Bethany Heitman is a contributing editor at NBC Select.
Do wrinkle patches work? Experts weigh in
Spoiler alert: They won’t make you look ten years younger, but there are some benefits.
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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.
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.
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 hydrate skin, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines, says Day. They should be used on cleansed skin for at least 20 minutes.
Fine lines around the mouth are common as some people age. 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.
This brand makes some of our favorite pimple patches and these fine line patches are just as discreet. Though they can be used anywhere on your face, the long, skinny shape makes them particularly good for smile lines. The patches contain retinol to help address fine lines and are covered in tiny microdarts that help the product sink in, according to the brand.
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 one patch made from medical-grade silicone, and it can be worn for thirty uses before needing to be replaced. The idea is to wear it at night while you sleep — the silicone prevents skin from folding over onto itself as you sleep to prevent wrinkles, according to the brand.
The easiest way to understand wrinkle patches is by thinking about them working 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 wrinkle patches.
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