Have you seen countless videos of beauty influencers on TikTok wearing strips of colorful tape on their faces to get a natural ‘Botox’ effect? Well, this viral trend is called face taping. This is a popular technique where you apply safe tapes to specific areas of your face like smile lines and forehead to lift the face naturally and temporarily. This is done to minimize facial movement which can result in wrinkles. Now, the only question is, does it actually work? Read this guide to find out everything about face taping.
How Does Face Taping Work?
In an attempt to prevent new wrinkles and temporarily make existing wrinkles appear smoother and more lifted, people often sleep in the tape overnight. The idea is that since we use our muscles to move around and squash objects when we sleep, creases should be avoided if we can keep objects in place. Some people use facial tapes for a more instant appearance, while others swear by the overnight benefits. If you wear the tape overnight, it should ideally limit the range of motion and constrict muscles, stopping you from frowning or creating other facial emotions as you sleep. Additionally, it is supposed to lessen and avoid wrinkles brought on by sleeping on your stomach and side.
How to Use Face Tape?
Follow these tips to use facial tape to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Prep the Skin
Before taping the skin, you must prep it properly. Thus, use a cleanser to wash your face to get rid of dirt and dust. After that, continue with your daily skincare routine. Use a moisturizer like the best whitening serum at Skin Lab to hydrate your skin and give it a glowing complexion. However, you must wait for a few minutes to allow the serum to fully absorb before using the tape on your face.
Decide the Length of the Tape
Now, you need to measure the length of the tape that is required. You can use a ruler to determine the exact length of the tape. This is essential as it will ensure the precise application of the tape.
Trim All Rounded Edges
To increase the tape's overall longevity and keep it from ripping off, trim the ends into rounder shapes to avoid sharp edges. In addition to that, this will make the application less visible and pleasant.
Apply the Tape
Avoid using the full stretch for facial lifting. Instead, stretch the tape just enough to get the required level of lift. Make sure the tape sticks firmly to the skin by gently applying it to the specified area.
Is Face Taping Safe?
In general, face taping occasionally isn't always hazardous, but there are several things to watch out for. Specifically, the tape's adhesive. Certain adhesives can irritate skin, and the majority of tapes are not designed for skin contact. Additionally, some adhesives have the potential to block pores and exacerbate acne. Natural oils can be removed and the skin barrier damaged by even a weak glue. Stronger adhesives simply make that risk higher; even medical tapes meant for skin contact have concerns. Other potential adhesive-related issues include excruciating removal, allergic reactions, or scarring. However, this doesn't usually happen. Therefore, it is important to consult your dermatologist before applying face tape.
Dos and Don’t About Face Taping
Follow these dos and don’ts about face taping.
Don't
You cannot use body tape on your face! It must be tape designed specifically for facial taping; you cannot use the same tape twice. Although the tape is a sort of kinesiology tape, most of them are not suitable for use on the face. The glue is far too powerful for the face's sensitive tissues. Please refrain from covering your face with body tape.
Do
You must use the face tape frequently to experience results. For the greatest results, we advise doing facial taping every day for 30 days. Taping can be done a couple of times per week.
Do
Use night tape to reduce wrinkles. Sleep lines and dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement might be lessened with this kind of tape. You are supposed to wear this tape while you sleep. It prevents the muscles from moving and causing wrinkles by applying a certain type of tape to the skin. Retraining the fascia over time can improve muscle memory and give the illusion of increased tone.
Don't
You must learn how to use face tape properly. The tape needs to be cut into precise shapes and applied to the face after it has been cleaned. Depending on the desired outcome, it can be applied to the forehead, the eye area, the lips, or the neck, among other parts of the face.