscles.
    • Certain dental issues, like a misaligned jaw, can potentially stress the DAO muscle and cause someone to develop downturned lips. [6]
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Section 3 of 7:

Natural Ways to Lift Downturned Lips

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  1. 1
    Apply makeup to help your lips look more lifted and plump. To help lift your lips, use your favorite lip liner to draw the corners of your bottom lip at a higher angle instead of following the natural contour of your lip that falls downward. [7] Makeup artist Yuka Arora suggests using the same liner to slightly overline the center of your top and bottom lip to help them appear fuller. Then, brush your lips with a shiny gloss so they appear voluminous and plump.
    • “Caring for your lips can help them appear more plump and lifted,” says makeup artist Bia Rehman. She suggests regularly exfoliating them with a lip scrub and applying a hydrating lip balm or treatment to keep them moisturized.
  2. 2
    Use skincare products to keep your skin plump and healthy. Adding a few different products to your daily skincare routine can help prevent skin damage, promote collagen production, and keep your skin healthy, all of which can help reduce the appearance of downturned lips. For instance, use:
    • Sunscreen : Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Margareth Pierre-Louis, MD, says wearing a daily sunscreen (at least 30 SPF) helps “protect you from skin cancer” and helps “prevent fine lines and wrinkles.”
    • Moisturizer : According to Dr. Pierre-Louis, using a moisturizer in the morning and evening after you wash your face helps hydrate your skin, keep it replenished, and help it look rejuvenated.
    • Retinol : Dr. Karhade says applying retinol at night “can help to increase collagen growth” and help reverse some signs of aging and damage from the sun to keep the skin plump and firm. She says both over-the-counter retinol and prescription-strength retinoids are great to use.
    • Peptide creams : According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adebola Dele-Michael, MD, FAAD, some peptide creams can “help to boost the production of collagen and elastic fibers” to firm up and lift the skin. Most of these creams are prescription-only, so she recommends visiting your dermatologist to find one they recommend.
  3. 3
    Try facial exercises to lift your lips. While there’s no solid evidence that facial yoga or gua sha techniques can tighten and lift your skin, many people claim that facial exercises helped their lips appear more lifted. There’s no real harm in these exercises, so feel free to try them and see how they work for you:
    • Tuck your lips together and pull the corners of your lips up. Then, use your fingers to lightly smooth the skin between the corners of your mouth and nose. Do this for about 30 seconds and repeat 3 times. [8]
    • Smile lightly and place your fingers at the outer corner of your mouth. Lightly press down and hold your fingers there for 30 seconds, repeating 3 times. [9]
    • Hook your index and middle fingers inside the corners of your mouth. Then, contract your mouth inwards using your muscles, not your fingers. Repeat this movement for 1 minute. [10]
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Section 4 of 7:

Treatments to Lift Downturned Lips

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  1. 1
    Skin-tightening treatments Dr. Dele-Michael says several cosmetic treatments, like laser resurfacing and radiofrequency skin-tightening, can “boost collagen and elastin fibers in the skin” to help the area around your mouth appear tighter, plumper, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Microneedling is another great option, which uses tiny needles to help stimulate collagen and elastin production. [11]
    • All of these skin treatments are minimally invasive. The most common risks are redness and swelling, which usually go down after a few days. [12]
    • It can take 2 to 6 months to see your full results from these treatments.
  2. 2
    Botox, Dysport, or Daxxify Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify are all common injections that block certain facial muscles from moving, which can relax the area and smooth out deep lines and wrinkles. When injected into your depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle, these injections can lift up the corners of your mouth, prevent further downward pull, and reduce the look of wrinkles. [13]
    • Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify are temporary treatments that usually last for 3 to 4 months.
    • It usually takes 1 week to see your final results.
    • Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Aanand Geria, MD, says Botox is “a very safe, effective procedure,” and the most common side effect is some light bruising.
  3. 3
    Dermal fillers Dr. Dele-Michael says dermal fillers are a great non-surgical option for restoring lost volume in the face and lifting skin that’s started to sag. The filler is simply injected under the skin around the corners of your mouth to create structure and lift your lips. [14]
    • Filler is a temporary treatment that typically lasts between 6 and 18 months.
    • You usually see the results almost immediately.
    • Fillers are made out of different materials, like hyaluronic acid (Restylane) and Poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra). Talk to your dermatologist about which filler is best for your goals.
    • The most common side effects are bruising, redness, and swelling.
    • It’s sometimes recommended to get a combination treatment of Botox and fillers, depending on your lips and the results you want.
  4. 4
    Lip lift A lip lift is a surgical procedure that can help your lips appear fuller and more youthful, and lift the corners of a downturned mouth. During this procedure, your surgeon removes excess skin between your nose and upper lip. Then, they lift up your lip and close the incision. [15]
    • This surgery is a permanent way to lift downturned lips.
    • Lip lifts are usually done under local anesthesia.
    • Recovery usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete. It can take 4 months to see your final results.
    • The most common side effects are bruising and swelling. This surgery usually leaves a light scar.
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Section 5 of 7:

Are downturned lips and marionette lines the same?

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  1. No, downturned lips and marionette lines are not the same. While marionette lines also form at the corners of your mouth, they are separate creases that run vertically to your chin. They’re named after the string puppets that have lines in the same area. Downturned lips simply refer to lips that angle downwards. [16]
    • Like downturned lips, marionette lines often form as you age.
    • Downturned lips and marionette lines are also different from nasolabial folds. These are the creases that extend from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. [17]
Section 6 of 7:

Final Thoughts

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  1. Downturned lips are a natural lip shape that lots of people have. Downturned lips are one of several common lip shapes: some people are born with them, while many others develop them as they age. There’s nothing wrong with having downturned lips, so don’t feel pressured about changing them. In fact, lots of people find this lip shape attractive, as it often gives someone a pouty, doll-like look and adds to their unique charm!
    • If your downturned lips are affecting your confidence or self-image, it’s understandable if they’re something you want to change, though. You can use skincare and makeup tips to lessen their appearance, or talk to your dermatologist about cosmetic procedures to try.
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Section 7 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Are downturned lips attractive? Yes, many people consider downturned lips an attractive look. This lip shape gives someone a pouty, doll-like, or “adorable” appearance that’s unique and distinguished.
  2. 2
    Are downturned lips rare? Downturned lips are considered one of the more rare lip shapes to be born with. However, because lots of people naturally form downturned lips as they age, they can also be considered pretty common.
    • The rarest lip shape is the heart-shaped lips, which have a very defined Cupid’s bow (think Rihanna or Taylor Swift).
  3. 3
    What muscles control the mouth? There are several different muscles that control the mouth, such as the: [18]
    • Depressor labii inferioris : This muscle is located along the chin and lowers the bottom lip.
    • Levator anguli oris : This muscle is located below the cheek and helps you smile.
    • Levator labii superioris : This muscle is located next to the nose and also helps you raise your lips and smile.
    • Orbicularis oris : This muscle surrounds your mouth and helps you close and purse your lips.
    • Zygomaticus major and minor : These muscles are located between your cheek and the corner of your mouth. They help you move your lips around and smile.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3047731/
      2. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3404279/
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21672-facial-muscles
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/uo3VoEmZORw?si=SNwdFgr-v7q6DZet&t=56
      6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553375/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/EHOqJLHZqD8?si=JFi8SUZPf2lVJHT8&t=414
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/y_UQIY7uRig?si=G2eLD47vgqmhycuo&t=7
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/y_UQIY7uRig?si=aQ_ebr4EXoe6DLYW&t=22
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/ujkWhk5Ic9Q?si=oM8MDWZOy1u0eoIG&t=472
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23113-microneedling
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24683-radio-frequency-rf-skin-tightening
      4. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3047731/
      5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22667-dermal-fillers
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/lip-lift
      7. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23028-marionette-lines
      8. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23028-marionette-lines
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21672-facial-muscles

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