Face Lift Tape Takes Over TikTok — What You Need To Know

To be perfectly honest, the facelift film is interesting. This viral beauty hack not only promises an instant, sculpted look, but it does so without having to go under the knife. However, as is sometimes the case with other impressive TikTok trends, could this face lift alternative be too good to be true? Does applying a thin, clear strip of tape to the side of the face really and convincingly lift the neck, jawline, cheekbones and eyes? We asked a number of beauty experts to find out.

Keep reading to see what makeup artists and skin experts had to say about this viral facelift hack.

How does it work

First of all, Dani Kimiko Vincent, famous makeup artist and its founder CYMICAL, says facial tapes are nothing new. “[They’ve] they have been around for many decades,” he says. “They work by lifting and tightening the skin with an adhesive that sticks to each side of the face. It’s a similar idea to having a high, tight ponytail that pulls your face back and up.”

There are two common types of face tape. The first type is face tape attached with an elastic band. He runs around the head and disguises himself by combing his hair over it. The other type is individual adhesives that are not bonded with tape. According to Vincent, these are often used to create a crease on the eye for monochromatic or hooded eyes, or are used to subtly lift the eye area in general.

The eyes are probably the most common area to apply facial tape, as it can give them a lifted and elongated look — which is problematic for many reasons as it is often appropriated. It can also be placed near the neck, jaw or cheekbones to provide a visible sculpting effect in these areas as well.

Where to find

To avoid any unwanted side effects (more on those in the future), choose the “medical grade” facial tape. The facial tape kit comes with attached lanyard (available in Blonde, Brunette or Dark) and 20 pieces of tape. Consider it your one stop shop to get that instant, albeit temporary, lift.

Way of use

If you’re ready to try facial tape, Vincent recommends applying it to clean, bare skin. “For the best adhesion, use a graphite or witch hazel to remove any oils that could affect the glue,” she says. “Then apply your skin makeup as usual, going over the face band. Match the elastic band as close to your hair color as possible. Combing is the best method to hide the part where the band meets your hairline and adheres to the elastic band.”

Celebrity makeup artist Taryn Feldman says that alignment is key, so it’s important to make sure you’re applying the tape to exactly the same area on each side of the face. “You want to copy every area where you want to lift,” he says. “Make sure it’s stuck in the same spot on each side. That’s where the magic happens.”

Once implemented, Vincent, Feldman and Dr. Ciraldo say it can be worn for hours (up to 10 or 12 depending on the brand) before it starts to lose its grip. This is enough if there is no irritation. Aguilar, on the other hand, recommends wearing it for a shorter period of time so you don’t pull the skin or risk irritation. “If someone is going to use facial tape, I recommend not leaving the tape on for more than three hours, or removing it as soon as it starts to tingle, itch, or feel uncomfortable,” she says.

Side effects

Although the benefits of facelifts seem great, we must of course also consider the risks to the skin that arise from tying up your face. “Standing your face with different adhesives can damage the skin. First, these face tapes are designed to pull and lift the skin—it takes a lot of strong adhesive to stick, hold, and pull,” says beautician and dermatologist. Natalie Aguilar. “With prolonged use, the skin can become darker, drier, flaky, and usually itchy where the facial tape was applied. Continued use of facial tapes can also cause allergies, as many of these tapes have irritating adhesives.”

Loretta Ciraldo, MDboard-certified dermatologist based in Miami and founder of Skin care Dr. Loretta, has a slightly different angle on the face film. “There’s really nothing harmful to the skin unless you’re allergic to the tape’s adhesive, and if you have a lot of hair, you have to be careful not to get your hair tangled in it,” she says.

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