How to Get Rid of 11 Lines: The Complete Guide to Smoother Skin Between Your Brows

What Are 11 Lines, Exactly?

These lines sit in what dermatologists call the glabellar complex, the area between your brows controlled by a set of small muscles including the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles. Every time you squint at your phone, concentrate on a task, or express concern, these muscles contract and fold the skin above them.

Understanding this distinction matters because your approach should differ. Dynamic lines respond well to muscle relaxation techniques and preventive skincare. Static lines, especially deeper ones, may need more intensive interventions. Most women in their 30s and 40s are somewhere in between—which is actually the sweet spot for making meaningful changes with a solid home routine.

If you are curious about how skin aging works at the structural level, our deep dive into whether tallow helps wrinkles covers the biology in detail.

The Science Behind Why 11 Lines Form

Knowing your enemy helps you fight it. 11 lines do not appear randomly—they are the result of several converging factors, and understanding each one reveals where you can intervene.

Repeated Muscle Contractions

The primary driver is mechanical. The corrugator supercilii muscle pulls your eyebrows down and together—it is what creates that furrowed brow when you are concentrating or upset. If you work at a computer, read frequently, or simply have an expressive face, you are contracting this muscle hundreds of times daily. Each contraction folds the overlying skin like a piece of paper. Eventually, the crease becomes permanent.

Collagen and Elastin Degradation

Starting in your mid-twenties, collagen production slows by roughly 1% per year. Elastin—the protein that lets skin snap back—degrades too. This means the skin has less structural support and less bounce-back ability. The folds from muscle contractions do not recover as quickly or completely.

There is a common misconception that applying collagen topically will fix this. The reality is more nuanced—the truth about tallow and collagen is that while tallow does not contain collagen that penetrates skin, it does provide the building blocks and environment that support your skin's own collagen production.

Barrier Dysfunction

Here is where it gets interesting—and where you have real control. Your skin barrier is the outermost layer (stratum corneum) that locks in moisture and keeps irritants out. When the barrier is compromised, skin loses water faster, leading to dehydration that makes lines look deeper and more pronounced.

A well-functioning barrier maintains skin's plumpness. Every bit of hydration you retain works to push lines outward from within, making them less visible. This is why moisturizer matters, and why the type of moisturizer matters even more.

UV Damage Acceleration

Sun exposure accelerates every aging process in skin. UV rays break down collagen directly, generate free radicals that damage cells, and thin the epidermis over time. The forehead and glabellar area receive significant sun exposure year-round—even on cloudy days, even in winter. Without protection, you are fighting an uphill battle.

Research shows that maintaining a healthy lipid barrier helps skin better resist UV damage. It is not a replacement for sunscreen, but it is an important supporting factor—the science behind beef tallow for wrinkles explores this relationship.

Natural Prevention Strategies That Work

Prevention is not glamorous, but it is wildly effective. Here is what actually moves the needle—no gimmicks, just practices that make physiological sense.

1. Daily SPF 30+ Sunscreen

   Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning, even in winter. The glabellar area catches direct light—make application there intentional.

2. Expression Awareness

   Set phone reminders to check your forehead. Notice when you frown without judgment. Some women use tape between brows at home as a physical reminder.

3. Barrier-Repair Moisturizer

   Use lipid-rich moisturizers like grass-fed tallow that reinforce your skin barrier and help retain plumping moisture.

4. Sleep Position

   Sleep on your back if possible. If not, use a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and mechanical creasing.

5. Internal Hydration

   Consistent, adequate water intake supports skin moisture levels and barrier function from within.

6. Daily Facial Massage

   2-3 minutes of gentle massage in the glabellar area improves circulation and releases chronic muscle tension.

Facial Expression Awareness

This sounds almost too simple, but becoming conscious of when you are frowning or furrowing creates opportunities to relax those muscles. Many women discover they hold tension in their brow area constantly—while working, driving, even sleeping.

Try this: set a gentle reminder on your phone every few hours. When it goes off, notice your forehead. Is it relaxed? Are your brows knitted together? Simply noticing, without judgment, begins to break the habit. Some women place a small piece of tape vertically between their brows while working at home—not to freeze the muscle, but as a physical reminder when they start to frown.

Sun Protection (Every Single Day)

This is non-negotiable. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, applied to your face every morning, is the single most impactful anti-aging step you can take. Yes, even in January. Yes, even if you are just driving to the grocery store. UV damage is cumulative and largely invisible until the wrinkles appear.

Sleep Position Optimization

Side and stomach sleepers often wake with vertical creases between their brows from hours of their face pressing into a pillow. Over years, this contributes to line formation. Sleeping on your back, if you can manage it, eliminates this mechanical stress entirely.

Not a back sleeper? A silk or satin pillowcase creates less friction and does not pull on skin the way cotton does. It is a small change that compounds over time.

Internal Hydration

Hydration from within supports every skin function. When you are adequately hydrated, skin is better able to maintain its moisture levels and barrier function. This is not about drinking excessive water—it is about consistent, adequate intake throughout the day.

Facial Exercises for the Glabellar Area

Facial exercises for 11 lines work on two principles: releasing chronic muscle tension and improving circulation to the area. They will not erase deep lines, but many women notice softening with consistent practice.

1. The Brow Smoother (Isometric Resistance)

   Place index fingers horizontally across eyebrows with gentle pressure. Try to frown while fingers resist. Hold 5 seconds, release. Repeat 10 times.

2. Glabellar Massage (Circulation Boost)

   Using ring finger, make small circular motions between brows. Start at nose bridge, work upward toward hairline. Continue 1-2 minutes.

3. The Forehead Lift (Tension Release)

   Place palms flat on forehead, fingertips meeting at center. Apply gentle pressure, slide hands outward toward temples. Repeat 5 times.

Doing this with a balm like traditional tallow face cream allows your fingers to glide smoothly while delivering nourishing lipids to the area. It is multitasking that makes sense.

The Barrier-First Approach to Smoother Skin

Here is where we get into the heart of effective skincare for 11 lines—and why barrier health should be your priority before any targeted treatment.

Your skin barrier is essentially a brick-and-mortar structure: skin cells (bricks) held together by lipids (mortar). When that mortar is healthy and intact, moisture stays in and irritants stay out. When it is compromised—from harsh products, over-exfoliation, environmental stress, or simply age—water escapes, inflammation increases, and skin looks dull, crepey, and more lined.

Why Grass-Fed Tallow Works

This is where grass-fed beef tallow becomes genuinely interesting from a skin science perspective. The lipid composition of tallow is remarkably similar to the sebum our own skin produces. It contains saturated fats, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) in ratios that skin recognizes and can use.

When you apply tallow to your skin, you are essentially reinforcing your barrier with compatible materials. The lipids integrate with your existing barrier structure rather than just sitting on top. This translates to better moisture retention—and moisture-plump skin shows lines less severely.

We have documented real results from consistent users on our beef tallow before and after page. The changes are not overnight, but they are real.

Supporting Ingredients

Tallow provides the lipid foundation. Certain complementary ingredients can enhance its benefits.

Raw honey, for instance, is a natural humectant—it draws moisture from the environment into your skin. Combined with tallow's occlusive properties (which lock that moisture in), you get a one-two punch of hydration that helps plump the skin and soften fine lines. This is the logic behind barrier-first approaches to wrinkle care.

Botanical oils like rosehip, sea buckthorn, and bakuchiol offer antioxidants and gentle retinol-like effects without the irritation that can compromise your barrier. The key is choosing formulas that work synergistically rather than just piling on active ingredients.

What to Avoid

Barrier health also means knowing what damages it. Over-cleansing, especially with foaming sulfate cleansers, strips away your skin's natural lipids. Aggressive chemical exfoliants used too frequently can thin the stratum corneum. Even retinoids, while effective for wrinkles long-term, can compromise barrier function in the short term if not carefully introduced.

The minimalist approach works: gentle cleanser, lipid-rich moisturizer, sunscreen. Add treatments slowly, one at a time, watching how your skin responds.

Building Your Anti-11 Lines Routine

Let us put this together into a practical daily routine. Remember: consistency beats complexity every time.

Morning Protocol

1. Gentle Rinse

   Rinse with lukewarm water—no heavy cleansing needed. Pat dry, leaving skin slightly damp.

2. Apply Tallow Moisturizer

   While skin is damp, apply a thin layer of tallow balm. Massage gently between brows using upward strokes.

3. Sunscreen

   Apply SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen. Use a nickel-sized amount for your entire face.

Evening Protocol

1. Oil Cleanse

   Remove sunscreen, makeup, and debris with an oil-based or balm cleanser that will not strip your barrier.

2. Generous Moisturizing + Massage

   Apply tallow moisturizer more generously than morning. Perform 2-3 minutes of facial massage focusing on the glabellar area.

3. Optional Treatments

   If using serums (vitamin C, gentle retinoid alternatives), apply before tallow moisturizer. The lipids will seal everything in.

Weekly Additions

Once or twice a week, consider a hydrating mask. You can actually use a generous layer of Tallow + Honey Balm as a sleeping mask—apply, leave on for 20 minutes (or overnight), and let the concentrated moisture work. The truth about tallow wrinkle results often comes down to these moments of intensive, consistent care.

Do not forget your lips—they are part of your face's overall appearance, and a well-moisturized lip area contributes to a more youthful look. If you are interested in extending your tallow routine, dermatologists have weighed in on tallow as lip balm, and for the DIY-inclined, there is our 15-minute tallow lip balm recipe.

When to Consider Professional Treatments

Let us be honest: there are limits to what topical skincare can achieve for deep, established 11 lines. If your lines are visible at rest and are several millimeters deep, you may want to explore professional options.

Understanding Your Options

Botulinum toxin injections (commonly known by brand names like Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin) remain the most effective treatment for glabellar lines. They work by temporarily relaxing the corrugator muscle, preventing it from folding the skin. Results typically last 3-4 months.

For lines that have become etched into the skin even when the muscle is relaxed, dermal fillers can add volume beneath the crease. Resurfacing treatments like microneedling or fractional laser can stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture over time.

The Home Care Connection

Here is what many people do not realize: a strong home care routine enhances professional treatments. Better-hydrated, healthier skin responds better to procedures and maintains results longer. If you eventually choose injectables, continuing your barrier-supporting routine means you will likely need less frequent touch-ups.

Conversely, a solid home routine can delay the point at which you feel you need professional intervention. Many women find that consistent barrier care and facial massage keeps their 11 lines soft enough that they are content with their natural appearance well into their 40s and beyond.

Setting Realistic Expectations

No cream, however excellent, will give you the same result as a neurotoxin injection. But not everyone wants injectables, and that is completely valid. The goal of natural skincare is not to compete with medical aesthetics—it is to support your skin's health and resilience in a way that keeps it looking its best at every age.

What tallow-based skincare offers is sustainable, daily support for skin that is well-nourished, properly hydrated, and aging gracefully. That is worth pursuing regardless of whether professional treatments are part of your plan.