Furrowed Brow: 6 Tips To Smooth It

For some, a furrowed brow can be a delicate sign of wisdom and maturity. Still, for others, it can be an unfavorable reminder of the effects of aging and lead to a more permanent expression of concern or worry.

Brow furrows can often be confused with the deep vertical frown lines that form between the eyebrows. They are actually the long horizontal lines that run across part or all of the forehead (commonly referred to as forehead wrinkles).

Brow furrows are perfectly natural and grant you the ability to convey a range of emotions from confusion to worry to anger and even concern — all of which you may feel if these lines become too noticeable for your tastes.

Although injectables and filler may be popular choices for smoothing out unwanted brow furrows, Dēpology is here to give you our favorite tips to iron out those pesky wrinkles and help you achieve the plump, supple forehead of your dreams without all the expensive procedures.

What Causes a Furrowed Brow?

As with many common skincare concerns, natural aging plays a vital role in the appearance of forehead wrinkles. Over time, the skin loses its ability to produce collagen and elastin, which is not the only cause of deepening forehead wrinkles.

A furrowed brow can result from a variety of factors, including:

• Dehydration - Dehydration, both topically or dietarily, can lead to skin dryness, which often exaggerates the appearance of wrinkles or prematurely leads to a furrowed brow.

• Facial Expressions Over Time - If you happen to be very animated, your face may give you away. Repetitive forehead facial expressions over time can lead to the development of forehead wrinkles due to hyperactivity of the frontalis muscles in the forehead.

• Smoking - The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage skin cells and cause premature skin aging. Smoking increases the production of an enzyme that breaks down collagen (a vital protein for maintaining skin elasticity) in the body. This process effectively speeds up aging by causing premature sagging and wrinkles in the facial skin.

• Stress - While many assume stress is bad for the skin due to tensed facial muscles and worried expressions, it is more closely related to the body's chemistry under pressure. High stress leads to the body’s production of cortisol (the stress hormone) which can break down skin’s elastin and collagen. This loss of elasticity can lead to undesired wrinkling and furrowed brows.

• Excessive Sun Exposure - If you care about your skin’s health, you already know the warnings and negative effects of sun damage on the body and skin. Specifically, UV light penetrates the outer layer of the skin and can deteriorate the strength of the underlying layers when no added sun protection is used. This damage can also stunt collagen production.
  

• Genetics - Although environmental factors play a large role in how your skin develops and ages, studies have shown that up to 60 percent of the variation in skin aging between individuals can be attributed to genetic factors.

What Are the Best Ways to Prevent and Smooth a Furrowed Brow?

Much like the common question of whether you can make pores disappear with enough product and elbow grease, you cannot completely erase forehead wrinkles. However, several methods, products, and tools can help smooth out a troublesome furrowed brow and rejuvenate your skin for a fuller, more youthful glow.

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is one of the most important contributing factors for skin health, both internally and externally (and that also reduces the appearance of wrinkles). Drinking the recommended amount of water (about 11.5 cups a day for women) is a helpful and necessary step in maintaining youthful, resilient skin.

Topically, it is also crucial to routinely moisturize your skin to provide it with the essential hydration to heal and repair from daily exposure to the environment, further preventing the onset of premature wrinkles.

2. Use SPF Daily (and Wear Your Sunglasses!)

You may be tired of hearing this tip, but we only include it because it is truly important. Sun exposure plays a major role in damaging youthful, healthy skin. The more often you find yourself in the sun unprotected, the quicker your skin can become dry, spotted, and baggy (aka wrinkly), so be sure to apply an SPF 30 at minimum every day.

At this point, plopping on your SPF might be second nature but don’t leave home without your sunglasses as well. They protect your eyes from UV rays and prevent you from squinting and frowning throughout the day (two of the prominent facial expressions that can cause forehead wrinkles).

3. Massage Your Forehead

While many products will help maintain the chemical balance of your skin, sometimes you also need a healthy dose of physical TLC. Your forehead skin may be relatively thin, but a muscle lies between that skin and the front of your skull.

Gently massaging the forehead (either with a facial roller, gua sha, or your trusty hands) can help increase blood flow to the area, release tightness in the muscle, and stimulate the area to aid in repairing damaged tissue. A short and simple massage can help create a smoother, more relaxed brow. Always use small circular motions and a slip agent (any skin-safe oil or oil-based product will do).

4. Apply a Silicone Patch Just Before Bedtime

Silicone patches have recently become a fan-favorite amongst the masses, all working towards healthier, more youthful skin. Originally designed to heal burns and scarring, silicone patches have since been adapted as a non-invasive technique for wrinkle-smoothing.

By helping to support the skin while you sleep, these patches act as a protective barrier from the surrounding environment while trapping in moisture throughout the night. These medical-grade silicone patches also increase blood flow to the forehead, which boosts the production of collagen and helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles while you sleep.

5. Introduce Retinol Into Your Nightly Skincare Routine

Furrowed brows are a natural sign of aging, and any anti-aging skincare routine can benefit directly from introducing a retinoid. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that stimulates collagen production, supports cell turnover, and maintains healthy oil production while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinol is most effective at night as it can support the skin during its most significant healing time. Be sure to follow up retinol with a moisturizer to supply your skin with the hydration it needs to receive the repairing benefits of retinol.

6. Reach for Products that Contain Antioxidants and Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most sought-after ingredients in the skincare market, and it’s no secret why. Hyaluronic acid is one of the greatest products to support skin hydration, with the ability to hold one thousand times its weight in water.

Due to its intense plumping effect, hyaluronic acid is great for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and can be a valuable addition to help reduce a furrowed brow. Antioxidant serums (such as vitamin C serums), on the other hand, can be beneficial in protecting the skin from further damage from free radicals and environmental pollutants.

Our Final Tip to You

There is no exact way of knowing when or if forehead wrinkles will start to appear. Whether you want to prevent an early onset or smooth out an already worrisome static wrinkle, these tips can support your journey to softer, smoother skin.

Our final tip is to check out Dēpology’s Anti-Aging Trio Set. This set is the ultimate anti-aging power team for getting noticeably youthful skin. Featuring luxurious high-performance products like Deepcare+™ Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches and Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Serum, it has everything you need to get on track toward a smoother brow and overall plumper skin.

This set even includes an Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream to jumpstart you on checking off this list of forehead smoothing tips. With Depology guiding you, you will be on your way to more nourished, hydrated, and youthful skin in no time.

Looking for more ways to rejuvenate tired skin? Explore Dēpology’s collection of innovative Korean skincare formulas here.

Sources:

Nutrition and Healthy Eating - Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? | MayoClinic

Genetic Polymorphisms and Skin Aging: The Identification of Population Genotypic Groups Holds Potential for Personalized Treatments | PMC

Sun Damage: Protecting Yourself | Cleveland Clinic