Short verdict: NuFACE may help nasolabial folds look softer as part of a cheek and lower-face routine, but it will not erase smile lines. If your goal is a realistic microcurrent routine for cheek support, jawline, and lower-face tone, I would look at NuFACE Trinity+ first. If you are new to devices, start with NuFACE MINI+. Either way, buy NuFACE Aqua Gel, because smile-line routines get annoying fast when the device starts dragging.
Affiliate note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I checked current NuFACE Trinity+, MINI+, Aqua Gel, Aqua Gel 10 oz, Silk Creme, and Amazon product links on July 7, 2026. NuFACE positions its devices around microcurrent facial toning and face-and-neck routines, but your exact device manual should guide use.
Nasolabial folds are one of those things you suddenly notice in one photo and then cannot unsee for the rest of the week. You smile, you relax your face, you tilt your phone, and now you are comparing every angle like you are doing a private investigation in your bathroom.
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That is usually when NuFACE starts looking tempting. The device is not cheap, so the question is fair: can it help smile lines enough to be worth buying?
My answer is a careful yes for the right person, and a clear no for the wrong expectation. NuFACE can make sense if you want a consistent cheek and lower-face routine. It does not make sense if you expect it to erase deep folds or replace professional treatments.
The Honest Answer
NuFACE may help the appearance of nasolabial folds by supporting the look of the surrounding cheek and lower-face area. That is different from erasing the fold itself. Smile lines form from facial movement, volume changes, skin texture, anatomy, and time. A home microcurrent device cannot control all of that.
This is why I would not buy NuFACE only because a fold appeared in one harsh photo. I would buy it if you already like structured skincare, you want a more intentional cheek routine, and you are comfortable using activator consistently.
Think of it as a routine product, not a line-removal product. That wording may sound less exciting, but it is the difference between a purchase you can judge fairly and a purchase that disappoints you by design.
| Your Goal | NuFACE Fit | Best Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Erase deep nasolabial folds | Not realistic | Do not buy NuFACE for this promise |
| Cheek and lower-face routine | Reasonable | Trinity+ plus Aqua Gel |
| First microcurrent test | Start small | MINI+ plus Aqua Gel |
| Dry, draggy cheek routine | Fix gel first | Aqua Gel 10 oz or Silk Creme |
Why Smile Lines Are Hard To Judge
Nasolabial folds are not just one simple wrinkle. They sit where your cheek, nose, mouth movement, facial volume, and expression all meet. That means one product rarely gives a clean answer.
Lighting also lies. A side light can make the fold look deeper. A front light can soften it. A smile can change it. A relaxed mouth can change it again. If you judge NuFACE by one selfie, you are probably judging shadows and expression as much as the device.
That is why a realistic test matters. You need the same lighting, same angle, same expression, and enough time using the device to know whether the routine fits your life. If the device only comes out when a photo makes you mad, the test is already messy.
Who Should Buy Trinity+ For Smile Lines
Trinity+ is the device I would consider first if you want a serious cheek and lower-face routine. It makes the most sense for someone who already knows they like beauty-device habits and wants NuFACE to be a real part of the routine.
Buy Trinity+ if you want to treat the cheek area, jawline, and lower face with a structured microcurrent routine. Buy it if you are willing to use gel. Buy it if you are patient enough to judge the habit over weeks, not one night.
Do not buy Trinity+ because you want a fold erased. That is not the right expectation. If you can hold the realistic expectation, Trinity+ is the cleaner serious cart.
For a deeper model review, read NuFACE Trinity+ review. If your concern is more lower-face than smile-line specific, read does NuFACE help jowls and does NuFACE help jawline.
When MINI+ Is Enough
MINI+ is enough if you are still testing whether microcurrent belongs in your routine. A smaller device can be easier to keep on the counter and easier to use regularly. That matters because consistency is the whole point.
I would pick MINI+ if you are new to NuFACE, if you do not know whether you will like the gel step, or if you want the lowest-pressure way to test the category. A serious device that you avoid is less useful than a small one you use consistently.
Read NuFACE MINI+ review and NuFACE Trinity+ vs MINI+ if you are stuck between the two.
The Gel Step Is Not A Detail
Smile-line routines can feel bad when you under-apply gel. The device needs slip. If the gel layer gets thin, the device can tug around the cheek and mouth area. That makes the routine feel less comfortable and less repeatable.
Start with Aqua Gel. Apply enough to the cheek area you are treating. Work in sections. Reapply before the gel gets tacky. Do not try to make one tiny layer cover your whole face while you do a slow routine.
If you already know you will use NuFACE often, Aqua Gel 10 oz can make more sense because it makes you less stingy. If your cheek area feels dry or tight, compare Silk Creme.
For gel setup, read how much NuFACE gel should you use, why NuFACE gel dries so fast, and best conductive gel for NuFACE.
How I Would Test NuFACE For Nasolabial Folds
If you are going to test this honestly, start with photos and notes. Not dramatic selfies. Boring photos.
- Take a front photo and two side-angle photos in the same light.
- Keep your mouth relaxed, not smiling in one photo and neutral in another.
- Use the same camera height and distance.
- Track which device and activator you use.
- Give the routine several weeks before judging.
Then follow your exact device directions. Use enough gel. Move slowly. Do not press hard around the mouth. Do not chase the fold as if you are trying to iron fabric. The device is part of a routine, not a tiny wrinkle eraser.
If you are new to the full order, read NuFACE routine for beginners. If the first week feels uncomfortable, read NuFACE mistakes beginners make before deciding the category failed.
When To Judge The Routine
Do not judge NuFACE for nasolabial folds after one session. A single session can feel nice, but that does not prove much about smile lines. I would use Day 1 for learning the device, Week 1 for gel amount and comfort, and Weeks 4 to 8 for deciding whether the habit is worth keeping.
Even then, look for realistic signs. Does the cheek area feel more cared for? Do you like how your face looks after the routine? Are you using the device enough to give it a fair test? Are your photos taken under the same conditions?
If you want a full timeline, read NuFACE before and after timeline. That article is useful here because smile lines are exactly the kind of concern people misjudge too early.
The Makeup And Photo Trap
Smile lines are easy to exaggerate with makeup. A heavy base can settle into the fold. Powder can make the area look drier. A matte foundation that looks clean from the front can look heavier around the mouth in side light. If you compare one photo with fresh dewy skin to another photo after powder and talking for six hours, the test is not fair.
Before you blame your skin or buy a device, take a clean baseline photo. No heavy foundation. Same room. Same light. Same expression. Then take another one after a few weeks of the same NuFACE routine. If you change the makeup, lighting, and angle every time, you will not know what the device did.
This matters because nasolabial folds are partly about shadow. A device cannot control bad lighting, heavy makeup texture, or a camera angle from below. NuFACE may still fit your routine, but you should not ask it to solve every photo problem.
Cart By Scenario
If you are buying because you want the most serious cheek and lower-face routine, get Trinity+ with Aqua Gel. This is the cart I would choose for someone who already knows they like device routines and wants NuFACE to be part of the weekly rhythm.
If you are buying because you are curious but skeptical, get MINI+ with Aqua Gel. Your first goal is not to buy the biggest setup. Your first goal is to learn whether the gel-and-glide routine fits your life.
If you already own NuFACE and your cheek routine feels uncomfortable, check the activator first. Compare Aqua Gel 10 oz if you keep rationing product, or Silk Creme if your skin wants a richer official texture. The boring gel fix can matter more than another device.
What I Would Buy
If nasolabial folds are your reason for shopping and you want the serious NuFACE routine, I would buy Trinity+ with Aqua Gel. That is the cleanest cart for a committed cheek and lower-face routine.
If you are curious but not ready for the bigger purchase, I would buy MINI+ with Aqua Gel. If you already own a device and the routine keeps dragging, buy Aqua Gel 10 oz or compare Silk Creme before you blame the device.
If your expectation is erased folds, I would not buy NuFACE for that promise. If your expectation is a repeatable cheek routine that may soften the look over time, NuFACE can be a reasonable buy.
Who Should Skip It
Skip NuFACE if you want it to erase deep nasolabial folds. Skip it if you expect a clinic-level change. Skip it if you hate using activator. Skip it if your skin is irritated and you are trying to add a device instead of calming things down.
Also skip it if your main concern is texture from dryness, because a hydrating routine may be the better first step. NuFACE can support a routine, but it is not a substitute for basic skin care.
Buy it if you like structured routines, can follow directions, and want a realistic microcurrent habit for cheeks, jawline, and lower face. That is the version of the purchase I can stand behind.
If your line concern is higher on the face, read does NuFACE help forehead wrinkles. It explains why expression lines need a different expectation than smile lines.
If your smile-line question is part of a bigger wrinkle decision, read NuFACE vs Botox. It separates home microcurrent from professional treatment conversations.
FAQ
Does NuFACE help nasolabial folds?
NuFACE may help nasolabial folds look softer as part of a consistent cheek and lower-face routine, but it will not erase smile lines or replace professional treatments.
Can NuFACE erase smile lines?
No. I would not buy NuFACE expecting it to erase smile lines. It is better understood as a microcurrent toning routine that may support the look of the surrounding cheek area.
Which NuFACE is best for nasolabial folds?
Trinity+ is the better pick if you want a serious cheek and lower-face routine. MINI+ is better if you are new to microcurrent and want a smaller starter device.
Do you need gel for smile-line routines?
Yes. Use activator and reapply before the device drags. Aqua Gel is the basic official starting point, Aqua Gel 10 oz is practical if you use a lot, and Silk Creme is worth comparing if your skin feels dry.
How long does NuFACE take for smile lines?
I would not judge from one session. Use Day 1 to learn the device, Week 1 to get gel and technique right, and Weeks 4 to 8 to decide whether the routine is worth keeping.