These days, there’s a beauty patch for everything: You can put a star-shaped sticker on your pimples, pop a set of half-moons on your undereye bags, and fade discoloration with a barely-there dot. I’ve always loved the targeted, immediate results that these magical bandages deliver, but as someone with mature skin, I’ve yet to find any that help with my most prominent skin concern—that is, wrinkles.
So when I discovered that the brand behind Amazon’s best-selling (and, with 45,000 five-star reviews, beloved) pimple patches had recently introduced a dedicated wrinkle patch, I knew I had to try it for myself.
The new Nurive CoreVital Advanced Wrinkle Patches ($22) are designed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, restore radiance, and firm skin. They’re infused with a laundry list of powerhouse anti-aging ingredients, including retinol (to boost cellular turnover), hydrolyzed collagen (to smooth skin), adenosine (to firm fine lines and wrinkles), and epidermal growth factors (to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin). They’ve also got sodium hyaluronate—the salt form of hyaluronic acid that has smaller molecules for deeper penetration—to add moisture and plumpness to the skin.
Putting the patches to the test
The triangle-shaped wrinkle patches come in three sizes so they can be used on multiple areas—smaller patches work well for the crow’s feet and “11” lines between the eyebrows, while larger patches can be used for forehead wrinkles and deeper smile lines. Directions suggest wearing the patches for at least five hours and applying them before sleep. So, before bed, I applied patches to my forehead, 11 lines, crow’s feet, cheeks, and chin—eight in all—by the recommended method of smoothing the skin with two fingers, then sticking on a patch. Although I did feel a slight pull once the patch was on, it wasn’t uncomfortable, and I had no trouble falling to sleep with them in place.
However, when I woke up, more patches were stuck to my pillowcase and sheets than my face—and the same thing happened the next night. While it’s hard for me to know how long the patches were actually on, I did see a noticeable improvement in my crow’s feet and forehead lines, which also happened to be the only patches still left on my face in the morning. The patches are designed for best results with continued use, so I’ll keep trying them, but this time during the day when I can make sure they all stay in place.
If you’re looking to instantly smooth your skin—before, say, a big event—these patches will give you the boost you need.
