I thought this $9 Botox alternative was a gimmick — then I saw my photos
· New York PostI’ve finally entered my late 20s, and there’s one fear looming over my head — is it time to start Botox?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have great skin. But ever since I was 25, I’ve noticed thin, premature lines forming on my forehead. For a while, a thick layer of foundation and concealer would help disguise them, but now they’ve become more noticeable.
After trying every over-the-counter face cream I could get my hands on, I turned to Frownies Forehead Serum Patches to solve my problem. And let me tell you, it worked, and I have the pictures to prove it.
Forehead Serum Patch
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Does not irritate sensitive skin
- Genuinely reduce the appearance of fine lines
Cons:
- Not really reusable if you keep them on overnight
Frownies has been around since 1889, invented by a mother-daughter duo, Margaret and Alice Kroesen. Margaret built Frownies for her daughter, who constantly furrowed her brow in concentration while playing the piano. The idea was to create an adhesive patch that held facial muscles still.
Amazon customers are big fans of Frownies, with many saying they love how moisturizing it is. “Not sure what kind of magic these are, but they are amazing!” one customer shared. “I left it on for 45 minutes and couldn’t believe how much it softened my forehead lines. It’s as if it ‘plumped’ my forehead up,”
Each Frownies patch is infused with collagen, vitamin E and olive oil, which the brand says is meant to provide deep hydration and more radiant skin. The patch itself is made of soft cotton, with the gel-like serum on one side.
Number of patches per pouch: 1
How to use Frownies
I incorporated Frownies into my skincare routine for two weeks to see if they really worked or if they were a gimmick.
Using the patch is simple.
- Step 1: Wash your face
- Step 2: Do the rest of your skincare routine
- Step 3: Peel the patch from its backing and place it on your forehead
The packaging says to keep each patch on for 15 to 30 minutes, or longer. I ended up wearing it overnight.
I have a relatively small forehead, so I did have to adjust the patch to make sure it sat flush on my face. I recommend either cutting the patch to match your face shape or making sure it sits properly — otherwise, it will slip off.
The brand says Frownies are reusable, but that depends on how you wear them. I used mine overnight and found that the serum had fully absorbed into my skin; according to the brand’s FAQ, patches worn overnight are not reusable for that reason. If you want to reuse, keep it to the 30-minute mark and then return the patch to its backing for later use. It can be reworn two to three times before you need a new one.
My results
I didn’t substitute the rest of my nighttime skincare routine for this single product. I continued to use a gentle cleanser — Liz Earle is my brand of choice for combination skin — then used a Medicube toner. Finally, I added the Frownies patch and wore it overnight.
While I prefer to apply it before bed, the patch can be worn during the daytime — provided you don’t have company over. I love that it also has a subtle scent — nothing overpowering — and once I have it on, I can forget about it until the next day.
The results for Frownies were not immediate, but after the fourth or fifth night, I started noticing a difference. My fine lines were less visible and my makeup went on more smoothly. I also noticed that the skin between my brows, which has always been dry, retained moisture better. Now my skin feels tighter, much softer and more supple.
Is it worth it?
All in all, if you’re someone suffering from fine, premature lines on your forehead and don’t want to spend money on Botox, I’d recommend Frownies instead. At first, the $9 price per patch might seem high, but it’s still far cheaper than a traditional injectable, which will cost you hundreds of dollars per treatment.
How I tested
I used Frownies every day for two weeks. I applied the anti-wrinkle patch to my forehead before bedtime and wore it on overnight. I kept the rest of my skincare routine the same to standardize results.
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