I feel like I need to start off by saying that I am not an expert on face taping. This post is not meant to teach you everything there is to know about face taping. There are courses out there that can teach you that, if your plan is to tape beyond your frown lines and forehead. Instead, I am sharing with you my personal experience…the why, a little bit of the how & the results.
WHAT IS FACE TAPING?
I was introduced to face taping by Danna Omari of @noyskincare. I was immediately intrigued by this method that had the potential to provide Botox-like results. Before I go any further, if Botox is your thing, I am not here to make you feel bad about it. Keep doing you & the things that bring you joy. For me, it was important to find a more natural, healing approach at softening fine lines and wrinkles – aside from getting good sleep, exercising, staying hydrated, clean eating, daily sunlight & a great skincare routine.
So what is face taping? Face taping utilizes kinesiology tape to help treat fine lines/wrinkles. Why kinesiology tape vs any other tape? Because kinesiology tape mimics the structure of the skin. And when placed on the skin, it creates a lifting effect. Per Danna, this allows for constant flow of blood, lymph, oxygen & nutrients, which results in quicker skin regeneration. Sign me up!
My Experience
Well, after about 9 months of watching Danna’s Instagram lives & tutorials, I decided to give this a try & truly commit. 30 consecutive days of taping my frown lines. In the interest of honesty, I should mention that I went directly to overnight taping. This IS NOT the recommendation. Kinesiology tape can be quite powerful, so it’s best to start off slow & build up your tolerance. But I’m impatient, not always the best at following directions & know that my skin is pretty tough and not sensitive.
I first cleanse & apply my skincare. It is recommended to use a toner to remove any residue prior to applying the tape, however I didn’t do this. I prefer to just wait about 5-10 minutes to allow my skincare to fully absorb & then apply tape. I’ve never had an issue with the tape not adhering to my skin with this method. Once applied, rub it with your fingers to warm it up and activate it. And, that’s it! Remove the following morning. I’ve heard people mention that it can be painful to remove. I personally haven’t experienced this. Although, I just gently roll it off. I imagine it would be painful if you are pulling it off.
Face Taping vs Frownies
This is a VERY common question. If you aren’t familiar with them, Frownies are wrinkle patches that you place on your face to help smooth and soften wrinkles. Sounds similar, right? Well, not quite. Frownies are made of kraft paper and harden after you apply them. They work by limiting movement and therefore limiting the expressions you make that can cause lines and wrinkles. Repeated use retrains these muscles to limit those movements throughout the day. I do have experience with Frownies, and they are effective. However, for me the results were most noticeable in the morning and my lines typically returned later in the day. I did use them on & off for months and with consistent, prolonged use I may have had better results. But to be honest, they weren’t the most comfortable to wear and not the easiest to remove. I much prefer kinesiology tape. It’s more comfortable & I prefer a more healing approach to softening my lines.
Results
So, now that we got all that out of the way, let’s move on to the important stuff! Does this actually work?!? You tell me!
The after pictures I have shared were all taken at the same time of day, around 8 p.m. & in the same room. I didn’t want lighting or environment to alter the pictures & also wanted you guys to see how the results lasted throughout the day. If I took pictures right after removing the tape, then of course everything would look perfect & smooth. But seeing these results 12-13 hours after removing tape, I’d say that’s pretty impressive!
Is this going to give you the same results as Botox? Probably not. But there is a definite, obvious softening of my frown lines after only 30 days. These results, minus the neurotoxins…I’ll take it! So, now what? Well now that I have completed 30 consecutive days, it is recommended to continue with taping 3 times a week. There are also other methods that can help further results, like incorporating massage & some more advanced placement techniques that are only recommended for those with more face taping experience, as they can do more harm than good if not done correctly.
If I can make one suggestion for those who are truly interested in face taping. Don’t dive in without doing research. I highly recommend watching the tutorials & learning proper technique from the experts. If you do, I truly feel you will be just as happy with your results as I am!
