I’m a 40-year-old mum and I tried Kris Jenner’s favourite £23 viral Botox patches – here’s what happened
FOR an overworked, over-tired 40-year-old mother of three, I’d like to think my skin isn’t too bad and holds a few good memories. But there is no denying that the “11s” between my eyes are deepening by the minute. I work long hours, rarely get more than three or four hours’ sleep a night and […]
FOR an overworked, over-tired 40-year-old mother of three, I’d like to think my skin isn’t too bad and holds a few good memories.
But there is no denying that the “11s” between my eyes are deepening by the minute.
I work long hours, rarely get more than three or four hours’ sleep a night and I’m always up early with the kids. I worry it shows on my face and, like most women, I am keen to slow the signs of ageing.
The obvious solution is Botox. But with this typically carried out every three months, I don’t need another recurring cost added to my bills.
Plus, the idea of prodding my face with needles is offputting.
So when I saw TikTok users half my age hailing magical wrinkle patches, my interest piqued.
Read more on Botox
The hyped product is a £23.95 pack of 144 overnight wrinkle patches by Frownies, available at amazon.co.uk and frownies.co.uk.
Going viral on TikTok, @frowniesfamily has attracted 181,000 followers and clocked up 10million views for the miracle plasters dubbed “Botox skin patches”.
Said to smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles while you sleep, makers claim the patches work by retraining the facial muscles to stop wrinkles forming.
They aim to prevent and reduce lines that form on the skin because of repetitive movements such as frowning, squinting or smiling.
Most read in Fabulous
The stick-on patches work like a cast for the muscles — holding them flat and smooth for hours and stopping you making expressions that might cause wrinkles.
Eventually, the muscles should stop making that movement altogether.
With twenty-somethings using them as a preventive measure and older women claiming they reduce the appearance of creases, Frownies have already gained more than 10,000 five-star reviews.
But the social media sensation has been a Hollywood secret for years.
Hollywood legend Raquel Welch, 81, credits them for her wrinkle-free skin.
While Kris Jenner, 66, mother of the Kardashian clan, gave them away as her beauty secret. She claims daughters Kim, 41, Khloe, 37, and Kourtney, 42, have all used them — and even ex-husband Bruce, now Caitlyn Jenner, 72, sometimes got in on the action, too.
Well, if they are good enough for the Kardashians, I reckon they’re worth a shot.
I’ve tried all sorts of creams and lotions, from the cheap to the expensive.
I’ve also tried facials, deep-tissue face massages and hacks like face tape.
But nothing has been worth a repeat purchase. The patches look like little triangle plasters, which you tear apart depending on how many you wish to use.
Before applying, it is recommended you give the skin a little massage to stimulate circulation.
Then you simply dab some warm water on the shiny side of each so they are tacky, before smoothing the skin with one hand and sticking them on with the other. I found them incredibly easy to apply.
As it is preferable to wear them overnight, I put them on at around 10pm and went to bed half an hour later. I worried they would be too uncomfortable to wear in bed but I barely noticed them and they didn’t affect my sleep in any way.
They didn’t feel stiff or itchy, either. You could easily pop them on for a few hours while working at home.
The genius idea was developed in 1889 by American Margaret Kroesen when she noticed her concert pianist daughter Alice had developed unsightly frown lines.
The design and packaging has altered over the years, but never the formula.
You can buy them for the forehead, between the eyes, the corner of the mouth, the lip line and under your eyes. When I woke up, I was excited to see the results.
I simply dabbed warm water on the patches and peeled them away. It was quick and painless. Frownies UK says the patches can make a difference to new lines in just three nights but deeper wrinkles may take longer.
You use them until the line is no longer visible, then stop. As soon as the line starts to form again, resume using the patch.
After just one use I was very impressed. When I first peeled them off, my skin looked a little red — similar to what you would experience after an eyebrow hot wax. But immediately I could see my 11s were a lot less visible and shallower. I was amazed.
The lines were much softer than they had been the night before. It was as if I had turned back the clock. I looked refreshed and, dare I say it, younger.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Anton Alexandroff says: “Whilst there is no hard scientific evidence that these patches work, there is lots of anecdotal evidence from people who believe they have a positive effect on fine lines so there is no harm in giving them a go. Any effect, though, is likely to be mild and temporary.”
The patches are good value too — the 144 in the box are enough for 36 nights if you use four a night and I think I probably don’t need that many.
As the day wore on, the frown lines returned a little but I will definitely continue using the patches. I hope in a couple of weeks those “11” lines will be gone. You could always use them the night before a special event too. I love that there could be a way of getting rid of wrinkles without needles or toxic chemicals. This is a routine I can definitely get on board with.
Online reviews say the product can make you look about 20 years younger. Perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch, but I have definitely knocked off a few years and I’m happy with that.
Read More on The Sun
I was so impressed I’ve since ordered a tube of Frownies cellulite cream and its new “stem cell” serum, which claims to activate your skin stem cell regeneration and reduce the depth of crow’s feet wrinkles in two weeks.
Hopefully I will be looking younger than my 40 years in no time. In the meantime, I’m happy my “11s” have gone down in age.
