I’m broke, what can take the place of Botox?

[FloodlightsOnTheSquare]

I’ve been getting my 11s, forehead, and crows feet done for about 3/4 years, usually every 7-8 months.

But now I’m broke, and my crows feet in particular are beginning to bother me, and my left eyelid feels a bit droopy and uncomfortable.

Is there anything that remotely compares? I can’t use tret, i have eczema and my skin can’t take it.

Does anyone have any ideas? Please?

Oh tret…I tried it for so long but my skin just would not settle with it. It looked like I had stubble rash for months on end, and I saw no positive effect.

Unfortunately nothing will achieve the same result. Im trying to push it out as long as i can and use several products and needling, which works quite well. But if i compare with my friends with botox they clearly look different.
The drooping might even have been caused by the botox though. My beautician is very reluctant to use it and says once you start you have to keep using it because its toxic and paralyzes your nerves and after a few times the nerves dont fully recover, hence the droop. Then you need more botox/face lift etc. And it just goes on and on.

Have you tried just keeping your face really really still?

Acceptance.

How does Botox make you beautiful? It doesn’t. And my entire point is - WHY are women obsessed with being beautiful?

😂

Other people probably don’t notice. You look closely in a mirror.

I do facial exercises...I've been doing them in a very lacklustre way for many years but I've recently increased them and I've noticed a difference. I'm 53 and probably look about 42. Obviously this won't get rid of lines but it's the drooping that's more ageing anyway. I wouldn't have botox because then I wouldn't be able to do my exercises and my muscles would atrophy.

I used to use tret but it causes dark circles under my eyes and I don't like all the peeling.

Nope. There's nothing in this whole world like a little bit too much BOTOX. It's one of the joys of modern living. I use tret and every expensive cream going but nothing works like my beloved tox.

I was gonna schlep off back to FWR board (the one full of pesky old terfs)

But if it is okay i am interested in this discussion.

i am not rich but have just received a surprise large sum of money, and it crossed my mind to try and look younger, but what for.

I shave my legs, pluck my chin dye my hair to avoid being grey.

so am as guilty as anyone for trying to look my best as defined by female standards.

I’ve been getting Botox roughly every 4-5 months since just before my wedding in August 2019. I personally love it, but recognise it isn’t for everyone.

This argireline serum by The Ordinary is affordable and widely recommended by dermatologists / knowledgeable skincare influencers on social media, but to see any results it has to be used consistently and the improvements will disappear if you stop applying it.

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/the-ordinary-10-argireline-solution-30ml/11416769/?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&thg_ppc_campaign=22978268337&adtype=pla&product_id=11416769&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22978268337&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&affil=thgpsad&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22988621935&gbraid=0AAAAAD82pqEcyHluVYGxux5AgBSQJPrWm&gclid=CjwKCAjw6f3RBhApEiwAMaCqWQje4sRn-pkYLjxBuZjSEFP7SOR_Q1fmYhDIvOWtHNFkD50tE7z56xoCbdUQAvD_BwE

Could you make some money on Vinted/Ebay to cover the cost?

Ive also heard of the argiline and matrixle ( shocking spelling sorry) from the ordinary used together being describes as botox in a bottle.

They are relatively cheap so worth a try at least.

There is new stuff that is botox like but it lasts much longer. If you only needed it twice a year, it could be more affordable. Worth a Google.

Can I ask what strength tret were you using? Did you space it out to every other night vs every night? Were you layering / sandwiching it between hydration steps when applying?

Retinoids, especially tretinoin, honestly are the gold standard in skincare products and treat so many different issues: wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture, pigmentation, spots and clogged pores. It’s worth considering giving it another try but just make sure you aren’t using any other actives in your routine at the same time to avoid compromising your skin barrier and making it sore and irritated and ensure you only apply it to properly dry skin, as moisture will increase absorption deeper into the skin and make irritation more likely.

TBF I’ve got pretty good skin but that baby takes it to the next level…

Please can you tell me what facial exercises you do? I tried some a while back, but I could see they were just giving me new and different lines on my face!

Botox weirdly doesn’t work much/very long for me for me! However, for your basic forehead/bunny line/crows eye, it’s not a service that requires a particularly high level of skill (like good filler can be), so have you tried shopping around for a lower price? Just check that they are using a well regarded neurotoxin brand

If you want Botox that badly is there anyway you could do a part time job like cleaning, ironing, gardening, dog walking?

What’s with the judgement on this thread

some people age beautifully

some don’t

some do but think they don’t

just do you.

OP I’ve never had Botox as I can’t afford it - if you find something that works even a little - then please let me know.

^ This (I love you)

or

Sellotape.

Could you take a job collecting stool samples from patients with food poisoning and use them to grow your own botulism?

@FloodlightsOnTheSquare I've read good things about a silk pillowcase to sleep on. Otherwise it's getting enough sleep.

Im sorry no advice - im in the same boat though and can no longer afford treatments. Think I'll just have to try and grow old gracefully now. Eeek

No, it was like this before, but the brow being lifted resolved it, and now it’s back and feels annoying,
although it’s not a visible thing, just more how it feels to me.