Let's Face It, We're All Doing It
When scrolling through Instagram or browsing a magazine, I am overwhelmed by the amount of skin care products that are immersed on my feed either recommended by influencers or advertised by different brands.
December 8, 2023
Skincare brands are always launching new “anti-aging” products that as consumers, always catch our eye. We are intrigued about the newest “it” products on the market that smooth fine lines or give us the GLOW we’ve always craved.
Retinol, an anti-aging ingredient commonly found in products, has been clinically studied to increase cell turnover, thus reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Why is using retinol to reduce fine lines socially accepted and not taboo, but using a wrinkle reducer such as botox is? Is one more “unnatural” than the other?
Wrinkle reducers such as Botox, Dysport, Jeaveau and Xeomin are purified proteins used to relax overactive muscles resulting in smoothing of fine lines and deep wrinkles on the forehead, between the brows, crow’s feet and more. Wrinkle reducers, or neuromodulators, block signals from the nerve to the muscle, limiting muscle contraction (not freezing). When the targeted muscle is relaxed, it allows wrinkles to soften and smooth out, while preventing new ones from forming. Like retinol, it is utilized to diminish the appearance of fine lines.
When done well, wrinkle reducers will have you looking refreshed and well-rested. Going to the right provider, who understands your aesthetic goals plays a vital role in achieving a more “natural” look. A micro- dosing technique, commonly referred to as “baby Botox” can be used to achieve this look. This technique uses a lower volume of neuromodulator to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Many individuals feel the need to conceal that they do Botox, although at some point many people have considered treatment. Why is a “preventative skin regimen” more socially acceptable than “preventative Botox?” Although a great skincare regimen serves as a great foundation in preventing wrinkles from forming, the gold standard to prevention and treatment of fine lines and wrinkles are wrinkle reducers!
I, myself, use both retinol and Botox as part of my skin maintenance. I use Botox to “treat” my fine lines and retinol to “maintain” my skin’s integrity. If our whole goal is prevention, why not utilize all that we have at our fingertips to age gracefully. While I am not pressuring anyone to start Botox, I do ask that we begin to destigmatize the use of Botox. Whether you choose to only use topicals or topicals and injectables as part of your “anti-aging” routine, in the end we are all trying to achieve one goal; to look and feel our best!
