Two small patches on either side of the nose before bed, and features that appear smoother upon waking. The trick is circulating on Instagram, but its main benefit lies in a very simple effect: retaining more moisture on the skin's surface.
Social media has a new idea for tackling our smile lines. This time, there's no complicated massage or twelve-step routine. A cosmetic nurse simply demonstrated two silicone patches placed along the nasolabial folds overnight.
Upon waking, the area appears smoother, and naturally, the video is intriguing. However, the result is far from a permanent erasure. The patches primarily affect the skin's appearance at the time of removal. This is an important distinction, because our nasolabial folds don't need to disappear for our face to be beautiful.
Silicone primarily creates an occlusive effect during the night.
Nasolabial folds are the creases that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They are part of facial movements and generally become more visible over the years. Smiling, talking, laughing: this area is in constant use all day long.
The trick, spotted on Instagram, involves placing the patches directly along these skin folds before going to sleep. The silicone then forms a kind of barrier on the skin's surface. This limits water evaporation and keeps the area in a more occlusive environment for several hours.
- This extra hydration can give skin a softer, plumper look when the patches are removed.
- The small creases then appear less pronounced.
- Studies on silicone sheets have clearly demonstrated this ability to temporarily modify the hydration of the skin's surface layer.
The patch also mechanically reduces some creases during sleep. If you sleep on your side, your face can remain against the pillow for several hours, and some creases may appear when you wake up. Keeping a small area relatively still can therefore contribute to this "smoothed-out face" effect.
But the promise ends there. Silicone doesn't change the underlying structure of the face and doesn't permanently fill in wrinkles. Once the patch is removed and some time has passed, the effect may gradually fade.
Our smile lines have nothing to be forgiven for.
This is probably where this trend becomes more interesting to look at with a bit of perspective. Social media talks about furrows to "erase," wrinkles to "fight," or skin to "correct," when these are also lines that accompany our expressions.
A perfectly smooth face isn't the successful version of a face that's alive. Over the years, facial contours change, skin evolves, and certain wrinkles become more pronounced. They also tell the story of thousands of smiles, conversations, and expressions. Taking care of your skin shouldn't mean waging war against everything that shows the passage of time.
This doesn't mean you can't enjoy a fresher feeling upon waking. You might appreciate well-hydrated skin, use a patch before a special day, or simply try this trick because it's fun. The problem only arises when the practice becomes a new obligation: sleeping with your face immobilized because a natural crease has become undesirable.
The advantage of these patches lies precisely in their temporary nature. You apply them, you may enjoy the effect, and life goes on.
A beauty gesture to be taken for what it is
If you'd like to try them, it's best to use clean, dry skin so the patches adhere properly. A very thick layer of moisturizer underneath is more likely to cause them to slip off before they even reach your pillow.
The skin may not tolerate several hours under an occlusive material. If redness, discomfort, or itching occurs, there's no point in forcing yourself to achieve a few hours of smoother skin. A beauty ritual should be enjoyable above all else.
Just because a video shows a dramatic before-and-after doesn't mean your results will be the same . Lighting, time of day, hydration, and even the position of your face can drastically change what you see in a mirror or in a photo. These silicone patches can therefore be a small extra step in your routine if you like the idea. They simply don't need to become a nightly mission against your face.
When you wake up, your features may be a little smoother. You'll still have your smile lines too. And frankly, the two can coexist very well.
