If the idea of sticking plasters onto your wrinkles sounds a little, er, weird, allow us introduce you to Frownies, the facial patches exploding on TikTok that claim to smooth wrinkles in your sleep.
Granted, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having wrinkles, no matter what your age, but still, it's also perfectly acceptable to want to delay your skin's ageing process – if that feels right for you.
The idea behind these patches is to retrain the facial muscles – and, in doing so, stop wrinkles from forming in the first place. However, some TikTok users have also noticed a visible difference in the appearance of existing lines.
So are facial patches the real deal? Here's what we know about the trend so far:
When did the Frownies trend emerge?
The story goes that the original Frownies or Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) were created in 1889 by Margaret Kroesen for her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, as a way of maintaining her youthful looks and smoothing frown lines.
Frownies went on to become a Hollywood secret before users such as @literallylizzi caused the patches to trend on TikTok. In her video, she says, “Because I'm 24, I might be a bit young for actual Botox. However, I wanna try this Botox alternative because – even though I don't really have wrinkles – I do have a lot of attitude and I [raise] my eyebrow a lot, and it's starting to [create] creases.”
You can watch the full TikTok, here:
How do you use Frownies?
According to Frownies, the brand that everyone is raving about on TikTok, the patches work by holding the facial muscles in place and “retraining [them] to lie in a smooth flat position again.”
Frownies Facial PatchesHere are their steps for applying the facial patches:
What results can you expect?
In her results video (which you can watch below), @literallylizzi says her eyebrow crease looks “significantly reduced," adding that, “the way I lift up my eyebrow is not the same.”
She's not the only person on TikTok to notice results after using facial patches. One TikTok user, @carolinetlord, described Frownies as “the best purchase I've made in my entire life,” adding “I used to have lines on my forehead and now they're completely gone. I thought they were just going to smooth out my lines but no, they literally train the muscles in your forehead not to raise.”
Another TikTok user, @samanthafrost_, described Frownies as her “15 dollar botox, which makes [her] wrinkle-less.”
Do they actually work?
GLAMOUR UK spoke to aesthetics expert and independent nurse prescriber Nina Prisk from Harley Street clinic Update Aesthetics to find out.
“The patches work by flattening and stretching the skin and muscle on the face for the time that they’re worn,” says Nina. "As far as I’m aware they don’t contain any active ingredients and are simply plaster-like devices that pull the skin flat. Whilst this might seem like a good idea and a cheaper alternative to injectable treatments such as Botox and fillers, science suggests they won't be effective in preventing wrinkles long term.”
She goes on to explain that while there may be initial improvement once the patches are removed, any wrinkles will quickly reappear.
“Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract," Nina continues. "It’s used in clinics to temporarily relax the facial muscles in a number of areas that cause wrinkles, such as the forehead and around the eyes.
“A lot more people are using it preventatively, in order to prevent the wrinkles appearing in the first place,” she adds. "When done properly by a skilled and qualified practitioner it can create very natural and subtle changes to the face which make it look refreshed and revitalised.”
Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director at Cosmedics, also stresses the importance of keeping in mind that facial patches are an online trend, not a clinically tested anti-ageing treatment.
He says, “We have to remember this is largely a social media trend and fantastic marketing,” adding that, “When influencers or celebrities promote something and champion a new product, often showing off so-called ‘results’ the fan base react immediately and buy into said product, without really knowing if it works or not.”
Additionally, he makes the excellent point that “fine lines and wrinkles are part of the ageing process.”
What causes fine lines and wrinkles?
Fine lines and wrinkles aren't just a result of getting older, they can be exacerbated by environmental and lifestyle factors such as sun damage, pollution, extreme climates, stress, smoking and alcohol.
“Genes are also a contributing factor. If your mum for example has relatively good skin, the chances are you will too,” says Dr Perry.
How can you reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without Botox?
If you’re not ready, or can’t afford to invest in Botox, you can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with powerhouse ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.
Dr Ana Mansouri, an Aesthetic Doctor & SkinCeuticals Brand Expert, tells GLAMOUR UK we shouldn't underestimate the importance of hydration in our skincare routines: “Having hydrated skin can have some effect on softening certain lines so hyaluronic acid serums and moisturisers may also help in certain circumstances.”
For Nina, SPF is the holy grail for anti-ageing. “The most effective way to protect skin against ageing is to use SPF," she says. "Sun damage equates to about 90% of facial ageing in the form of pigmentation, wrinkles, laxity and loss of collagen. Using a factor 50 broad spectrum SPF ensures maximum protection against UVA, UVB and infrared damage, both against burning and also against deep damage. This is the cornerstone of skin protection and health.”
Need a new SPF this summer? Read GLAMOUR UK's guide to the 25 best face sunscreens and face SPFs to wear all year round.
The verdict: Facial patches like frownies are just a quick fix
If the results on TikTok are anything to go by, Frownies make a pretty convincing argument for tackling wrinkles without committing to invasive options like Botox.
Facial adhesive patches are also considerably cheaper than Botox injections, the cost of which can vary dramatically between £100 and £500 each visit. Not to mention, it’s vital you find a qualified practitioner with adequate medical experience, which isn’t always the cheapest option.
That said however, as our experts have revealed, Frownies don’t have any long-term benefits and you’re better off incorporating skin plumping ingredients into your skincare routine such as hyaluronic acid and the all-important SPF.
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