There’s no way around it: Botox is the number one aesthetic procedure in the world. There’s a good reason for this: anyone who is looking to erase common signs of aging will love the almost immediate results that the neurotoxin provides. Within a few days, Botox can visibly reduce or temporarily erase fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead or around the eyes, and it has been approved to help with problems like migraines, excessive sweating, and even an overactive bladder.
But there are definite downsides to Botox, as well. As with every cosmetic procedure, there are risks involved. It’s important to choose a practitioner that is board-certified, skilled, and knowledgeable about facial anatomy. Botox can also be expensive and its effects only last about three months or less. For these reasons, anyone who would love to avoid Botox but still wants to maintain a more youthful appearance can turn to one of several Botox alternatives that experts say can give you visibly fresher skin. Here are five alternatives to Botox that skin experts swear by for women over 50.
A Good Skincare Routine
There’s really no replacement for a solid skincare routine. What that means may look a little different for everyone, but one thing remains the same: choose products with effective ingredients over fancy brands that make claims and don’t deliver.
Board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Thomas Griffin recommends choosing quality serums containing antioxidants, vitamins and ingredients to improve and repair elastin and collagen (his favorite examples: Skin Better Science Alto Defense Serum, Alastin Skin Nectar, and SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic). “These work to protect the skin from pollutants and oxidative damage during the day and rebuild the skin at the collagen layer,” Dr. Griffin said. “They are safe to be applied twice daily and should be applied first.”
Retinols that you can apply nightly are also important because they help improve the way that the skin matures and exfoliates, according to Dr. Griffin. And don’t sleep on a good moisturizer, especially one that contains hyaluronic acid. “Hyaluronic acid is a natural component in the skin and serves to retain water,” Dr. Griffin said. “In a moisturizer, HA pulls water into the skin giving it a more plump appearance.
Finally — sunscreen. You need it — and not just when it’s sunny outside. “Three hundred and sixty-five days per year, sunscreen is a must to protect and prevent sun damage to collagen, elastin and thinning of the skin,” Dr. Griffin said. “Of course, there are many more options to improve specific areas of a skin care routine, but these are the fundamental core ingredients everyone should use.”
Lasers
“For those with active wrinkles on the skin, lasers can be used to improve the skin quality, glow and wrinkles,” Dr. Griffin said. “Lasers, performed by a practiced hand, are quite effective and safe. Depending on the provider, suggestions may vary but its important to find a provider with multiple tools and can offer several different options based on your needs and lifestyle.”
RHA-based Dermal Fillers
Like Botox, injectable dermal fillers aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if you’re open to an injectable alternative, a new line of dermal fillers, Revance, is based on Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA), according to Dr. Francisco Canales and Dr. Heather Furnas at Plastic Surgery Associates and the Allegro MedSpa in northern California. “This group of products includes the first and only fillers FDA-approved for the correction of dynamic wrinkles, i.e. wrinkles that appear when forming facial expressions (rather than static wrinkles, which are visible when the face is relaxed),” Drs. Canales and Furnas said. “As such, Revance RHA fillers can offer improvement in areas where Botox may typically have been chosen for treatment. RHA fillers are composed of longer-chain hyaluronic acid and can have a longer-lasting effect than other dermal fillers; the manufacturing process for these fillers is also considered to be more ‘clean.’”
Microneedling With RF
This procedure delivers high-intensity radiofrequency energy deep into your skin via dozens of tiny insulated needles which activate the dermis, stimulating cellular turnover and encouraging new collagen fiber and elastin growth, according to Drs. Canales and Furnas: “This hard-working treatment can diminish fine lines and other blemishes, resulting in skin that appears more plump and lifted. Patients also report reduced pore size and a glowing complexion.”
HydraFacial
Searching for a procedure that gives you glowing skin with no downtime? A HydraFacial may be the thing you’re looking for. “Hydrafacial is a relaxing and rejuvenating facial treatment which utilizes a gentle, deep-cleansing jet of water to exfoliate and cleanse; the treatment also includes infusion of nourishing antioxidant serums to hydrate skin and replenish essential nutrients,” Drs. Canales and Furnas said. “It can be customized to boost connective tissue growth, promoting natural collagen and elastin production. A HydraFacial treatment can be done day-of an event as it requires no downtime and instantly enhances skin’s appearance.”
Botox is loved by many but it isn’t your only option for smoother-looking skin. These alternatives can provide the results you’re after, without the risk and cost associated with neurotoxins.
