How to Make Smile Lines (Nasolabial Folds) Less Noticeable with Makeup: Foundation & Concealer Tips

“My makeup looked perfect in the morning, but by the evening, foundation has settled into my nasolabial folds…”

“I tried to hide them with concealer, but they ended up looking even more wrinkled…”

If this sounds familiar, before adding more full-coverage makeup, take another look at how much product you apply around your nasolabial folds and where you blend your concealer.

Nasolabial folds create shadows because of the contours of the cheeks and the creases beside the nose and mouth. Unlike a dark spot, they may not be easily concealed simply by layering more skin-colored makeup. The key is to apply a thin layer of foundation and use concealer strategically to brighten the shadowed areas.^[1][2]

In this guide, we explain how to apply your morning base makeup, how to use concealer, and how to touch up creasing or caking later in the day.

How to Make Nasolabial Folds Less Noticeable With Your Morning Makeup

Moisturize Around the Mouth and Apply Foundation Sparingly

After washing your face, don’t stop at toner or lotion alone. Use an emulsion or moisturizer suited to your skin’s dryness. Moisturizing can help make fine lines caused by dryness less noticeable and help base makeup blend more smoothly.^[3][4]

Allow your skincare products to settle into the skin before applying primer and foundation, rather than layering everything immediately. Do not reduce the amount of sunscreen just to achieve a lighter makeup finish; follow the product’s recommended application amount.^[3][5]

Start applying foundation to larger areas, such as the cheeks, and use only a small amount around the mouth. Avoid adding extra foundation directly into the folds. Instead, gently press and blend it with a sponge or brush.^[4][6]

The key is to use less product in the areas where your nasolabial folds concern you most.

If your makeup tends to look dry or powdery, a lightweight liquid foundation that spreads easily may be a good option. However, this does not mean that powder foundation is necessarily unsuitable. First, try applying less of your current product around the mouth.^[2][6]

Use a Small Amount of Concealer Only Where the Shadow Appears

A concealer that is just slightly lighter than your skin tone and has a soft, blendable texture can work well around nasolabial folds. Choose a shade that blends naturally with the surrounding skin rather than one that is noticeably pale.^[2]

Instead of spreading concealer broadly around the folds, apply it only to the darker, shadowed area you can see when looking straight into a mirror.

1. Use a small brush or similar applicator to place a little concealer directly on the shadowed area.
2. Gently tap with a fingertip or brush, blending the edges diagonally upward toward the cheek.
3. Keep the application confined to the narrow shadowed area instead of spreading it all around the mouth.^[7][8]

There is no need to draw one thick line from beside the nostril all the way to the corner of the mouth. Start with the darkest part of the shadow and add a little at a time.

As a general rule, apply concealer after liquid foundation but before powder foundation. If your product specifies a particular application order, follow those instructions.^[9]

Keep Setting Powder to a Minimum

If you apply powder over concealer, use a light touch. Rather than repeatedly layering powder to hide the folds, apply a thin amount only where needed, using a small brush or similar tool.^[6]

If your brush picks up too much powder, tap off the excess or adjust the amount on the back of your hand before applying it. Aim for a finish that does not look powdery around the mouth.^[6]

Apply Blush Around the Cheekbones Rather Than Brightening Only the Mouth Area

Instead of focusing exclusively on concealing the nasolabial folds, adding a little healthy-looking color to the cheeks can also help balance your makeup.

Apply blush softly around the cheekbones, mainly above the level of the nostrils. Avoid extending it too far downward, which can make the cheeks appear lower.^[7]

If you use highlighter, apply a small amount to the high points of the cheekbones. Rather than tracing the full length of each nasolabial fold with a pale highlight, focus on creating a natural glow on the cheeks.^[14]

What Should You Do if Foundation Settles Into Your Nasolabial Folds by the Evening?

Even if your makeup looks smooth in the morning, foundation can collect around the mouth as the day goes on.

When touching up your makeup, the first step is not to cover it with another layer. Instead, smooth out the foundation that has already gathered in the crease.^[5]

First, Gently Blot Away Sweat and Excess Oil

If your skin is shiny or sweaty, lightly blot it with a tissue. Do not rub; simply remove excess moisture or oil.^[10]

Use a Clean Sponge to Blend Only the Creased Areas

With a clean side of a makeup sponge that has no foundation on it, gently blend the product that has collected in the folds. Where makeup has built up, use the sponge to lift away excess product and leave a thinner layer.^[5][10]

You do not need to redo your entire face; focus on the areas around the mouth where the makeup has shifted.

If the Skin Feels Dry, Moisturize and Reapply Only Where Necessary

If the area feels dry or tight, gently apply a small amount of moisturizer designed for use over makeup. Then add a thin layer of foundation or concealer only where the coverage has worn off.^[4][5]

Even if the lines are still visible after touching up, resist adding layer after layer. First, check whether the makeup has become too thick.

For more information about why foundation settles into facial creases, see our article on the causes of foundation settling into nasolabial folds and how to prevent it.

What to Check if Concealer Makes Your Nasolabial Folds More Noticeable

The Area Around the Mouth Looks Too Pale

Check whether the concealer is too light or whether you have applied it too broadly. Try choosing a shade closer to your natural skin tone and limiting application to the shadow itself.^[2][7]

Concealer Has Settled Into a Visible Line

There may be too much product on the skin. Instead of adding more concealer, remove the excess with a clean sponge. Next time, start with a smaller amount.^[5][10]

The Makeup Looks Dry, Flaky, or Cracked

In addition to adjusting the amount of makeup, review your skincare routine and the texture of the products you use. Moisturize carefully in the morning and consider formulas that spread easily in a thin layer.^[2][4]

If Your Nasolabial Folds Still Bother You Without Makeup

Foundation and concealer can make shadows less noticeable, but makeup alone may not be enough to conceal deep folds or sagging cheeks.^[1]

That said, foundation creasing by the evening does not automatically mean that you need a cosmetic procedure. Start by adjusting how much makeup you use, how you apply it, and how you manage dryness.

If you still feel that your nasolabial folds stand out without makeup, or if concealing them every morning has become frustrating, cosmetic dermatology treatments may be an option.

At our clinic, we assess factors such as lines etched into the skin, cheek sagging, and volume loss to identify what is making the folds more visible. Injecting larger amounts of product into the deepest part of a fold is not necessarily the best approach.^[11][12]

Growth Factor Injections for Lines Etched Into the Skin

At Houreisen Skin Clinic, we may recommend growth factor injections as an option intended to support collagen production and make lines along the nasolabial folds less noticeable. Changes develop gradually over several months, with approximately six months used as a guide for assessing the final result.^[11]

Learn more about growth factor treatment

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Depressions and Changes in Facial Contour

Hyaluronic acid fillers can restore volume where needed, helping to soften depressions and contour differences around the nasolabial folds. Changes may be visible immediately after injection, but achieving a natural-looking result requires careful selection of the injection sites and amounts used.^[12][13]

Learn more about hyaluronic acid filler treatment

Both procedures can cause swelling or bruising and each carries additional treatment-specific risks. Please refer to the respective treatment pages for details about the procedures, costs, and possible side effects.^[11][12]

You do not need to decide which treatment you want before booking a consultation.

Whether you would simply like to make the shadows less noticeable with makeup or would prefer to address the folds themselves, we will listen to your goals and explain which options may be appropriate for your current skin and facial contours.

Book a consultation for nasolabial folds

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References

1. Kao Corporation. “Development of a New Makeup Technology That Makes Nasolabial Folds Less Noticeable Through Application Alone.” November 12, 2020. https://www.kao.com/jp/newsroom/news/release/2020/20201112-001/ (Japanese-language source; cited for the three-dimensional contours and shadows of nasolabial folds. Effects of the specific product discussed are not generalized to all makeup.)
2. Shiseido. “Using ‘Cat-Whisker’ Concealer to Create a Lifted Look: How to Conceal Nasolabial Folds and Facial Sagging.” March 26, 2018. https://www.shiseido.co.jp/sw/beautyinfo/PDB008053/ (Japanese-language source; cited for concealer shade, blendable texture, and covering shadows. The number of ‘whisker’ strokes and claims about smartphones causing sagging are not adopted.)
3. American Academy of Dermatology. “How to Select Anti-Aging Skin Care Products.” https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/selecting-anti-aging-products
4. Shiseido. “Preventing Makeup Breakdown Starts With Your Morning Routine: Base Makeup Tips From a Professional.” July 13, 2016. https://www.shiseido.co.jp/sw/beautyinfo/DB006638/ (Japanese-language source.)
5. Shiseido. “The Less Effort, the Better? Makeup Touch-Up Tips for Different Levels of Makeup Breakdown.” May 7, 2014. https://www.shiseido.co.jp/sw/beautyinfo/DB008134/ (Japanese-language source.)
6. Shiseido. “Makeup Tips for Concealing Features That Can Make You Look Older: Makeup Update Lessons for Women in Their 50s, Vol. 8.” June 21, 2024. https://imagecdn.shiseido.co.jp/cms/onlineshop/pickful/20240621/article01.html (Japanese-language source.)
7. Kao Beauty Brands. “Proposing Confidence-Boosting Makeup Techniques for Nasolabial Folds: Age-Related Differences in Perceived Age With and Without Masks.” September 7, 2022. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000073.000072864.html (Japanese-language source; cited for the makeup artist’s advice on small amounts, targeted placement, blending outward, and blush placement. Numerical perceived-age claims and specific product effects are not adopted.)
8. SHISEIDO. “Two Techniques for Addressing Common Age-Related Beauty Concerns.” May 22, 2026. https://brand.shiseido.co.jp/beauty-topics_26ss_08.html (Japanese-language source.)
9. Shiseido. “Are You Really Concealing Your Concerns? How to Use Concealer Correctly.” March 17, 2016. https://www.shiseido.co.jp/sw/beautyinfo/DB006386/ (Japanese-language source.)
10. Shiseido. “Touch Up Before Lunch: Basic Makeup Touch-Up Techniques.” https://www.shiseido.co.jp/sw/beautyinfo/DB006022/ (Japanese-language source; cited for blotting oil, blending with a clean sponge, and adding only a small amount of makeup.)
11. Houreisen Skin Clinic. “Growth Factor Treatment.” https://www.osaka-houreisen.jp/growth-factor/ (Used to confirm the clinic’s explanation and treatment approach, not as independent proof of efficacy.)
12. Houreisen Skin Clinic. “Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Nasolabial Folds.” https://www.osaka-houreisen.jp/nasolabialfolds-hyaluronicacid/
13. American Academy of Dermatology. “Fillers: FAQs.” https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/wrinkles/fillers-faqs
14. CHANEL. Official Instructions for BAUME ESSENTIEL Multi-Use Glow Stick. https://www.chanel.com/jp/makeup/p/169060/baume-essentiel-multi-use-glow-stick/ (Japanese-language source; cited for application along the brow and cheekbone area and blending with the fingertips. This is not a product endorsement, a price recommendation, or evidence that all highlighters last equally long.)

References last reviewed: October 12, 2026.