Why I Use Face Tape Instead of Botox (and Why I’ll Never Go Back)

Let’s talk about something I get asked all the time:
"Why did you stop getting botox?"

I stopped Botox over 15 months ago and I’m never going back.

I stopped because I got sick. I got Botox poisoning.

I was dealing with symptoms that felt like they came out of nowhere:
Extreme panic attacks where I thought I was dying, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, weird muscle weakness, brain fog, vision issues, tongue swelling, extremely low blood pressure, difficulty breathing - it goes on and on. I started spiraling trying to figure out what was going on until I finally connected the dots that this was from botox.

Botox is a neurotoxin. It literally paralyzes your muscles by blocking nerve signals. It builds up. It travels. It messes with your nervous system. And botox poisoning is so underreported because no one thinks it can be caused by botox or the don't want to admit it was the Botox.

Once I realized what was happening, I stopped immediately and started detoxing like my life depended on it—because it kind of did. And guess what? As the Botox wore off and left my system… my symptoms started to improve and eventually my health was back to "normal".  But it took over a year of A LOT of consistent work.

So now?
I’m not just anti-Botox for me, I’m committed to helping women understand the truth. Because the beauty industry doesn’t talk about this side of it. They just show you the before-and-afters, the wrinkle-free foreheads, the “you’ll look so rested!” vibe.

But what they don’t show you is the silent suffering, the long-term consequences, the way it can wreck your nervous system and your ability to regulate. Especially if you’re already dealing with other health issues.

I’m not here to shame anyone. I get why women do it—I was one of them for over 10 years. But I’ve never felt better than I do now, and I’ve never looked more like me.

Face taping, internal support, diet, nervous system care—those are my new tools.
No needles. No toxins.  

I share more on my experience navigating botox poisoning and what I did to heal in this article: "I Got Botox Poisoning"

What Is Face Taping?

It’s exactly what it sounds like: using small pieces of kinesiology tape (the kind athletes use) to gently stretch the muscles under your skin while you sleep. The idea isn’t to “lock your face in place” like Botox—but rather to train the muscle to stay relaxed, reduce repetitive movement, and smooth the tissue for natural lifting and softening over time.

Why Face Taping Works

This isn’t some random TikTok trend—there’s actual physiology behind it.

Kinesiology tape works by:

- Gently lifting the skin and decompressing the tissue

- Improving blood and lymphatic flow

- Sending proprioceptive feedback to the muscle, which helps calm overuse (i.e. frowning, furrowing, squinting)

- Stretching and retraining the muscle to stay relaxed, especially overnight when you’re unknowingly tense

Basically, it’s like a deep-tissue yoga session for your face—without the needles, cost, or side effects.

Why I Don’t Use Frownies

Here’s the deal:

- They don’t let the skin breathe

- They feel stiff and uncomfortable

- And most importantly—they only address the surface skin, not the underlying muscle that causes expression lines

- They smell weird (so I hear)

Frownies are more of a “Band-Aid” for the wrinkle. Face tape gets to the root cause—the movement and tension underneath.

My Face Tape Routine

I keep it very simple. 

Here’s what I do:

• Two small strips of kinesiology tape placed just above each brow

• I apply them 5 nights a week (usually skipping weekends)

• That’s it.

This is where I have the most movement and tension—those forehead creases that used to trigger my next Botox appointment. Not anymore.

The Results

After almost a year of consistency:

• My forehead lines are dramatically smoother

• My brow tension is way down

• My facial expression is still intact (no frozen look!)

• And my skin actually looks healthier and more lifted than when I was doing Botox

No BS, no gimmicks. Just real results from something simple, affordable.

A Few Tips If You’re Getting Started:

• Use gentle, breathable face tape (I like the tan or nude athletic versions—nothing harsh or plasticky)

• Pre cut your tape to make it easier for you to stick to it (pun intended)

• You can apply over your skincare - some products will have more oils and you will notice the tape won't stick.  But it just depends on the products you are using and you might want to skip the area where you are applying your tape.

• Never tape over active acne, irritation, or broken skin

• Be gentle when removing in the morning—hold the skin and roll slowly.  Water and oils can also help remove it gently.

Face taping isn’t an overnight miracle. But with consistency, it works—and it works with your body, not against it. And as someone who’s been on both sides (years of Botox, now fully needle-free), I can honestly say: this is the better long game.

If you want to age naturally, keep your expressions, and still look lifted and smooth…
try the tape.

And if you want a demo, you already know—head to my IG. I’ll show you how I do it:

Face Tape Tutorial

xo,

Jamie