Is face taping trend on TikTok effective in achieving a youthful appearance?

WE NEVER really know if something will work unless we try it—like how TikTok initially provided entertainment to netizens but is now being used to spread various information that may help them in their daily lives.

There is much to discover on the platform, from lists of places to visit to several beauty tips that will make one’s daily routines easier.

If it wasn’t for TikTok, some individuals might not know that they could get an instant facelift without surgery. How? Using face tapes.

What is face tape?

Face tapes have been around for ages but they gained prominence in the past years as some content creators use them to achieve a youthful appearance.

There are two common types of face tapes: one is used for wrinkle-free skin, while the other is for a facelift.

To achieve wrinkle-free skin, a person places pieces of tape on their wrinkles, commonly on their foreheads, and leaves them overnight. They believe that these face tapes limit their motion, preventing expressions, like scrunching, from developing lines when they sleep.

For a pain-free facelift, content creators use two face tapes connected by an elasticized band. 

Some stretch their skin lightly and put face tapes on both sides of the upper end of their cheekbones. The band can be adjusted at the back of the head to tighten the skin. 

Others also place face tapes below the jaw to highlight their jawline.

While makeup cannot cover face tapes, users hide them and the band under the hair.

Is it effective?

Face taping may be an option for those who want to have a quick facelift and get rid of wrinkles but don’t want to undergo any expensive surgical procedure. However, this may not be an alternative solution for those seeking long-term solutions.

While they can hide signs of aging, face tapes cannot reduce wrinkles and tighten sagging skin on their face permanently.

“The main aim is to tighten the skin with tape in the areas of the face to get that sharp look similar to celebrities’ and models’. As the effect is temporary, the majority of the success is due to successful placement and makeup,” plastic surgeon Norman Rowe was quoted as saying in a Glamour article.

Does it have risks?

Aside from its temporary effect, face tapes may also damage one’s skin, celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar told InStyle.

“For one, these facial tapes are designed to pull and lift skin — it takes a lot of forceful glue to stick, hold, and pull,” explained Aguilar. “With prolonged use, skin can become darker, drier, flaky, and commonly itchy where the face tape was placed.”

Constant use of face tapes can also cause allergies since many of them contain “irritating adhesives,” she added.

Meanwhile, plastic surgeon Martin Newman told Cleveland Clinic that people who are planning to try face taping should use tapes “specifically designed for that purpose.”

He also noted several proven and tested methods to achieve younger-looking skin like getting dermal fillers, undergoing laser skin resurfacing, or applying creams and lotions.

But in order to prevent additional skin damage, Newman advised everyone to limit their time in the sun, avoid toxins, and drink lots of water.