What's The Difference Between Fine Lines And Wrinkles?

If you have scanned through any anti-ageing skincare product’s description, you must have noticed the words “fine lines and wrinkles” being used used together. So what exactly are fine lines and wrinkles? Can they be used interchangeably? If not, what is the difference between fine lines and wrinkles? Is there a way to tackle both at once? Read on to know about more about these two signs of ageing and find answers to all your anti-ageing concerns.

• What are fine lines?

Often the first signs of ageing, fine lines are shallow lines that are only as deep as the topmost layer of your skin. Think of them as creases or baby wrinkles! Fine lines tend to develop around areas where you show most of your expressions – short lines around the outer corner of your eyes, small creases around your mouth, light lines between your eyebrows etc. These lines are created when you repeatedly expand and contract the same muscles every day. What causes fine lines? As you grow older, the collagen and elastin in your skin begin to breakdown, making it tougher for the skin to regain its elasticity, and this causes these fine lines to deepen. Keep reading to know how to get rid of fine lines.

• What are wrinkles?

Wrinkles are the more advanced and deeper version of fine lines. As you age, your skin loses its elasticity and firmness and cannot snap back into shape as easily as before. This is what causes the fine lines to go deeper into the skin, thus giving rise to wrinkles. Wrinkles are deeper set in the skin and are more visible when compared to fine lines. Keep reading to know how to get rid of wrinkles over time.

• What is the difference between fine lines and wrinkles?

Wrinkles and fine lines are both signs of ageing and are both often referred to as expression lines, but the main difference between them is their depth. Fine lines are those creases that are less than 2 millimetres deep and any crease or fold more than 2 millimetres deep are then called as wrinkles. Fines lines, therefore, are early signs of wrinkles. Wrinkles are also further classified into two categories –

o Dynamic wrinkles – These wrinkles appear on your face when you make an expression – smile, frown, etc. and disappear when you come back to a neutral expression and the muscles of your face are relaxed.

o Static wrinkles – These wrinkles are the ones that have a made a permanent place for themselves on your face and are visible even when your facial muscles are relaxed.

• How to fight fine lines and wrinkles?

Different factors like repetitive facial expressions, genetics, exposure to the sun, ageing, smoking, etc. contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ageing is inevitable and it is completely natural and normal for your skin to lose its elasticity as you grow older. But that does not mean you cannot take care of your skin to delay these signs and address your anti-ageing concerns early on. From establishing an anti-ageing skincare routine to making a few lifestyle changes, you can help combat these early signs of ageing and delay their appearance.

i. Sunscreen is a must!

Rain or shine, if you are stepping outdoors, you have to slather on a generous amount of sunscreen or SPF to shield your skin from the harsh and damaging rays of the sun – one of the biggest causes of wrinkles. The UV rays from the sun are one of the leading causes of skin that looks dry and old, and over-exposure to the sun can actually make you look older than you are! To preserve your skin’s youthful appearance for longer, use a sunscreen with a high SPF, especially during summers, and reapply your sunscreen every two to three hours if you are outdoors all day.

The L’Oréal Paris UV Perfect Aqua Essence sunscreen is a unique, non-greasy sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection against both, UVA and UVB rays. And that’s not all, the Vitamin E in the sunscreen helps your skin fight against free radicals, preventing wrinkles on the face and neck, keeping your skin looking visibly young.

ii. Keep your skin hydrated throughout the day

As you age, it becomes more difficult for your skin to retain moisture, and this makes your skin appear dry, flaky, and wrinkly! The key to keeping your skin looking plump and fuller is to keep it nourished, moisturized, and hydrated throughout the day. Just like a tall drink of water quenches your thirst, your parched skin needs a hydrating cream to trap the moisture in the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Adding a hydrating, anti-ageing day cream to your morning skincare routine will not only keep your skin moisturized but will also improve your skin’s texture with regular use.

Try the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift 1.5 % Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a lightweight and non-sticky serum, that helps get instant visible results and see your skin getting better day after day! This hyaluronic acid serum penetrates deep into the skin, tackling fine lines on the face and instantly hydrating your skin! With regular use, it increases your radiance by upto 42%*!

iii. Do not neglect your nighttime skincare regime – Night time is a great time to battle wrinkles on the face!

Just because you’ve used an anti-ageing cream during the day does not give you a free pass to skin your nighttime skincare routine. Your skin regenerates overnight (it’s not called beauty sleep for nothing!) and using a rich night cream will aid your skin’s overnight renewal process. Your skin gets to work when you go to sleep, so this is the best time to cover your skin in a super hydrating night cream so you can wake up to skin that is soft and bouncy.

The L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Moisturizing Night Cream is enriched with anti-ageing elements that help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, boost your skin’s firmness and youthfulness and enhance your skin’s radiance overnight. The night cream helps your skin’s regeneration process to give you fresh and radiant skin. The Pro-Retinol A and Centella Asiatica in the cream re-firms, restores, and revitalizes your skin overnight – this is going to help especially, in reducing fine lines around eyes.

Now that you know the difference between fine lines and wrinkles and a few ways in which you can delay the onset of these pesky signs of ageing, why not establish a skincare routine that will help minimize their appearance?