🔆 Sage’s Radiance Rundown

You lean in to apply lipstick… and there they are.

Soft vertical lines above your lips that weren’t there before. Or at least, not like this.

You haven’t smoked. You take care of your skin. You’re doing everything right.

So why do these so-called “smoker’s lines” still show up?

Here’s the truth. Those little lines aren’t about what you did wrong. They’re about collagen loss, hormonal shifts, and years of full expression.

Everyday things we do without thinking. Smiling, sipping, kissing, concentrating, living.

Today, we’re looking beyond the myths and into what’s really going on with the skin around your mouth after 40. And what actually helps.

🧬 Sage On Science: Why Lip Lines Show Up (Even If You’ve Never Smoked)

Let’s start with the big question so many women ask. “What’s actually causing these lines?”

And no, it’s not just smoking. (Can we officially retire that “smoker’s lines” nickname?) These fine vertical creases, often called “perioral lines,” are one of the most misunderstood signs of skin aging.

They have less to do with bad habits and everything to do with how skin, hormones, and facial muscles evolve as we move through our 40s and beyond.

💔 Collagen Collapse
By our late 30s, collagen, the protein that keeps skin plump and firm, starts declining by about 1% each year. And studies show after 40, that rate speeds up, and by menopause, collagen levels can drop by nearly 30%.

Because the skin around the mouth is thin and always in motion, it tends to show this loss earlier than other areas.

Think of collagen like the scaffolding that keeps your skin lifted. When it weakens, fine lines begin to appear where movement is most frequent.

🌙 Hormones Take the Wheel
If collagen is the scaffolding, estrogen is the construction crew. Estrogen supports skin’s hydration, elasticity, and repair.

During perimenopause, as estrogen declines, skin becomes drier and less resilient. The lips and surrounding area are hit hard because they contain fewer oil glands and less subcutaneous fat to cushion the skin.

That’s why your once‑plump lip line can suddenly look flatter or slightly deflated. It’s not your imagination, it’s physiology.

💬 Everyday Expressions Matter
The muscles around your mouth, called the orbicularis oris, are constantly working. Whether you’re talking, sipping from a straw, concentrating, smiling, or frowning, those same muscles are contracting.

Over time, all of that movement creates subtle creases in the skin. It’s not about bad habits.

It’s about living a full, expressive life. These lines form because your face is in motion every day, and that’s not something to apologize for.

☀️ Sun, Sleep, and Stress: The Silent Accelerators
The environment also plays a role. Sun exposure, especially without SPF around the mouth, breaks down collagen and speeds up aging.

Sleeping on one side can fold the skin the same way night after night. And stress increases cortisol, which slows your skin’s ability to repair.

All of these factors can make lines appear earlier or deeper. But they’re also things you can start to gently shift.

🌿 The Texture Equation
As skin cell turnover slows down, the surface of the skin around your lips may start to look rougher or less smooth. That texture makes lines stand out more than they used to, even if they’re not any deeper.

Simple habits like hydration and gentle exfoliation are essential to help keep the skin around your lips smoother.

Lip lines aren’t a flaw. They’re a sign that your skin has moved, smiled, spoken, and lived. They show up because the skin here works harder than almost anywhere else on your face.

This isn’t about erasing your expression. It’s about helping it reflect how vibrant you still are.

💡 Support Your Smile, Soften the Lines 

The skin around your lips works hard every day. So why not give it a little extra support?

MiamiMD Lift & Firm Cream is a dermatologist-developed formula designed to visibly firm and smooth aging skin, especially around delicate areas like the mouth. 

With clinically aligned peptides and natural skin-tightening ingredients, it helps:

🌿 Improve elasticity where collagen is fading
💧 Hydrate and plump thin, creased skin around the lips
🌸 Visibly soften the appearance of vertical lip lines over time

Massage a small amount around your mouth before bed or after your daily ritual. It’s a simple step that speaks volumes to your skin.

Click the link below and discover how MiamiMD Lift & Firm Cream can help smooth and soften those pesky lip lines.

👉 Click here to claim your EXCLUSIVE LIFT & FIRM INSIDER DISCOUNT

🔍 Sage’s Longevity Radar: New Insights Around the Mouth

The area around the mouth may be small. But it’s becoming a big focus in new skincare and longevity research.

Here are a few of the latest findings catching my attention. Because understanding what’s changing is the first step to supporting your skin wisely.

📚 Hormones & Skin Connection
A recent study from Dermato-Endocrinology showed that estrogen loss is directly tied to thinner, less elastic skin. Especially in the mouth region. Supporting hormonal balance may help maintain skin density and slow the visible signs of aging around the lips.

🧬 Peptide Promise
Topical peptides like Matrixyl 3000 (also found in MiamiMD Lift & Firm) were shown to improve mouth wrinkles in just 12 weeks, without irritation. Think of peptides as the “skin whisperers” that gently encourage your cells to start building collagen again.

🛏️ Sleep Position = Skin Creasing?
New facial imaging research links chronic side-sleeping to permanent lines near the mouth and chin. Over time, the pressure can create visible folds that are hard to reverse.

Switching to silk pillowcases or adjusting your sleep position could make more of a difference than you think.

As always, small shifts add up. Especially when they're grounded in real science.

These new insights aren't just interesting, they're empowering. They remind us that while we can’t control everything about how we age, we can choose how we respond.

✨ Glow Rituals by Sage: My 3-Minute Lip Line Ritual

The area around the lips often gets overlooked in our routines. You notice a subtle crease, maybe two. The skin feels thinner, a little less firm. And suddenly, this tiny area becomes a new focus.

This ritual was born out of that moment. It's simple, calming, and surprisingly effective when practiced with intention. You don’t need fancy tools. Just your fingertips, a good product or two, and a few quiet minutes.

🪞 Step 1: Warm + Nourish
Start by applying a drop of oil around your lips. Jojoba or squalane works beautifully. Gently press the oil into the skin with your fingertips. Take a deep breath in, and exhale slowly. Allow the area to relax before you begin.

💆‍♀️ Step 2: Tap Tap Tap
Using your ring fingers, lightly tap the skin above and around your lips. Do this for 30 to 60 seconds. This helps increase blood flow, awaken the tissue, and soften tension that can lead to deeper expression lines.

🔄 Step 3: Smile + Stretch
Now, smile with your lips tucked inward and gently stretch the skin outward with your fingers. Hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat this a few times to help improve mobility and release stagnation.

💧 Step 4: Seal It In
Apply a peptide-rich lip treatment or deeply hydrating balm. Think of this step as your skin’s reward. It locks in moisture while supporting the skin’s repair process.

Do this ritual before bed, or any time your skin feels tight or tired. It’s not just about the results. It’s about reconnecting with your face in a way that feels caring, not corrective. 

Sometimes, three mindful minutes can change the way you show up to your reflection.

🛍️ Sage Selects: Lip Saviors I Actually Use


Some changes in the mirror just stand out more. And the area around the mouth tends to show them first.

As collagen levels dip and hormones shift, the skin here becomes thinner, drier, and more reactive to movement. That’s when the lines show up, and definition begins to fade.

When I notice that, I don’t reach for quick fixes. I reach for tools that support this delicate area. Not to chase youth, but to bring structure, softness, and a sense of connection back to the face I see each day.

🌟 MiamiMD Total Beauty Matrix
This is my inside-out support system. With collagen-boosting ingredients, antioxidants, and skin-nourishing nutrients, it helps firm and hydrate from within.

If you’re seeing more lines than glow lately, this supplement gently helps bring that radiance back.

💧 MiamiMD Lift & Firm
The skin around the mouth is one of the first places to show the effects of collagen loss. And this is where I see this cream do its best work.

I use it around my lips and lower face to help firm and smooth the areas where fine lines start to settle in. It gives that part of your face a little more structure.

The lines fade, and the skin feels more supported. Sometimes, that’s all your reflection needs.

💋 MiamiMD Lip Plumper
Sometimes the most effective way to soften the appearance of lines is to shift the focus entirely.

This plumper adds subtle, natural-looking volume that enhances the shape and fullness of your lips. Now the focus is on what’s vibrant. Instead of what’s changed.

It smooths and hydrates without the sting or exaggerated effect. Just an easy, everyday step that helps your lips feel more defined, more expressive, more you.

💬 Sage Advice: Reader Q&A with Sage

Here’s a note I received from a concerned reader:

Amanda, 43:
"Sage, I’ve never smoked a day in my life, but I’m suddenly noticing vertical lines above my lips. I take care of my skin and eat well. So why is this happening? Is it just aging, or am I missing something?"

Sage:
Amanda, I hear this often from women who are eating well, using quality skincare, and still seeing changes they didn’t expect. The truth is, you are doing a lot right. But the skin around the mouth is uniquely vulnerable, and even great habits can’t fully prevent the shifts that happen during this stage.

This area has fewer oil glands and less structural support, so as estrogen declines and collagen production slows, it tends to show changes earlier. Especially if it’s constantly in motion, which it is for all of us.

What you’re seeing isn’t failure. It’s biology catching up to a very expressive part of your face. And yes, there are ways to support it more directly. 

A richer barrier-repair product, a targeted lip treatment, gentle exfoliation. Even a small adjustment to how you sleep or apply your skincare can make a difference.

You’re not missing anything obvious. You’re simply entering a stage where even subtle changes show up fast.

And now is a good time to fine-tune. Not overhaul.

Small shifts, consistently applied, go a long way.

💌 Dear Radiant You,

This topic feels personal for so many of us.

Why? Because our mouths are how we communicate, express, connect. When that skin begins to change, it can feel like we’re losing part of our spark.

But I want to remind you: those lines aren’t erasing you. They’re part of your expression. Your story. Your laugh lines in waiting.

What matters most is how you feel in your skin.

So let’s care for it. Not because it’s aging but because it’s yours.

If you would like my personal “Sage Advice” for your skincare concerns, simply email me at [email protected]. Your question may be the next to appear in this newsletter.

✨ Until next time, stay radiant,

— Sage Monroe
Editor, Radiant You Today

P.S. Here’s some extra “Sage” advice for you:
Those lines around your lips aren’t proof of time lost. They’re evidence of a life spoken, laughed, and felt. Each one carries a trace of your words, your joy, your voice.

💌 Forward this to every friend who’s been staring at her reflection a little too closely lately. Remind her that those tiny lines aren’t stealing her beauty. They’re deepening her story.