Which muscle raises and retracts the upper lip and nostrils?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Raising the upper lip is the action of the levator labii superioris. This muscle elevates the upper lip and, as it extends toward the nose, it can influence the movement of the nostrils as part of expressions around the mouth and nose. Among the options, this muscle is the one tied to lifting the lip, while the nasalis mainly controls the nostrils without lifting the lip, the procerus is involved in frowning by pulling the skin between the brows, and the deltoid is a shoulder muscle with no role in facial expression. Therefore, the levator labii superioris best fits the described actions.