Let’s just start things off by saying however your face looks right now and in the future is just fine. It’s more than fine, actually — it’s beautiful just the way it is, no matter your age and how many lines or wrinkles you might have now or even years down the line.
Keeping that in mind, there’s no doubt about the effect that social media has on us and it’s very likely that you’ve come across someone online trying out the viral wrinkle patches and found yourself a little curious in terms of what they’re all about.
There’s always some new skin care fad out there to try and this season it just so happens to be wrinkle patches. If you’re looking to do a little research before spending any money, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s everything you need to know about those viral wrinkle patches and whether they’re actually worth the hype.
What are wrinkle patches?
When most people think of getting rid of wrinkles, it usually involves invasive fillers or Botox. But what if there was a much simpler solution out there that you could do in the comfort of your own home? This is where the wrinkle patches come into play.
Most of us have done a face mask at least once in our lives, but wrinkle patches are slightly different because they’re smaller and meant to focus on those areas on the face where fine lines and wrinkles form.
Wrinkle patches are similar to face masks as they can be made out of adhesive paper featuring skin care on the side that rests gently on parts of your face, like underneath your eyes, on your forehead, around your mouth, and on your neck.
You’ll also find a number of wrinkle patches crafted out of silicone with an adhesive backing on them that can often be used a number of times, so they’re better for the environment. According to Dermaclara, silicone skin care technology is often hypoallergenic, so it works well for most skin types.
There are also simplistic wrinkle patches on the market where you can basically do your entire skin care routine or add your own anti-aging products and use the patches to help plump the skin in problem areas.
What are the main ingredients in these viral wrinkle patches?
A lot of the wrinkle patches available on the market, including the popular SiO SuperLift patches, are made out of medical-grade silicone. There are also some wrinkle face patches that have retinol in them.
According to Health magazine, silicone is often used as it offers intense “hydration to the skin” which can help “minimize the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and scarring.”
You may find that encapsulated retinol is used, especially if there are microneedles in the patches, like with these Peace Out Wrinkles patches, because it’s a popular skin care ingredient in many antiaging products. Retinol has been known to help smooth and plump the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles through the production of collagen.
There are also wrinkle patches out there, such as Silkdermis’ Forehead Wrinkle Patches that are primed with ingredients like vitamin E, which can help repair skin damage and produce collagen, which offers super hydration properties and improves elasticity.
Do they actually work to get rid of wrinkles forever?
If you’re looking to cut down on the Botox bill or if injections completely terrify you, wrinkle patches may be a nice alternative because they’re super affordable and noninvasive. The big question is though — do they even work?
According to Dr. Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist who spoke with Today, wrinkle patches “can have a positive effect,” but “it’s probably more of a short-term benefit.” One thing you might notice if you use wrinkle patches routinely in the overnight hours is that any typical “sleep wrinkles” may dissipate because silicone patches “prevent mobility of the skin throughout the night.”
Also, if they become a part of your regular skin care routine, you may find that those areas on your face that are prone to fine lines may appear more plump and super moisturized due to the extra care.
In a video for PureWow for their “Testing TikTok” series, Kate Kesselman tested the viral wrinkle patches called Frownies Facial Patches to see if they were really worth the hype. These patches are completely customizable to fit your face shape and wherever you want to place them, so they’re made out of unbleached Kraft paper with a vegetable-based adhesive.
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During her week of use with testing them on her forehead and around her mouth, Kate found that this brand isn’t so much about the added skin care benefits, but more that they helped to prevent her face from moving throughout the night as she slept, which could aid in preventing fine lines and wrinkles from forming.
The Cut spoke to a dermatologist about this topic, who stated that certain types of wrinkle patches may be “impractical” for prolonged use for a lot of folks, and your better bet may be investing in skin care with “vitamin A derivative retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids.”
It really depends on who you ask and what their firsthand experiences have been with the wrinkle patches or what their overall skin care goals are, but if you’re interested in trying out some viral wrinkle patches, you might as well go for it! They’re super inexpensive, noninvasive and readily available, so why not?
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