As someone who emotes a lot (translation: I wear my heart on my face, not my sleeve), I’ve always known that fine facial lines were probably in my future. But in a world of expensive at-home treatments that never work and Botox and laser treatments that do work but are invasive, I knew when those aging signs did finally appear I wanted to combat them on my own terms. Thankfully, I found a solution: wrinkle patches.
With so many options on the market, it’s easy to get stuck on figuring out which patches will work for you. To make your choices a little easier, I tested out several types to find the best of the best. Below, find out which ones made the cut and learn what dermatologists and skin experts have to say about these DIY skin-smoothers.
Most versatile patch$undefined$25.95
Best microneedle option$undefined$28.00
What is a wrinkle patch?
Wrinkle patches are patches typically made of adhesive paper, tape or silicone that are placed on an area of the skin to decrease fine facial lines. They work by either retraining your muscles through immobility with tape or silicone or by delivering skin care ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid through dissolvable microneedles. Most are worn overnight, while some offer benefits after just a few hours.
Best overall wrinkle patch
Blumbody Face & Forehead Wrinkle Patches
Efficiency: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Value: 5/5 | Overall average score: 5/5
These guitar pick-shaped patches are great for targeting areas like smile lines, the elevens between your brows and crow’s feet. Offered in sheets of 16, the patches are super easy to apply. After a quick smile at the “Hey Beautiful” sticker included in the package, I got to work applying a patch between my brows.
To begin, I performed the suggested 10-second massage of the area to stimulate circulation. The patch stuck easily to my skin, and I woke up to pretty good results after just one use. My skin even felt a little softer in that area. The thin lines were erased, although they did return later that day. These gems are so discrete, you could even wear them out and about. Upon removal, they did leave a little glue residue, but it was easily wiped off with a wet cloth.
While there are 160 single-use patches included, the company says they can actually be used twice if your skin is clean. This makes them a great value, especially since they suggest you wear them every night for a month for longer lasting results.
More wrinkle patches, tested by the author
Most versatile wrinkle patches:
Efficiency: 4.5/5 | Ease of use: 4/5 | Value: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.5/5
Having been around since 1989, these are the most iconic wrinkle patches on the market, according to Dr. Annette Czernik, board-certified dermatologist and founder of DermMedical in Stamford, Connecticut. “They act like a splint to limit facial movement while you sleep,” she explains. This rigidity helps smooth wrinkles on superficial lines, sleep lines and early expression lines, but also makes them the most awkward to wear of the ones I tested.
I used a Frownies patch on my temple forehead lines. These had a very involved application process. Made from unbleached natural kraft paper with water-activated adhesive, you first have to moisten the patches on the shiny side and wait until tacky. Then separate the facial creases and apply the patch over the smoothed skin. To take it off, you have to soak the patch with a wet washcloth until it peels off well. The patches are also very stiff, which can result in sharp edges.
While I didn’t expect them to be completely gone, I was surprised to see my lines diminished a little more each time I used the patches. With a whopping 144 patches in one pack, I feel like I’d see impressive rules with even more continued use before needing to replenish my stash.
Best microneedle wrinkle patch:
Efficiency: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Value: 3/5 | Overall average score: 4.3/5
Loved for their pimple patches, Peace Out has entered the wrinkle patch chat with a strong contender. These patches contain retinol, vitamin C and a peptide blend, plus 450 dissolving hyaluronic micro-needles to soften fine lines around your eyes, frown lines or any deep-set wrinkles.
I wore one on my left marionette line (the little lines that stretch down from the corner of your mouth). In order to “activate” the patch, you must press it onto your skin. There’s a little prickly feeling but it does go away. When morning came, I saw immediate results. Sadly they didn’t last very long, but I can certainly see myself using these before a special event. It’s also a very easy removal process — just peel and toss.
Using them does require a little planning in terms of when to apply. They suggest using two per week for two consecutive weeks, giving your skin a three-day break in between.
It lost a couple points for value, too, since there are only six patches in each pack.
Best wrinkle patch with retinol:
Efficiency: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Value: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4.3/5
These wrinkle patches can be used anywhere you’re looking to target facial lines, according to the brand. Easy to put on and just as easy to remove, the patches were the perfect length to fit around my mouth on the areas I had fine lines. Thanks to 80 dissolvable “micro-cones” bringing retinol, peptides and hyaluronic acid to your skin, they claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines in just two hours. Mission accomplished because it only took two hours to see a difference on my right marionette line.
I achieved even better results when I wore one overnight. The results don’t last very long, so these would be great for a short-term solution before a special event or photo opportunity. There are only six in the pack, so the value isn’t as high as some of the others I tested, but the package does include a sample of the brand’s Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Cream which is a nice plus.
Best wrinkle patches for sensitive skin:
Efficiency: 4/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Value: 3/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
A true facial tape, the Skin Gym patches are designed to help retrain your facial muscles by taping them smooth and flat. They come with 45 pre-cut pieces in three different sizes and shapes, so you can easily mix and match based on your needs. I wore two of the shorter lengths together each night on my forehead temple wrinkles.
Of all the patches I tried, these were the most comfortable thanks to the 95% cotton material. It felt gentle on my skin, with zero redness or irritation upon removal (even though it was a little tough). After wearing overnight, I didn’t really see too much of a difference but eventually there was a little change after wearing them overnight consecutively for a week.
One thing to note was the size: I couldn’t use the longer strips on anything besides my forehead without cutting them a bit shorter. I believe this cuts down on the number of strips you can use for each area based on whether they fit.
Best silicone wrinkle patch:
Efficiency: 4/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Value: 3.5/5 | Overall average score: 3.83/5
These TikTok-viral patches can be reused up to 20 times, according to the brand. This might be what makes them so popular, boasting 70+ million views on social media. The large patches come in a two pack and are designed to be applied to your entire forehead area to prevent wrinkles. This was super convenient for combating my horizontal lines and temple wrinkles simultaneously.
Application was a no-brainer. Just peel it off and stick it gently to your forehead. Removal was just as easy, as it peels off and you can store it in its original packaging. I wore the Schminkles for three weeks and saw moderate improvement on the horizontal lines, but my temple lines must have been too deep to see much change.
The adhesiveness was also a bit problematic. They don’t stick well after a few uses despite their claims to last over two weeks. Since I didn’t have the branded cleaner, I just rinsed them off each morning, which might have been the issue. It’s also worth noting that, as a side sleeper, I also woke to them curling up a bit at the edges.
How I tested wrinkle patches
We compiled a list of wrinkle patches that were previously recommended by experts, previous Shop TODAY Award winners, editor-loved picks and even some new launches. I tested all six wrinkle patches simultaneously on various areas around my face that suffered from small lines, specifically my marionette lines, elevens and forehead lines. I wore the patches overnight, which was the suggested time frame for the best wrinkle-smoothing results.
Depending on the patch, I wore them for up to three weeks total, making sure to follow the directions regarding pre-application and removal steps. During that time, I rated each of the wrinkle patches on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best) based on the following criteria:
Efficiency: How quickly did I see results? Were there enough patches in the pack to achieve results?
Ease of use: What were the application and removal processes like? Were there any other steps I needed to take to get the best results?
Value: Were the patches single use or reusable? Did they feel worth the price based on the results I achieved?
Frequently asked questions
By hydrating the skin and physically smoothing it, wrinkle patches can make fine lines and sleep creases appear softer while you’re wearing them and for a short time afterward. “Just keep in mind that the effect is temporary, not permanent, and the lines will gradually return to their usual appearance once the patch is removed,” says Czernik.
If worn consistently overnight, patches may prevent the skin from repeatedly creasing in the same spot (known as reduced repetitive folding), which could help keep certain lines from deepening.
Some patches even have ingredients within the material that can also aid in hydration and soothing skin via dissolving microneedles.
Dermatologists consider wrinkle patches, particularly silicone patches, to be – at best – useful additions to your routine, but not miracle workers.
“You won’t walk away with permanently decreased wrinkles like you would from using retinoids, lasers or Botox,” says Czernik. That being said, they can be a useful supplement to your anti-aging routine for a quick (albeit temporary) fix.
While most wrinkle patches are designed to be worn overnight, some people may notice temporary smoothing after as little as one to two hours, according to Czernik. “Because the primary mechanism is thought to be hydration and occlusion, a shorter wear time can still allow the skin to absorb moisture and appear temporarily plumper and smoother.”
But the real winning time frame is overnight wear, which may enhance and prolong the effect because the skin is exposed to that hydrated, crease-limiting environment for a longer period.
Dr. Maryam Safaee, a California-based board-certified dermatologist, recommends selecting patches with dissolving microneedles that feature a hyaluronic acid base paired with a bioactive ingredient, such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), adenosine or retinyl retinoate (retinol).
“These patches feature microneedles that dissolve into the top layer of the skin to deliver hyaluronic acid. Once deposited, this HA causes immediate swelling by retaining water, which in turn creates a visibly plumped-up appearance,” she explains.
Typically, patches featuring dissolvable microneedles begin working within a few minutes, says Safee. “On average, it takes approximately 30 minutes for the active ingredients to fully dissolve and penetrate the skin following microneedle application.”
Wrinkle patches utilize silicone’s hydrating effect combined with its smoothing ability and limiting motion of repetitive folding to temporarily improve appearance of wrinkles. “There is increased hydration in silicone patches because they create an occlusive barrier that traps moisture, temporarily plumping the skin’s outer layers and making fine lines appear less noticeable,” explains Czernik.
Most research indicates that wrinkle patch efficacy is short-term and should be primarily limited to superficial wrinkles to see any results, according to Safaee.
Why trust Shop TODAY
Cheryl Fenton is a contributor for Shop TODAY who has previously written about LED facial devices, wrinkle fix beauty products and cooling pajama sets.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Annette Czernik, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of DermMedical in Stamford, Connecticut.
- Dr. Maryam Safaee, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles, California and co-founder of ManeRX.
