Makeup Caking in Nasolabial Folds: Is There a Way to Get Rid of It?

[Hakdong Station Bongbong Plastic Surgery]

Makeup caking in nasolabial folds: Is there a way to get rid of it?

When you look in the mirror, if there is one area of the face that stands out as especially bothersome, most people think of forehead wrinkles or crow’s feet. But in reality, many people first notice signs of aging in the lines that run from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth: the nasolabial folds.

As nasolabial folds become more pronounced with age, they not only make the overall impression of the face look heavier and more tired, but they also become a major reason why foundation or cushion makeup tends to settle into that area and make it look messy. As a result, they can instantly reduce the finish of carefully applied morning makeup.

Nasolabial folds go beyond a simple cosmetic concern and can lead to lowered self-confidence and appearance-related stress. The longer time passes, the deeper they tend to become, making it difficult to expect them to disappear naturally. For this reason, many people try various methods to reduce them, but in reality, achieving satisfying results is far from easy.

Why do nasolabial folds form,

and why don’t they easily go away?

Nasolabial folds are not simply wrinkles on the skin’s surface. They are deep lines formed by a complex combination of facial skin, muscles, fat, and skeletal structure. As we age, collagen and elastin in the skin decrease and skin elasticity declines, causing the skin to sag downward naturally. At the same time, the cheek fat pads move downward, and the boundary becomes visible as the nasolabial fold. This area also involves frequent movement of facial expression muscles, so repeated smiling and talking cause ongoing folding and stretching, making wrinkles settle in more easily.

In addition, as overall facial volume decreases with age and the support structure between the bones and skin weakens, there is no longer enough force to lift the skin upward. As a result, instead of improving naturally, the folds become deeper and more prominent over time.

If dry skin, lack of moisture, UV exposure, smoking, and lifestyle habits are added on top of this, nasolabial folds can appear faster and more deeply, progressing to a state that cannot be improved with simple moisturizing or massage.

From home care to makeup tips,

but there are clear limits!

The first method many people try to improve nasolabial folds is home care using various skincare products and massage tools.

Using highly moisturizing serums, collagen ampoules, wrinkle creams, or trying massages with facial lifting devices and rollers may help increase skin elasticity to some extent and temporarily soften fine wrinkles. However, there are limits to how much they can visibly reduce already deeply set nasolabial folds. Even when trying to cover the wrinkles with makeup, the result may be the opposite of what was expected, such as the area looking even more pronounced or the base makeup caking.

In particular, if foundation settles directly into the nasolabial folds, the wrinkles can look even more emphasized and create a more aged impression. This can be a major source of stress, especially for working women who wear makeup often or for people who are sensitive about their appearance.

How to get rid of nasolabial folds,

medical approaches are needed!

To effectively improve nasolabial folds, medical treatment at a plastic surgery clinic or similar setting is needed to approach deeper layers, such as the dermis or fascia layer, rather than only managing the skin’s surface.

Typical options include injecting hyaluronic acid fillers to fill in sunken areas, thread lifting that directly pulls the skin upward using lifting threads, or skin regeneration treatments using lasers or radiofrequency. More recently, more structural approaches such as midface lifting surgery are also being used to improve even deeply rooted nasolabial folds.

The most suitable method among the above can vary depending on the individual’s age, skin condition, wrinkle depth, and skin elasticity. In cases where injections alone are not enough, surgical methods may need to be combined to expect genuine improvement.

Because nasolabial folds are located at the center of the face, even small changes can significantly alter the overall impression. Therefore, it is important to establish the most appropriate treatment plan through sufficient consultation with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.

Nasolabial folds are a natural part of aging, but depending on their depth and shape, they can greatly affect one’s appearance. In particular, because repeated makeup caking creates a practical problem that makes makeup look messy, attempts to improve them through skincare or makeup techniques alone eventually run into limitations.

Therefore, if you want a fundamental improvement in nasolabial folds, it is now necessary to move beyond simple home care and take a medical approach that can improve the structural issues of the skin. With the help of an experienced plastic surgery specialist, planning a procedure or surgery using the method best suited to you can be an effective way to be free from nasolabial folds and regain a smooth, lively facial line.