If you’ve ever stood in front of the mirror wondering, “Wait, are these fine lines or full-blown wrinkles?”—you’re not alone. Skin changes gradually, and sometimes it feels like these little shifts sneak up overnight. But here’s the truth: not all signs of aging are the same. Fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey skin may look similar at first glance, but they each have different root causes and ways to care for them.

Let’s break it down.

Fine Lines: The First Whisper of Aging

Fine lines are those teeny, surface-level marks that usually show up around your eyes (hello, crow’s feet) or mouth. Dermatologists consider them the earliest visible signs of aging.

• Why they happen: Fine lines are caused by repetitive facial movements (smiling, squinting, frowning) combined with a gradual decrease in collagen and elastin production starting in our mid-to-late 20s. UV exposure accelerates this process by breaking down collagen fibers in the skin .

• What they look like: Shallow, delicate creases that are easier to spot in bright light.

• What helps: Gentle exfoliation, consistent hydration, and collagen-supporting ingredients like vitamin C, bakuchiol (a plant-based retinol alternative), and ceramides can make a visible difference. Daily sunscreen is your best prevention tool.

By using sunscreen daily you can push these signs of aging until later in life. But, they will eventually show up. By keeping your skin properly moisturized and using actives you can minimize the look of fine lines.

Wrinkles: The Deeper Groove

Wrinkles are essentially fine lines that have set up camp and decided to stay a while. They’re deeper, more noticeable folds that form as skin loses elasticity, fat, and moisture over time.

• Why they happen: As we age, collagen levels decline by about 1% per year after age 20 . By menopause, women can lose up to 30% of skin’s collagen in just five years . Add to that years of sun exposure, oxidative stress, and even side-sleeping habits, and you’ve got a recipe for wrinkles.

• What they look like: Deeper grooves—forehead lines, nasolabial folds (the “smile lines” from nose to mouth), and vertical lines around the lips.

• What helps: Wrinkles respond best to consistent routines that focus on rebuilding and protecting. Think: antioxidant serums (like our Age Defense Serum), barrier-strengthening moisturizers (like our Barrier Defense Serum), and collagen-boosting actives. Professional treatments like microneedling or laser resurfacing have science-backed results, but supportive daily skincare goes a long way. One of my favorite treatments is IPL. It’s an intermittent pulsed laser that helps draw out melanin and remove age spots. It’s MUCH better than any topical ingredient you can use. I’ve seen absolutely amazing results with my skin!

Wrinkles are like the stories your face tells—etched from years of laughter, late nights, maybe a little stress too. I really believe we should embrace our wrinkles and own them! After all, we’ve earned them. But, that’s no reason to completely ignore a good skincare regimen. After all, we want our skin to be HEALTHY and that does involve paying attention to moisture, actives and sunscreen!

Crepey Skin: The Papery Texture

Crepey skin is a little different from fine lines and wrinkles. Instead of single lines or folds, it’s a texture issue—it looks thin, loose, and almost papery.

• Why it happens: Crepey skin comes from a breakdown of both collagen and elastin, combined with a loss of hydration in the deeper dermal layers . Unlike wrinkles that are mostly tied to facial expressions, crepiness often shows up on areas with lots of sun exposure (arms, chest, neck) or where skin naturally gets thinner with age.

• What it looks like: Thin, sagging skin that wrinkles in multiple directions—like crumpled tissue paper.

• What helps: Hydration is key. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and emollient plant oils (like sea buckthorn and apricot kernel oil) help plump skin from the outside. Supporting collagen and elastin through antioxidants and sun protection is equally important.

Here’s the thing: crepey skin can improve, but it takes patience and consistency. The best way to deal with crepey skin is to take care of your skin religiously while you’re young! Use very emollient products (like our Body Butter) on your legs, arms and chest are to ensure your skin is getting proper hydration, natural moisturizing factors, and nutrients.

The Big Picture

Fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey skin all share a common thread: they’re part of the natural aging process. But lifestyle choices (sun protection, nutrition, stress management, hydration and yes—skincare) can absolutely influence how visible they become.

Quick recap:

• Fine lines = early, shallow creases.

• Wrinkles = deeper, more permanent folds.

• Crepey skin = overall thinning and loss of structure.

And while science tells us collagen loss is inevitable, nurturing your skin with plant-based, supportive care makes the journey feel less daunting—and a whole lot more beautiful.

xoxo
Jewels

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References (for linking, if you’d like)

1. Fisher GJ, et al. Science of Photoaging. Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

2. Shuster S, et al. The Effect of Ageing on Skin Collagen. British Journal of Dermatology.

3. Brincat M. Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Skin. Maturitas.

4. Ganceviciene R, et al. Skin Anti-Aging Strategies. Dermato-Endocrinology.