To ask your alternatives to Botox?

[Wrinkleyoldbag]

I’m nearly 40 and my face in the last year seems to have crumpled like a crisp packet!!
The wrinkles and lines across my forehead are now extensive and don’t disappear when my face is expressionless!
I have a needle phobia so Botox just isn’t an option for me!
Ive tried expensive brands (La Roche posay, Estau Lauder, Elemis) and cheaper (the ordinary, boots own, etc) with no real change.
I’ve used retinol and mandelic acid, which helps with skin tone and glow, but no change to wrinkles!!
I use spf everyday, but I think it might be too late as the damage is done!
I’ve looked at LED masks but I don’t think it the science behind really stacks up for at home use.
Is there anything I can try/use to make a difference, or am I destined to keep this crumpled face?? TIA.

Sadly the only alternative to botox is wrinkles. You can minimise them with a skin care regime that plumps. I don't think cost is that critical, you just need a hyralauric acid, a moisturiser and (I find) a dab of coconut oil, both to lock products in but also to fill grooves in a little! I'm also quite taken with frownies. Worn over night or when WFH, reading or whenever frowning is likely does smooth temporarily and will have some preventitive action. And if all else fails, a fringe!

Aging is the alternative. It's hard to accept tbh. I'm feeling the same and I'm 42. But trying to get on with it.

I think a good moisturiser and don’t smoke is about as good as you can do, and sleep & eat well so you have that ‘glow’.

botox and fillers always look bad. Those who think it doesn’t are misguided - their friends are just too polite to tell them. Faces move, as soon as Botox goes into it, the face doesn’t move naturally and looks really odd.

Interestingly there was an article in Saturday's Times by a woman who's an American tv news presenter( I'd never seen her before), and how much she spends on Botox, fillers, lasers, eye surgery, various potions etc, it's thousands and thousands per year.
Before I saw her age I guessed how old I thought she was( I'm 60 so it's not like I'm a 20something who doesn't know what middle aged women look like). Bearing in mind she's glammed up to the nines I thought she was about 55. She's actually 50. All that money, time and effort to still look her age, what's the point?

Women have mirrors too and are able to compare their pre and post botoxed faces for themselves and judge whether they look better/younger/less frowny or whatever else they want from the treatment.
I do dislike this narrative that women who have treatments are mindless suggestible dolts who can only judge their own appearance by the compliments (or insults!) they recieve.
I'm a grown woman with eyes of my own, so really don't need anyone assessing my appearance with their self appointed 'expert eye' to decide if I look younger or older, better or worse with or without treatments. I can tell for myself thank you.

Fillers are awful. I had late onset allergic reaction to very, very minor lip filler. I spent a year having reactions and having to have the filler dissolved - painful and bruised face. It happens much more often than is reported.
Botox is great.

Dr. Dennis Gross intensive peel pads twice a week paired with double cleansing has really improved my fine lines. I was on Tret but I have stopped after about 5 years as my skin just doesn't like it.

The peel pads have made a world of difference, it is noticeable to other people too.

I oil cleanse, then use Curel foaming cleanser. Then twice a week the peel pads followed by Curel moisterizer.

The pads are expensive but I cut them in half so only use one in total a week and there's plenty. I just close the little packet with a bobby pin.

Vitamin C stimulates collagen so softens facial lines.

I didn't know that in the beginning, I was taking it as it helps my painful hip and helps with low mood
My daughter called in, and when she looked at me, asked if I'd had a skin peel.
I take a 1000mg effervescent tablet in as little water as possible and down it.
I use Tretinoin now as well, so lines are softened from that. Retinol is not the same.

I started botox at 42 but prior to this, I managed to keep wrinkles at bay mostly by washing with an exfoliating sponge (buf-puf) every morning and using plenty of moisteriser afterwards. Weekly I do a microneedling session and serum.
Lots of sleep with a silk pillow and drink lots of water.
Other than that it is down to genetics and not much facial movements (ie. drinking regularly with a straw can cause cats bum wrinkles like smoking).

Prescription Tret works for me. So well that people think I am advertising it on here. I am nearly 53. Not getting Botox. Happy as I am.

Follow Melly Sandford and Yourmategingerkate on instagram. They are amazing - all natural solutions!

Drinking lots of water can only do so much.

I drink more water than a basking shark, and I wouldn't say I have better looking skin than the average person my age.

Like you OP, I need to up my game, I just don't know how. (I also want to avoid Botox, fillers etc.)

May be down to what you put into your body. Eg cut out sugar and alcohol. Eat plenty of fruit and veg. Drink water

I posted this on the S and B board so I might as well here. Hopefully wont out me. This is my nearly 53 year old forehead after 4 years of Tret. Don't think I need Botox. I do need to go to the hairdresser!

Nip + Fab copper peptides are advertised as “Natures Botox” whilst I don’t believe this, they certainly have given my skin a lovely texture and glow. I don’t think it does anything re lines.

Prescription strength tretinoin will have some impact. It’s stronger than retinol. I use Dermatica.

SPF every day and a hat in the summer.

Agree that Botox and filler are not the holy grail answer that people think they are. I’ve dabbled but Botox always just pushes my wrinkles elsewhere- so I developed wrinkles just below my eyebrow which looked worse. And you don’t look any younger.

If you don’t like needles then micro needling, profhilo etc are out.

Do you suit a fringe? I can’t have one as I have curly hair but I wish I could!

Sleep. And a fringe.

Look at your mother. So much of ageing is genetic - a lot of people are congratulating themselves on their skin care regime which has stopped them ageing when it's just their natural genetic make up.

I've got a face that only an elderly boxing glove could love, but at 64 I've come to terms with it. Smiling a lot helps.

I’m going to keep with what I’ve been doing for years. I remove my glasses before I look in the mirror. I’ve just turned 70 and I don’t see a single wrinkle in my face or neck. Occasionally when I’m outdoors I get a glimpse of some wrinkly old bat looking at me. They are usually the other side of a shop window and I just tell them to bugger off 😊

Growing old gracefully?

🤣🤣🤣

This is one reason I don’t wear contacts. So I don’t see how old I really look. Glasses hide a multiple of sins round the eyes.

Look at this, results are amazing. I will be offering it as a treatment early next year. https://www.zonefacelift.com/one-to-one-session

Lasers and peels. Find a really good Dermatologist and tell them off the bat you do not want any injectable.

They may offer at first stronger creams etc. Look up picotoning as well.

Whatever you do, only go to a real dermatologist.

At 42 your face is glowing. Moisturiser and smiling works wonders.

All this disparaging of Botox🙄. If it’s subtle, and I mean subtle, it’s fantastic. Who isn’t happy with the removal of angry 11s between the eyebrows etc. No need for filler.
I’m recovering from abdominal surgery and overdue my Botox shot, can’t wait.

Retinol, expensive creams are useless, but RetinA is more like it.