Since Botox, plastic surgery and other expensive anti-aging methods aren’t easily accessible to everyone, many TikTok users have been experimenting with a practice they dub ‘forehead taping.’ On the social media video-sharing app, beauty gurus have been recently filming themselves as part of the trend— lifting and taping parts of their face (from the forehead to skin near the eyes to cheekbones) in the efforts of ‘training’ their skin to naturally appear that way.
With the DIY idea garnering millions of views and searches, we reached out to skincare experts for their input as to whether it actually works (or not). Read on for tips and suggestions from Robyn Newmark, skincare expert and founder & CEO of Newmark Beauty, Natasha Moor, celebrity and professional makeup artist and founder of Natasha Moor Cosmetics, and Simone de Vlaming, beauty and skincare expert and blogger at Beautymone.
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First Off, What Is The ‘Forehead Taping’ Trend?
If one were to type in the phrases ‘forehead taping’ or ‘face taping,’ into the TikTok search box, thousands of videos of users applying tape to their faces will appear. In these clips, people are seen lifting up sections of their skin, using face tape to hold it in place, and then rubbing their fingers across the tape to secure it.
With some creators saying that practicing this for a week lead them to notice fewer forehead wrinkles, countless skincare experts, makeup artists and dermatologists have also taken to the app to debunk these theories. Still, the trend persists, so we did our own investigating with the help of true skin health and beauty aficionados…
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Is The Practice Effective?
Despite what many TikTokers might say about taping their skin and seeing noticeable differences, Newmark stresses that it is not possible to permanently train your skin to lift itself naturally. “Forehead taping has absolutely no benefit other than short-term lifting of the skin,” she says, “It does not reduce wrinkles or tone the skin.” In fact, Newmark says that using facial tapes “very often can cause irritation to the skin, adding even more things for you to worry about.”
The trend, de Vlaming agrees, may not be as successful as certain videos show, and could even cause more drawbacks for your skin than you might realize. “The reason why the TikTok taping trend is so hyped right now is because we always try to improve our fine lines and wrinkles and this seems to be an easy, quick and non-surgical way to do so,” de Vlaming acknowledges.
However, she explains that “taping your face isn’t going to leave scars, but it can actually make wrinkles and fine lines worse.” While de Vlaming says ‘forehead taping’ does actually “train” the skin, it does not teach it to lift. It “trains” the skin to work harder, she says, and “this will eventually cause more fine lines and wrinkles.” On top of that, de Vlaming warns and reiterates that “the tape can cause irritation, redness and even breakouts.
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What (Realistic) Anti-Aging Methods Should You Try Instead?
While you’re probably already aware that a consistent skincare routine and plenty of sunscreen can prevent the formation of more wrinkles, Moor says that there is also another treatment you can give yourself for this purpose. “Instead of taping your forehead as a temporary lift, try cryotherapy—an ice bath for your face,” Moor recommends. “It’s so easy and costs nothing,” she says. “Before I’m going to go out, I make a bowl of ice water and dunk my freshly cleansed face in it for 10 to 15 seconds,” she explains. “It cools and tightens my skin and removed redness—all temporarily, of course. After patting dry, I then do my makeup, that’s all there is to it.”
Newmark adds that rather than trying to get rid of wrinkles by artificial lifting, “I would instead recommend using proven hacks like moisturizing.” While moisturizing by itself does not slow down aging, Newmark says that it “does reduce its visible effects on the skin.” Typically, she expresses that moisturizers “trap moisture in the skin, making fine lines less noticeable.”
As a result, the skin looks “a lot brighter and younger than it would without it,” according to Newmark. The best way to use a moisturizer is right after a bath, she continues, “before you get exposed to outside heat and the elements.” If you have exceptionally dry and sensitive skin, Newmark dubs “heavier creams” as a better option for your face. Ultimatley, she concludes, “some products that are proven to lock in skin moisture are mineral oil, glycerin, and dimethicone.”
