I Tried Frownies For 30 Days To See If They Actually Work On Wrinkles (Honest Review)

I’ve been seeing Frownies facial patches all over my social media feeds the past few months. I’m almost in my mid-30s and yeah, I have wrinkles. Botox isn’t my thing. I’ve seen it go wrong too many times to want to try it.

Frownies facial patches are wrinkle-smoothing kraft paper patches you wear overnight. I tested them for 30 days and here’s what happened.

So the idea of sticking something on my face that could smooth forehead wrinkles while I sleep was too tempting to ignore. I bought a pack, used them for 30 days straight, and… didn’t see much of a difference.

If you’re thinking about buying these wrinkle patches, read this honest Frownies review first.

What Are Frownies?

Frownies Original Facial Patches are marketed as a non-invasive alternative to Botox. They’re meant to help reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, expression lines, and fine lines while you sleep. That pitch definitely got my attention.

They work by creating a temporary “cast” on your skin, holding facial muscles still overnight. In theory, this allows skin to relax and retrain itself, smoothing out creases caused by repeated expressions. For someone like me who makes a lot of facial expressions (theater kid energy), it seemed like a smart solution.

Frownies are made of unbleached kraft paper and are positioned as an all-natural addition to your nightly skin care routine. They claim to help with everything from smile lines to deep eleven lines on the forehead.

How Frownies Work

When you order Frownies, you’ll probably be prompted to purchase their Rose Water Hydrator Spray as well. That’s because each patch needs to be lightly misted with the water hydrator spray to activate the adhesive.

The patches are made from unbleached kraft paper, which is meant to be gentle on the skin. Once activated, they become sticky and dry stiff on your face. This creates a sort of cast that keeps facial muscles in place while you sleep.

The combination of the rose water and stiff patch supposedly reduces forehead wrinkles, eye smile lines, and other expression-related creases with consistent use. The process sounds simple enough, but let’s talk about how to actually apply them.

How To Apply Frownies

• Break Them Apart: Frownies come in sheets of facial patches. Just snap off the patch shapes you need. I like to mix and match sizes for different areas like my mouth, eyes, and forehead.
• Activate With Water: Spray the shiny side with the Rose Water Hydrator or warm water. Let them sit for about 30 seconds until they curl. That’s when they’re ready to apply.
• Prep Your Skin: Give your skin a quick massage to boost blood flow before applying. This helps the product stick better and is just a good skin care practice overall.
• Smooth and Stick: Hold the skin smooth with one hand and press the patch on with the other. Overlap a few on your forehead to cover stubborn lines or creases.
• Let Them Dry: Stay still for a few minutes while the patches harden. If they don’t fully dry, they’ll fall off during the night.
• Removal: Use a warm, wet washcloth to gently remove the patches in the morning. I found it easiest to do this in the shower since they tend to leave behind sticky residue.

Do Frownies Actually Work?

According to the brand, Frownies Original Facial Patches should be used every night for at least 30 days to see results. That’s exactly what I did. But even after using Frownies consistently, I didn’t see any meaningful change in my forehead wrinkles or smile lines.

To be fair, skin care products usually take time. Skin cell turnover takes about 28 days, and these wrinkle patches aren’t designed to speed that up like a chemical exfoliant or retinol serum might. They’re intended to train the muscles and skin over time.

So, while this might be a helpful product for some, I didn’t see results from just one 30-day window.

Frownies Leave Behind Sticky Residue

One major drawback for me was the sticky film left behind on my face each morning. It reminded me of dried glue — hard to remove, itchy, and annoying. If you have sensitive skin, be cautious. This residue gave me a light rash and forced me to over-wash my face, which made things worse.

Even though the patches are made from natural unbleached kraft paper, the adhesive can still be irritating depending on your skin type. It’s a frustrating flaw, especially when you’re trying to build a gentle skin care routine for dry skin or reactive skin types.

Patch Test First If You Have Sensitive Skin

If your skin tends to freak out with new skin care products, do a patch test first. I’m not the only one who had a reaction. I found reviews online that mentioned more extreme allergic responses.

One Trustpilot user wrote: “First night I used Frownies for my lip lines, I woke up at 5am with very swollen, tight lips.” Not ideal.

Try using a single triangle patch for one or two nights on a low-risk area of your face before committing to full forehead coverage.

Are Frownies Worth It?

The starter kit costs $68.85. Yes, that’s cheaper than Botox, but also expensive enough that I wanted to see something change on my face. Even a slightly smoother skin texture or softened fine lines. It wasn’t at all like using Gua Sha where I saw a different within days. 

I liked how the patches come in many shapes and sizes. You can use them on crow’s feet, frown lines, smile lines, and even that neck wrinkle from constantly looking down at your phone. It’s a versatile design.

But for me, the cons outweighed the pros. I found the residue hard to wash off, the adhesive irritating to my sensitive skin, and didn’t see clear Frownies results even after nightly use.

My Frownies Results After 30 Days

I wanted to love this product. I even looked at Frownies before and after photos on their site, which show what looks like major improvements for some users.

But my results? Nothing noticeable. My forehead looked the same. The eye smile lines were just as visible. And the patches disrupted my nighttime skin care routine instead of enhancing it.

If you have the patience and skin that tolerates these better than mine, maybe the results will come with time. Some people say they see results after 60, 90, or even 180 days. I just couldn’t stick with something that made my skin itch and left gluey residue on my face each morning.

I Didn’t See Results, But Other Reviews Are More Positive

Frownies reviews online are a mixed bag. Some people say they’re a miracle for forehead wrinkles and facial creases. Others, like me, didn’t see much difference.

There’s also a lot of content out there showing dramatic before and after photos. Maybe it comes down to consistency, skin type, and how your facial muscles react to immobilization overnight.

If you’ve seen long-term results from using Frownies patches, I’d love to hear your story. Leave your experience in the comments so others can see what actually works.

Frownies Ingredients

The patches themselves use a starch-based adhesive made from dextrin. According to the brand, dextrin is created by drying vegetable starch with enzymes like amylase. It becomes a thick, sticky paste used in some natural skin care products to help moisturize and soften the skin.

The Rose Water Hydrator Spray includes:

• Aqua
• Organic Rose Hydrosol (Rose flower extract)
• Organic Aloe Vera
• Sodium Hyaluronate
• Aspen Bark
• Rosewood Oil
• Comfrey Extract

These are generally considered gentle and hydrating ingredients. Still, I’d recommend testing the full product combo on your skin before committing to a long-term routine.

 

 

 

 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Frownies

Are Frownies Reusable?

No, Frownies patches are single-use and cannot be reused. Once the adhesive has dried and hardened, it won’t work again.

Can You Return Frownies?

Yes, you can return Frownies within 30 days of purchase, but only if they’re unopened and in original packaging. You will need to cover return shipping costs, and no prepaid return label is provided. If you only bought a single set for around $21, you may not get much money back after shipping fees.

How Long Does It Take For Frownies To Work?

According to the brand, you should use Frownies Original Facial Patches for 30 consecutive nights to begin seeing results. I personally didn’t see a change in that time frame, but other users suggest sticking with it longer.

What Do Frownies Help With?

Frownies are best for:

• Forehead wrinkles
• Eleven lines between the eyebrows
• Smile lines
• Eye smile lines
• Neck creases
• General facial wrinkles and dry skin texture

They are often marketed as part of a natural skin care approach for aging skin.

Do You Have To Use Frownies Every Night?

Yes. To see results, you should wear the patches every night. Skipping one night here or there is fine, but this is a product that relies on consistency.

Final Thoughts On My Frownies Review

I really wanted Frownies to be the miracle wrinkle patch social media made it out to be. But after 30 nights of consistent use, I didn’t see results.

Between the sticky residue, irritation, and lack of payoff, I won’t be repurchasing this product. Still, your skin might respond differently.

If you’re curious about trying Frownies Original Facial Patches, I recommend starting slow, patch testing first, and reading more Frownies reviews from users with your same skin type.

Have you tried them? Drop your thoughts in the comments so we can build out even more helpful content for people trying to decide if this product is worth it.