The science of skin aging is evolving rapidly — and for women navigating the skin changes that come with menopause and beyond, evidence-based skincare represents a fundamentally different approach: working with your skin's biology rather than against it.
Unlike harsh exfoliants or retinoids that disrupt the skin barrier to force renewal, targeted active ingredients are messenger molecules that signal your own cells to produce more collagen, elastin, and protective proteins. The approach is gentle, evidence-based, and particularly suited to the thinner, more reactive skin that characterizes the post-menopausal years.
Lifting the Mid-Face Muscles That Reduce Smile Line Depth
Nasolabial folds — the lines running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth — are among the most-requested treatment targets for microcurrent users, and the technology addresses them through an indirect but effective mechanism. Rather than treating the fold itself (which is a crease in skin), microcurrent lifts the muscles above the fold (zygomaticus major and minor), reducing the gravitational pressure that deepens the crease. By improving tone in the muscles that elevate the mid-face, microcurrent shifts tissue upward and away from the fold line, reducing its depth without touching it directly.[1]
The targeted protocol for nasolabial folds focuses on three muscle groups. Primary target — Zygomaticus complex (cheek lifter): Place the microcurrent probes on the cheek, angled upward from the corner of the mouth toward the outer eye corner. Slow, deliberate upward strokes stimulate the zygomaticus major and minor to contract and tone, lifting the tissue that has descended toward the nasolabial fold. 3-4 minutes per side. Secondary target — Levator labii superioris (upper lip elevator): Probes placed along the side of the nose, moving upward toward the under-eye area. This muscle lifts the upper lip and the tissue between the nose and mouth — improving its tone reduces the fold depth at the upper nasolabial area. 1-2 minutes per side.
Clinical research confirms that tertiary target — Buccinator (cheek structure): The buccinator is a deep cheek muscle that provides the structural foundation for the mid-face. Microcurrent applied to the cheek area from ear to nose stimulates this muscle, creating a firmer cheek structure that supports the tissue above the nasolabial fold. 2 minutes per side. The total nasolabial-focused protocol takes 12-16 minutes and can be performed as a dedicated session or integrated into a full-face microcurrent routine.
Results for nasolabial folds specifically: A clinical study of microcurrent treatment targeting the mid-face found 15-20% reduction in nasolabial fold depth after 8 weeks of daily treatment, with the most significant improvement in the upper portion of the fold (where the zygomaticus lift has the most direct effect). The lower portion of the fold, closer to the mouth, showed more modest improvement (10-15%) because it is influenced more by the depressor muscles and perioral fat descent that microcurrent alone cannot fully address. For maximum nasolabial fold reduction, combine microcurrent muscle toning with topical collagen stimulation (retinoid + peptides applied directly to the fold) — the microcurrent lifts from below while the topical treatment strengthens the skin from within, producing compound improvement of 25-35% at 12 weeks.
Your skin's capacity to repair and rebuild doesn't end at menopause — it just needs the right signals.
— Dr. Rachel Holbrook, Board-Certified Dermatologist
What This Means For Your Skin
If you've tried retinol and experienced irritation, or if your skin has become more sensitive with age, there is a path forward. The clinical evidence shows consistent, measurable improvement in wrinkle depth, skin firmness, and elasticity — without the adaptation period, peeling, or photosensitivity that other anti-aging actives demand.
Your skin's capacity to repair and rebuild doesn't diminish — it just needs the right support. A well-formulated skincare routine applied consistently for 8-12 weeks allows sufficient time for new collagen fibers to mature and integrate into your skin's existing matrix.
The science is clear. The evidence is consistent. The results are measurable.
What happens next is up to you.