The rise of Zoom meetings and telehealth has impacted our awareness of how we appear to others and ourselves, drawing more attention to those little lines on our faces.
These wrinkles often tell stories about our lives. Though many people embrace these lines, just as many are looking for ways to send their wrinkles packing. Luckily for us, there are multiple ways to do so, often without even having to leave the comfort of our homes.
Frownies
Although Botox remains one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed worldwide, [1] there are new trends that you can try yourself.
Frownies have become increasingly popular on social media, where users and influencers claim that Frownies help gives them smoother skin. Several patches target different areas of your face; when used nightly, you may see smoother skin. However, don’t expect to see results on the first night. Also, be aware that once you stop using Frownies, you will start to see your wrinkles return to your face as you no longer provide dermal support. [2]
Other Alternatives
NuFace, face tape, and facial exercises are a few alternatives also to consider. Unlike Frownies, which smooth and help release tension, NuFace is used across your face and utilizes microcurrents to help contour your face muscles. Utilizing Nuface requires constant use, and do not expect it to be as effective as the devices you may use when going to a medical office. [3]
Like Frownies, Face Tape helps give a wrinkle-free appearance, but the results are short-lived. Your wrinkles will return as soon as you remove the facial tape or stop using Frownies. However, if you are looking for a cheaper and faster way to reduce your wrinkles that you can do at home, these options may be what you are looking for.[3]
After reading all of this, you may be considering Facial exercises. There’s no cost, and exercising can be good for your health. Your face has many muscles, and building them can help replace the padding that gives you a youthful look. However, there is not enough evidence to support that doing facial exercises will help reduce the wrinkles on your face. [4]
Overall, if you are looking for ways to reduce the number of wrinkles, talk with your dermatologist or embrace the story that your wrinkles tell.
Resources:
- Witmanowski, H., & Błochowiak, K. (2020, December). The whole truth about botulinum toxin – A Review. Postepy dermatologii i alergologii. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7874868/
- Aiglon, K. (2019, March 8). This 100-year-old anti-aging trick might help with headaches and depression? Healthline. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/frownies#More-than-a-#selfie-phenomenon
- Ryu, J., & Moniuszko, S. M. (2022, April 13). NuFace, Frownies and face tape: Our obsession with at Home Botox and what it says about Us. USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2022/03/31/nuface-frownies-and-face-tape-hype-behind-home-botox-products/7130477001/
- Kee, C. (2023, January 9). Experts say that those viral face exercises can’t change your face shape. TODAY.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.today.com/health/skin-beauty/facial-exercises-rcna49877
