Beauty trends pop up constantly on social media, but even some of the most current trends have actually been around for years. That includes the latest trend to hit the FYP: Face taping. Yes, as in putting tape on your face either overnight (or for a limited amount of time under makeup) to reduce wrinkles. Some of Hollywood's most iconic actors and makeup artists have spoken of wearing face tape for events or during filming to give the skin a lifted, smoother appearance. It’s also a technique frequented by the drag community. But can face taping actually improve the appearance of wrinkles, or is it just another ill-advised social media trend? We asked the pros—board-certified dermatologists Anthony Rossi, MD, and Dr. Ivy DeRosa—to share everything they need to know about face taping—aka wrinkle taping.
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Meet the Expert
What Is Face Taping?
Face taping—also called wrinkle taping—involves taping your skin into a taut position to allegedly improve the appearance of wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming. "The concept of face taping is basically exactly what the name implies," DeRosa explains. "A tape/adhesive product is placed on areas where we tend to notice lines such as forehead, under the eye, cheeks, and décolleté." People use anything from classic Scotch tape to more advanced, reusable patches like Frownies and Sio Beauty patches.
While it may seem trendy, it's actually steeped in history. “Face taping may not be mainstream but it's not new,” Rossi says. “From drag performers to movie stars, face taping has been used to help instantly lift the skin and disguise wrinkles in strategic places. By taping the face up in certain vectors, you can give an instant facelift effect.”
How Does It Work?
Most popularly, people sleep in the tape overnight in hopes of preventing new wrinkles and giving existing wrinkles a temporarily more lifted, smoother appearance. "The thought process is, during sleep we are rolling around, squishing things, using our muscles, so if we can hold things in place then we shouldn't get wrinkles, right?" DeRosa says. Some swear by the overnight effects, but others wear face tape for a more immediate look.
By wearing it overnight, the tape should ideally constrict muscles and limit their motion, preventing you from frowning or making other line-inducing expressions in your sleep. It’s also said to reduce and prevent lines caused by sleeping on your side and stomach. Face tape can also be used for an immediate lifting and smoothing effect—like Spanx for your face, says Hirsch.
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Benefits of Face Taping
Here’s the thing: Experts agree that wrinkles and fine lines certainly look better when the tape is on. So using it overnight seems to be a moot point—the tape isn’t going to reduce your wrinkles. When used for an event, though, it can hide signs of aging and gives an immediate lift to the face.
But using face tape is similar to using makeup to cover blemishes—it’s an instant material effect, not a long-term solution or fix. "These can provide a temporary improvement in the appearance of fine lines, but again it's temporary," says DeRosa. If you’re looking to actually treat wrinkles, experts suggest looking into laser therapy, chemical peels, and other in-office procedures.
Potential Side Effects of Face Taping
Even as a short-term, momentary solution, face tape can be fairly cumbersome. According to Rossi, it’s hard to camouflage, even with heavy makeup or a wig. Beyond that, all the doctors mentioned the potential for irritation due to the glue on the tape. And while certain materials are often used for face tape to lessen this risk, irritation is still a possibility.
And, DeRosa says, repeated use can and will be irritating for most people—regardless of the tape’s materials. "The areas where people are applying the tape are often where the skin can be the most sensitive, particularly under the eyes and on the chest," she says. "The physical adhesive when putting on and off can cause damage to your skin barrier, leading to irritation, dryness and can actually worsen over time the appearance of the skin." Rossi also points out that if the tape is left on too long, its occlusive nature could cause clogged pores and acne from the sweat and sebum buildup.
So, Does It Work?
It’s clear that overnight face taping is fairly pointless—it does not provide any sort of permanent benefits and can really only cause irritation. The same goes for everyday use. Face tape is hard to camouflage and repeated use increases the chances of irritation.
If someone can recognize it for what it is—essentially a “facial Spanx” meant to temporarily improve the appearance for a big night out or for filming—it can be okay occasionally. Just remember that it is by no means whatsoever a way to treat or prevent wrinkles—and that it can lead to dryness and irritation.
As De Rosa says, "The juice is not worth the squeeze for this one. Trends will come and go, but scientifically the things your skin benefits from the most have not changed. The most effective way to keep your skin healthy and aging gracefully is a daily broad spectrum sunscreen of spf 30+ in the AM and a retinoid nightly."
According to the latest TikTok trend, stickers might just be the key to smoothing out wrinkles. Known as wrinkle patches, these thin sheets of silicone are like fragmented face masks that adhere to the skin, smoothing out areas where wrinkles form, such as the forehead and around the mouth and eyes.
On TikTok, users have shown themselves testing wrinkle patches for the face, neck and décolletage, comparing the skin-smoothing results to Botox and fillers. The hashtag #frownies, one of the leading wrinkle patch brands, has 69.2 million views, and #wrinklepatches has 18.8 million views, with videos featuring younger users and mature skin types alike.
As with most viral trends, we’re left wondering if face patches for wrinkles actually work. Read on to learn what dermatologists have to say about anti-wrinkle patches.
“Wrinkle patches work by covering the skin in order to decrease mobility in an attempt to prevent or improve wrinkles,” says Dr. Caroline Robinson, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology.
They are often made of skin-safe silicone or paper that sticks to the skin and keeps it in place, so the skin stays taut and expression lines or wrinkles don’t have the opportunity to form or deepen. They come in different shapes and sizes for specific areas of the face, neck and chest that are prone to wrinkles. Most wrinkle patches suggest wearing them overnight for the best results.
“Silicone pads like Wrinkles Schminkles are a great noninvasive option for lines coming from facial expressions or from folding and compression of the skin during sleep,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King says. “The pads help prevent transepidermal water loss — locking in moisture so the skin will be better hydrated and will be better able to repair itself and produce collagen. And the pad also keeps the skin flat, so this helps prevent the creases that form during sleep.”
Sticking on wrinkle patches can aid in the short-term smoothing of wrinkles, helping the skin appear more plump and youthful. However, while TikTok users may claim that wrinkle patches give comparable results to Botox or fillers, the dermatologists we spoke to say that the results are limited.
“While wrinkle patches may sound promising, they have actually been around for decades and have never demonstrated long-term benefit in the improvement or prevention of wrinkles,” Robinson says. “Many of the benefits that are apparent after the patch is removed are short-lived.”
If you’re looking to create the effect of smoother skin for an event or you just want a bit of a facial refresh, wrinkle patches may help you achieve a bit of instant gratification. Wrinkle patches for the face can also contain other skin care benefits that contribute to anti-aging effects, like hydrating hyaluronic acid or skin-brightening vitamin C.
“Many wrinkle patches are silicone-based, and others contain skin care actives which may provide hydration and give a smoother appearance to the skin,” Robinson says. “I liken most wrinkle patches to sheet masks; they have the ability to improve skin hydration and can deliver skin care ingredients locally.”
Thankfully, trying wrinkle patches has relatively low stakes. Unlike injectables like Botox that relax the muscles that create the lines and have an effect that lasts months, wrinkle patches can give you short-term results without any needles.
According to King, silicone wrinkle patches are “safe for anyone to use,” although “caution should be used in areas prone to acne, rosacea and other skin inflammation.”
Robinson also advises that wrinkle patches with active ingredients may not be for everyone. “For those with sensitive skin, wrinkle patches that contain active ingredients such as beta hydroxy acids or retinol can be potentially irritating to the skin,” the dermatologist says. “It is alway a good idea to test any new skin care product before applying more broadly or leaving for long periods of time.”
Wrinkles Schminkles Silicone Eye Pads
“These medical-grade silicone pads keep the skin taut so it can’t crease or wrinkle while locking in moisture,” King says. “In their studies, 89% of women saw a reduction in crow’s-feet and/or under-eye wrinkles.” The kit comes with three pairs of reusable smoothing patches that are specifically designed for the eye area.
Frownies Forehead and Between Eyes Wrinkle Patches
Frownies Facial Patches are made from skin-safe adhesive paper that can be cut to a desired size and shape so you can tackle the horizontal rows across the forehead and the 11s in between the eyebrows simultaneously. They help freeze the facial muscles during use, preventing expression lines from deepening into wrinkles and keeping the skin smooth.
RoC Deep Wrinkle Retinol Patches
Retinol, hyaluronic acid and peptides are packed into the patches’ tiny micro-darts that help the skin absorb the plumping effects and reduce wrinkles. Use them around the eye area to minimize crow’s-feet, in between the brows to ease 11s or around the mouth to lessen marionette lines.
Miss Spa Smoother Smooch Lip Patch
This silicone patch covers the area around the lips, softening the look of marionette lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Reviewers also noted that it helped lock in moisture and kept skin smooth and hydrated the next day.
111Skin Meso Infusion Overnight Micro Mask
These hyaluronic acid and vitamin C-infused patches feature dissolving micro-darts that penetrate into the skin, delivering hydration and brightening effects. They can be applied to treat crow’s-feet, dark circles, forehead expression lines or the nasolabial folds around the mouth.
Wrinkles Schminkles Chest Wrinkle Smoothing Patch
Along with effective skin care for the neck and décolletage, a chest patch smooths the delicate décolleté, which is prone to show signs of aging due to sun exposure and loss of elasticity. This silicone anti-wrinkle patch can be reused over 20 times.
SiO Beauty Necklift
Designed to smooth out tech neck lines, this wrinkle patch helps the skin stay taut while also boosting its moisture retention so the neck area looks healthier.
Furlesse Elevens
Relax the vertical lines between your brows with these polymer patches. The fan shape ensures the area stays smooth, whether you keep them on for an hour or overnight.
Peace Out Microneedling Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Patches
Another microneedling patch for anti-wrinkle and skin care benefits, these melt into the skin to treat the direct area. Retinol and peptides work to smooth and soften fine lines and wrinkles, while vitamin C brightens the skin.
The Crème Shop x Hello Kitty Hydrogel Forehead Mask
This Hello Kitty-adorned forehead patch is infused with green tea, retinol and vitamin C for a quick pick-me-up that will leave your skin feeling plump and hydrated.