Aging doesn't happen all at once. It shows up in stages, some subtle, some structural, and each area of the face changes at its own pace. Stella tracks seven key markers to help you understand your unique aging pattern.
Dr. Alice Rudd
Head of Skin Science · MBBS Monash University·6 November 2025·5 min read
Aging doesn't happen all at once. It shows up in stages, some subtle, some structural, and each area of the face changes at its own pace. Stella tracks seven key markers to help you understand your unique aging pattern, not just how your skin looks today.
This gives you a clear baseline, so you can make choices intentionally rather than reacting to every new change you notice in the mirror.
1. Fine Surface Lines
These are light, shallow lines on the surface of the skin. They often show up first around the eyes and forehead where the skin is thinner.
Fine lines can fluctuate with hydration, sun exposure and how well the skin barrier is functioning, which means they are dynamic and often improve with consistent routine care.
2. Deep Static Lines
These are lines that remain visible even when the face is fully relaxed. They form over time as the skin's support structure changes.
Stella tracks their depth and definition to help you understand whether they're stable, gradually softening or becoming more pronounced.
3. Dynamic Expression Lines
These lines appear during facial movement, like smiling, laughing or concentrating. Over time, repeated movement can gradually contribute to more permanent lines.
By tracking when these appear and how they evolve, Stella gives insight into how expression patterns influence your skin over time.
4. Nasolabial Folds
These are the natural lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Everyone has them, they simply deepen differently for different people.
Stella maps their change over time to understand how volume and support are shifting in the mid-face.
5. Marionette Lines
These are the lines that extend from the mouth toward the chin. Their appearance can influence overall expression, sometimes making the face look more tired or tense.
Tracking these helps you see changes in support and volume in the lower face.
6. Skin Firmness & Laxity
As collagen and elastin naturally shift, the skin can become less firm over time. This can show up as softening along the cheeks or gentle descent around the jawline.
Stella tracks the areas where this change is most visible and how quickly (or slowly) it evolves.
7. Jawline Definition
The jawline is one of the clearest structural markers of aging. A crisp jawline may gradually soften as tissue descends.
Monitoring this helps illustrate the difference between day-to-day variation and long-term structural change.
Two Types of Aging
Chronological Aging
The natural progression of time, genetics and facial structure.
Photoaging
Changes influenced by sun exposure, like uneven texture, discoloration and accelerated line formation. Most visible aging in the skin is influenced by sunlight, stress, and lifestyle, which means understanding your patterns helps you make informed, proactive choices.
The Point
Aging isn't something to "fix." It's something to understand.
When you know your baseline, and how it shifts, you can support your skin with confidence rather than urgency.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only. Stella is not a medical device and does not diagnose or treat any skin condition. If you have a skin concern, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Dr. Alice Rudd
Head of Skin Science · MBBS Monash University
Alice leads the science and dermatology team at Stella. She trained at Monash University and practised in clinical dermatology before joining Stella to develop the metrics framework that underlies the app.
