There’s nothing wrong with having wrinkles. But, if you want to try face masks and night creams that promise to address fine lines, we get it. Wrinkle patches have been popping up all over TikTok and many say they can help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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“Wrinkle patches are adhesive patches that are usually infused with skin care ingredients aimed at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines,” says Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, Florida. “They are designed to be placed directly onto the areas of the skin where these lines and wrinkles are prominent, such as the forehead, under-eye area and around the mouth.”
But do they work? We asked medical professionals that very question and got their thoughts on what to look for if you decide to purchase wrinkle patches.
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Wrinkle patches can work as long as you temper your expectations. You won’t wake up with the complexion of a newborn after one application. That said, they can help diminish the appearance of fine lines. “From what I’ve observed, wrinkle patches can be an effective, non-invasive option, particularly for the early signs of aging, such as fine lines that result from repeated facial expressions,” says Dr. Kristopher M. Day, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Bellevue, Washington. “These patches work by physically smoothing the skin and, in some cases, delivering active ingredients that can hydrate and repair skin at the cellular level.”
Wrinkle patches tend to be made of a thicker material (often silicone) than sheet masks. The weight of these patches can temporarily smooth wrinkles. They also often hydrate the skin and promote collagen production with the ingredients they’re soaked in. “They tend to be more effective on fine lines and wrinkles caused by dryness and lack of hydration,” says Chacon. “Deeper wrinkles, which are often a result of long-term sun damage or aging, may not respond as well to wrinkle patches and may require more intensive treatments.”
We asked Chacon and Day what to look for when shopping for wrinkle patches. They recommend considering the following factors:
Here, we’ve rounded up highly rated wrinkle patches for each area of your face based on the criteria our experts told us to consider.
4.3-star average rating from over 1,860 reviews on Amazon
These wrinkle patches target the fine lines between your brows (the eleven lines) and on your forehead. You get 12 patches in a box and you need to leave the patch on your forehead for at least an hour. The patches are soaked in a serum that contains collagen, aloe extract, glycerin and vitamin E — all of which are known to hydrate and plump skin.
4.3-star average rating from over 19,220 reviews on Amazon
Made of gel, these under-eye patches feel cooling and soothing when laid on your skin, which can help to reduce puffiness, according to the brand. They contain hyaluronic acid to hydrated skin, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines, says Day. They should be used on cleansed skin for at least 20 minutes.
4.3-star average rating from over 6,330 reviews on Amazon
As some people age, fine lines pop up around the mouth. These lip masks are made of a thin gel intended to be worn directly on your mouth. The gel is covered in a serum that combines hydrating glycerin and collagen to moisturize dry lips and plump fine lines. You get 30 lip masks in a set for under $10, making this a good budget option.
4.3-star average rating from over 1,845 reviews on Amazon
Not only does this set come with patches for your forehead, but you also get two patches for your smile lines (also known as your nasolabial folds) — these lines run from the outside corners of your nose to the edges of your mouth. Those lines tend to get deeper as you age. You get 12 packets in this set, each with a forehead patch and two smile line patches. The patches are infused with collagen, aloe and vitamin E to hydrate your skin and soothe wrinkles, according to the brand.
4.0-star average rating from over 4,930 reviews on Amazon
The skin across your chest tends to be thinner, so some people notice it gets a little crepe-y as they age. You will get two silicone patches in a box. The patches are intended to be worn as you sleep, and each pad can be worn between 15 and 20 times before you need to throw it out. According to the brand, the pads help keep your skin smooth while you sleep because they provide structure and prevent your skin from folding over onto itself as you sleep on your side.
The simplest explanation is that wrinkle patches work similarly to sheet masks. “Wrinkle patches work by creating a sealed environment on your skin where active ingredients can penetrate deeply and efficiently,” says Chacon. “The occlusive nature of the patch helps to increase the absorption of these ingredients, providing more noticeable results than traditional creams and serums.”
Beyond that, many wrinkle patches are made from gel or silicone, which have a heavier weight and can physically smooth out fine lines temporarily, according to Day.
Again, fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of growing older; having them is fine. Many think of them as stripes earned from a well-lived life. If you want to address them, the experts we spoke to said there are things beyond wrinkle patches that may help. Here is what they suggest:
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed dermatologists about the benefits of wrinkles patches.
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In the quest to minimize the effects of aging on our faces, we're willing to try just about anything. But if you feel like you've just about exhausted all the creams, devices and other at-home options on the market, you might be interested to hear about a non-invasive option that people are calling a "Botox alternative."
Wrinkle patches have been popping up all over our social media pages. Different variations of the products have racked up millions of views on TikTok, with users posting impressive before and after results, showing how their smile lines and forehead wrinkles have smoothed after just a handful of uses.
While it sounds promising, we tapped two experts to get the details on whether or not the viral product is actually worth your time. Here's what you need to know.
What are wrinkle patches? | Do wrinkle patches really work? | Wrinkle patches to shop | How we chose | Meet the experts
Wrinkle patches are patches (typically made of adhesive paper or silicone) that cover an area of the skin to decrease mobility and prevent or improve the appearance of wrinkles, explains Dr. Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology.
"The theory is that they prevent movement of the skin and therefore the creation of wrinkles," says Dr. Mary Stevenson, associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Some also purport that they prevent moisture from leaving the skin, therefore plumping it as you retain moisture."
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While people on social media have seen some promising results, the answer to the question of whether or not they will really have a positive effect on your skin isn't so straightforward. "They can, but it's important to understand that while they can have a positive effect, is it a long-term effect or a short-term effect? I think it's probably more of a short-term benefit," Shah says.
If you wear one of the patches overnight — which Shah says is the most typical way to wear it — it's going to prevent mobility of the skin throughout the night. So, when you wake up, you may not notice those "sleep wrinkles" that can sometimes form as you snooze.
"On top of that, the wrinkle patches are going to prevent water loss from the skin, so the skin will appear more hydrated and plump," she says.
The effects also depend on how often you wear them. "If you wear them for long periods of time regularly then, yes, theoretically they work," Stevenson says. It's another step that you can take, like sleeping on your back, that can help prevent lines from being formed.
Overall, you'll likely notice the effects start to wane throughout the day. "When you wake up and you take it off, that's going to be when it's at its most effective," Shah says. "But, as you go through the day, you make facial expressions, you move your face around, those lines are going to start to reform."
Here, we rounded up eight options that you can try.
Count: 1 reusable patch | Other key ingredients: 100% silicone
This reusable forehead mask is meant to be used with your favorite serums or after your skin care for up to 30 minutes. According to the brand, it’s made of 100% silicone and just needs to be washed with warm water after each use.
Count: 1 reusable patch | Other key ingredients: 100% silicone
While this 100% silicone mask is designed to be paired with your favorite serum to "seal" in the ingredients and boost hydration, the brand says that it can also gently lift and flatten skin to help with fine lines and wrinkles.
Count: 6 patches | Other key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid
Containing retinol, peptides and hyaluronic acid, these wrinkle patches can be used anywhere you're looking to target facial lines, says the brand. The patches are made with 80 "micro-cones" that are meant to dissolve into your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines in just two hours.
Count: 6 patches | Other key ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, multi-peptides
You may know this brand for their hydrocolloid acne patches, but now they're getting into the wrinkle game with these microneedling patches. According to the brand, the patches contain retinol and have 450 hyaluronic micro-needles that dissolve into your skin to soften fine lines around your eyes, frown lines or any deep set wrinkles.
Count: 144 patches | Other key ingredients: Natural unbleached Kraft paper
A popular option from the brand, these patches are designed to target wrinkles around the corners of your eyes and mouth. To see results, the brand says that you should wear the patches for at least three hours at a time.
Count: 1 reusable patch | Other key ingredients: 100% silicone
This reusable patch is another option that is designed to smooth “forehead furrows, expression lines and frown lines.” While some shoppers have found that it works to temporarily improve the look of wrinkles, the brand says that it’s also great to use in between in-office treatments.
Count: 2 reusable patches | Other key ingredients: 100% silicone
Wrinkles Schminkles is one of the most popular options on TikTok. In fact, one video from the brand featuring the product racked up over 55 million views and 3.3 million likes. The reusable patches (which the brand says you can use up to 20 times) are designed to be applied to your forehead area to prevent wrinkles. While the company says that they can be worn for as little as one to two hours for a quick boost, you'll see the best results if you wear them overnight.
Jennifer Birkhofer, the vice president of commerce at NBC News, uses these patches (along with the brand's patches for eyes and lips). She says, "I started using these patches recently. Over Christmas, I went to dinner with some girlfriends, and one of them who looks incredibly youthful (and who’s forehead has never shown a wrinkle) said she uses silicone patches every night."
Birkhofer continues, "I was shocked and immediately bought some. I don’t sleep in these every night, but I try to a few times a week when I want my skin to look and feel smooth in the morning. They are surprisingly easy to sleep in and far cheaper than other wrinkle solutions I’ve heard of."
Count: 6 patches | Other key ingredients: 100% silicone (patches)
This kit comes with reusable patches that are designed to target various areas of your face, from your forehead to your under-eyes and neck. The viral patches can be used up to 30 times, the brand says. Along with helping improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles, they are said to target stretch marks and sun damage as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
The nice thing is, the viral patches tend to be pretty safe for the skin. While Stevenson says that there can be a risk of irritation with ones that use adhesives, generally, silicone does not cause that reaction. (She adds that silicone is preferred, in her opinion, as it occludes the skin .)
Some of the patches also contain active ingredients, like acids or retinol, and Shah recommends using those with caution, as they could be irritating — especially to those with sensitive skin .
The bottom line is, for anyone hoping to improve the look of fine lines, it could be worth a shot. "It's a relatively low investment, low stakes sort of treatment," Shah says.
"So it's a good way to see what could be possible. And maybe it's [best] for someone who is just looking for some short-term improvement. But, if you need longer-term improvement, you're probably going to want to start investing in some in-office treatments."
The Shop TODAY team spoke with a board-certified dermatologist as well as a dermatologic surgeon about what wrinkle patches are (and how, exactly, they help reduce fine lines within aging skin). We then searched the internet for popular patches to include, keeping the experts' lessons in mind while choosing. While most patches here are made purely with silicone, some include extra ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid.