Sad about signs of ageing in 30s, shall I get Botox?

[Thedivinyls]

I'm sure people are going to tell me, "You're being ridiculous, wait until you're 50/60" and I do get that, but I also don't want my feelings to be invalidated.
I've got faint 11 lines and crows feet which are worsening. I do wear high SPF every day, sunglasses most days, never smoked, don't drink, no sunbeds etc. But I suppose ageing is inevitable in spite of all this.
I've been using tretionin for 2 months and have zero results so far, but I'm told it can take several months to work.
I don't feel I look as fresh as I used to, and my eye area is a bit hollower.
I know it's not the end of the world, but I don't feel as confident as I did in myself 2 or 3 years ago.
A solution would be to get Botox, I've had it before and it worked well. I have an offer where I can get 2 areas for £100.
However there's a constant societal pressure to be 'saving every penny' especially at the minute.
Just this feeling that it's wrong to be spending money on anything that's non essential, and that's wrong in itself, especially with working full time.
My partner says I don't need it and could never justify spending £100 on it, but then I feel like there are always more attractive and younger looking 23 year olds around the corner.
I mean I'm doing it for myself first of all. Should I get it?

Absolutely get Botox and see if it lifts your mood. It certainly lifts mine. And no one ever knows I have it unless I tell them. Even my mum - she was once criticising people who use it with that old line 'you can always tell' and genuinely thought I was lying when I told her I'd been having regular injections for a couple of years.

But £100 for 2 areas is crazy. There is no way anyone charging that little is a trained and experienced medical professional using top quality products. I am sure of you go for that offer people will definitely be able to 'tell'. You get what you pay for and if you want natural looking, imperceptible results it will cost you more than that. (I'm in London and pay £325 for 2 areas. I consider it money well spent.)

Honestly, prevention is better than cure. If you're unhappy about something and you want it changed, go for the Botox/Filler. 💕

I agree, and they don't make you look younger, you just look like you've had work done.

I think if someone really can't cope with getting older, a better use of the money would be counselling.

And on the plus side, some women look better as they age! I am fitter and slimmer than I was at 25 (or indeed, 35). So embrace it.

I would also try less invasive options if you really want to do something. Botox can go horribly wrong. Fillers even more risky. Especially if you get cowboys to do it.

There are lots of tweakments you can try which are much less risky.

Just to come back to this, the very best things you can do for your skin are use sunscreen all the time (and stay out of the sun as much as possible except for your 10 mins a day to get your vitamin D) and drink lots of water.

And don't smoke, obviously.

You might be interested in these options too: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a6f4f324-1269-11ed-a669-519b582f91b7?shareToken=990d55673b1025ce94d9b77fcdf28399

Botox scares me. I'm sure there are people who have it and look great and I wouldn't know they've had it, but I am seeing an increasing amount of people with that 'Star Trek' look, where their forehead is protruding. I always assumed this was because of too much botox, but because I also see it on lots of rich celebs, I assume it's not just because it's a cowboy job.

As pp have said though, if it's eternal youth you're after, you need to work on accepting that it doesn't exist. I don't mean that unkindly, but there's a difference between wanting to look fresher and wanting to stay young forever.

Isn't it a bit of a vicious circle? They aren't permanent so will have to be done again. Where does it end, or does it ever??

You can't beat the hands of time

Nonsense. Properly done cosmetic procedures make EVERYONE look better. OP - get it done if it's genuinely for you, not to keep your partner.

I had botox a week ago as I was really unhappy with my lines. I am the least stereotype cosmetic procedure type person ever. Anyway I had my doubts but went ahead and I am really pleasantly suprised. I still have good movement in my face (the "frozen look" was what I was most scared of) and the lines have already significantly reduced. I am pleased with it, and while I won't be having it redone every 3 months I will definitely do it again.

My advice, go to someone with (1) recommendations and (2) a genuine medical background. Make sure you can have a consultation, and that the person in knowledgable about facial anatomy. I would be concerned at the low price you've been offered.

I'm in my mid 50s. Know a few people who have been botoxing and filling since their 40s. They looked good on it in their 40s but not so much mid 50s. Lack of lines doesn't make you look any prettier or younger. They all have deeper lines around their eyes in places where the fillers/botox cant be put. They need to do it more often and more of it. It was weird after lockdown when I saw a couple who's stuff had worn off. Like they had slightly melted. They all would be on the 'natural' end of the look but it was still noticeable. If it makes them happy and they have the money then it doesn't matter. They pay a fortune though at a high end doctor to look good. £100 is not money well spent.

@DeclineandFall having botox delays the process of lines developing. It's not like it's storing up and when you stop all the lines you will have had suddenly appear. So they will likely look less wrinkled in the areas that they had it than they would have otherwise.
That said, obviously at some point you need to accept you will have lines and wrinkles, and not having them will look odd.

Look into retinol and sunscreen!

You get a £10.00 retinol eye cream from inky list (@Boots). Then get a specialist formulated (mineral!) eye sunscreen- I like the ones form Colorscience or use any mineral sunscreen for the eye. Do that for at least a year- if your not seeing a difference then look into Botox.

Exactly. Always put sunscreen on your neck and hands to mitigate the signs of ageing.

having botox delays the process of lines developing. It's not like it's storing up and when you stop all the lines you will have had suddenly appear. So they will likely look less wrinkled in the areas that they had it than they would have otherwise.

Icanstillrecallourlastsummer I get that but what I wasn't prepared for was the droop from the lack of fillers and botox. It all seemed slack, and then it got filled up again. The lines themselves don't necessarily age people. In their 40s I probably wouldn't have noticed but it had been years of using this stuff. It made me think twice about starting it. It can look good but there are downsides especially if you rely on it.

@DeclineandFall , yes this is the thing. I have seen people 10 years older than me who have clearly had botox and/or fillers, maybe with less lines, but they don't look younger. Lines aren't the most ageing thing.

When I smile, I have quite a few lines under my eyes (mostly because my full cheeks push them up 😂) but I'm often told I have a beautiful smile. I think I would look very strange if I was completely smooth.

Saying all that, I'm not anti any of this, but I do wonder how many people go into it because of SM pressure and aren't necessarily thinking about the future.

It is odd, as Botox freezes the muscles of the face, and so expressions aren't made or made as fully. But the Botoxed muscles atrophy over time, and then everything sags. This is attributed to "loss of fat pads", and "ageing", and then fillers are "needed". Then the fillers migrate and things start to look a little puffy and strange... It's a look. Many like this look. But it isn't youthful.

I know couple of women in their 40s who have facefuls of botox and fillers. Their foreheads are line free and their cheeks and lips plumped up but their under eye areas are so puffy and likes all the wrinkles have gradually migrated there.

I'm 31 and been noticing the beginnings of lines and wrinkles for the past couple of years. I've become quite obsessed with it and I've become very down on myself. I would get a small amount of botox in my forehead if it wasn't for the animal testing aspect. Instead I've been using facial plasters, a facial massager and just trying not to use my forehead muscles as much. I have had microneedling several times too but the effect doesn't last. Tried tret but my skin hated it and never became accustomed even after several months. I have an intensive skincare regime but I know I'm never going to look young and fresh again and it's very hard to accept.

Botox is a preventative so would be too late in your 50s as the lines would be too deep. They inject it to relax muscles so you can't frown and cause wrinkles. I got some between my eyes where there were lines appearing age 31 and its helped loads. I will get more when needed. My face has not changed just minus lines on the middle eye area. Do what makes you happy. I also had 0.5ml in my top lip as my lip was thin. Only people who noticed were people who know me well. No one knows I've had "work" done.
You do you!

At some point you'll age beyond the powers of cosmetic surgery. Careful you don't let it hit you hard.

The women I know in their late forties and above don’t look younger or fresher - they just look like women in their late forties and above who have had Botox and fillers. It’s a ‘look’. If anyone saw the last episode of Neighbours and saw Kylie next to the others from the 80s then you’ll see a noticeable difference - she didn’t look better, she looked as anyone looks when they’ve had those treatments.

OP - as others have said, you will also be older than someone and always be less beautiful, but putting a toxin in your face isn’t the answer, especially not in your early 30s when you are already gorgeous 😊

That’s also true of other grooming such as manicures and hair cuts, though isn’t it? Indeed it’s true of a lot of things. Cooking, shopping, decorating, cleaning….

We don’t tend to do the cooking and cleaning because we’re worried about 23 year olds looking better though…

True. Can’t argue with that SirCh ☺️

I do find the contrast between attitudes to Botox and attitudes to dying grey hair interesting, though. I’m facing near universal horror at the moment for deciding not to disguise my white hairs. Opposite with Botox.