Facelifts are having a moment, at least when it comes to plastic surgery. From celebrities\u2019 transformative results to younger people opting for the surgery in their 30s and 40s in the name of \u201cprejuvenation,\u201d there\u2019s been a noticeable shift toward natural, lifted\u2014not overly pulled\u2014looks. But what about those who want similar results without going under the knife? Or those hoping to maintain results post-procedure? That\u2019s where face-lifting masks claim to come in.<\/p>\n
Marketed as a way to temporarily sculpt, lift and tighten the look of the face, especially around the jawline, face-lifting masks are clearly catching consumers\u2019 attention. According to Spate, the category has seen more than 780 percent year-over-year growth, indicating serious interest. But do they actually work? Temporarily, yes\u2014but long term, no. Ahead, everything to know about face-lifting masks and whether they\u2019re worth the buy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What Are Face-Lifting Masks?<\/h2>\n
Face-lifting masks come in several forms, including tightening masks, compression chin straps and V-masks, which are V-shaped masks marketed to temporarily slim the look of the face. Think of them as sheet masks meet chin straps. They are marketed as beneficial for facial slimming, depuffing, contouring, defining and the like, but these are all short-term effects. They \u201csound sculpting and snatching in theory, but biologically they don\u2019t really make sense long term,\u201d says Beverly Hills, CA aesthetician Candace Marino, LE, also known as The LA Facialist.<\/p>\n BUY NOW – $18<\/p>\n The appeal is pretty straightforward: Face-lifting masks promise a temporary sculpted, lifted look without an appointment, downtime or major price tag. Many also come from the K-beauty space, where V-line masks and compression-style face masks have long been part of the conversation. For someone looking for a quick jawline-defining effect before an event or photo, that instant gratification is the draw.<\/p>\n BUY NOW – $48<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where it gets nuanced. \u201cA lot of the compression-style masks claim to lift, depuff or define the jawline,\u201d says Marino. So that\u2019s what you can expect they\u2019ll do, but don\u2019t be surprised if they don\u2019t deliver dramatic results. Any meaningful depuffing effect depends on lymphatic drainage. \u201cYour lymphatic system relies on gentle movement and circulation to drain fluid properly,\u201d she says. \u201cWrapping the face tightly for hours at a time may temporarily compress swelling, but it can also potentially slow normal lymphatic flow and create rebound puffiness once the mask comes off.\u201d<\/p>\n Not exactly. You shouldn\u2019t expect results comparable to a facelift, chin or neck liposuction or buccal fat removal. You can may see a temporarily snatched jawline before an event or photoshoot, though, but don\u2019t expect much more. \u201cThere\u2019s no evidence that these masks can structurally lift skin, tighten fascia or reverse laxity,\u201d says Marino. \u201cAny \u2018snatched\u2019 effect is usually temporary compression, dehydration of tissue or changes in posture and swelling.\u201d<\/p>\n But why don\u2019t they work the same way a surgery does? \u201cSkin laxity occurs deeper in the skin and connective tissue,\u201d says Marino. \u201cIt\u2019s not something a tight piece of fabric can permanently reposition.\u201d<\/p>\n You may see temporary benefits, like less puffiness or a more defined jawline, during and immediately after use, but it\u2019s critical to know these are temporary. \u201cMany of these products are marketed like skin-care technology, but they are really just modern shapewear for the face,\u201d says Marino. Think of them as similar to a bra: \u201cIf someone has sagging breasts, wearing a push-up bra all day will temporarily lift and reposition them while it\u2019s on, but once the bra comes off, the tissue goes right back to its original state,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe bra didn\u2019t structurally change the skin, ligaments or tissue itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Face-lifting masks function similarly, so while you may experience the benefits they claim to give in the moment while you\u2019re wearing the mask and slightly after, they are not actually changing the structure of your face. \u201cCompression can temporarily move fluid and hold tissue in place for a few hours, but it\u2019s not actually lifting or tightening the underlying structures long term,\u201d Marino explains. In other words, any results from a face-lifting mask are temporary.<\/p>\n Marino recommends sticking to using these masks \u201cpost-surgically, when recommended by a doctor in their post-op protocol,\u201d she says. Instead, for more long-term results, \u201cI\u2019d rather encourage people to get into a massage practice, use an LED mask, a cryo tool or begin a lymphatic or gua sha ritual,\u201d she adds. She recommends products like the Lyma Laser ($2,695) or Shark CryoGlow Mask ($349) as alternatives that may offer more cumulative skin-care benefits over time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"strivectin](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/0vv8moc6\/newbeauty\/f82db15b331ac182382b159105d3de5432b89107-1080x1080.heif?w=1200&auto=format&q=70\")
Why Are Face-Lifting Masks Popular?<\/h2>\n
![\"skims](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/0vv8moc6\/newbeauty\/2327f5cc45e8661ec49957c0325631f89b3a735b-1446x1446.heif?w=1200&auto=format&q=70\")
What Are the Benefits?<\/h2>\n
Do Face-Lifting Masks Really Work?<\/h2>\n
When Can You See Results?<\/h2>\n
What to Try Instead<\/h2>\n