8 Non-invasive Alternatives to Botox

When Botox (also known as botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin) is injected, it blocks nerve signals to certain muscles, which then prevents them from tensing or contracting. This gives the desired effect of reducing the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, nose, eyebrows, chin, jawline, and neck.

Unlike Botox, which is described as an invasive procedure, there are myriad choices to treat wrinkles that don’t involve injecting a neurotoxin into your muscles. While these non-invasive treatments need regular if not daily repeating to be effective, they’ll leave your skin glowing from the inside out.

Treat your face to some self-massage—the kind that tightens and firms—using your hands, gua sha, or a jade roller. Daily facial massage not only smooths fine lines and improves skin texture, but also soothes stress. One study found that regular facial massage led to boosted feelings of emotional well-being in all 50 participants.

Fight crow’s feet while you sleep by wearing silicone face patches, a non-invasive anti-wrinkle treatment that has been proven to temporarily lessen the appearance of fine lines. These sticky pads work by reducing muscle contraction, creating the illusion of smooth skin for up to two hours after being worn.

Applying vitamin C to the skin in the form of a serum not only minimizes fine lines, but also has the potential to reduce signs of sun damage and inflammation. While more research is needed, regular vitamin C application has also been linked to greater collagen production and faster wound healing. It’s not just beneficial for topical use—eating a diet rich in vitamin C has also been shown to prevent wrinkles.

Collagen is an important building block when it comes to the formation of skin, bone, and cartilage, and you’ve probably seen it touted as a must-have beauty supplement. Collagen is naturally found in food sources such as chicken, fish, and eggs, but supplementation might be needed to replace the collagen that is naturally lost through age. Taking collagen supplements is associated with fewer and less noticeable wrinkles, though more research is needed to fully determine how the protein works.

Bakuchiol

Sensitive to retinol? Try bakuchiol, a collagen-stimulating extract that comes from the seeds of a plant used for Ayurvedic medicine in India. Still a relatively new anti-wrinkle ingredient, topical bakuchiol shows promise for helping with a range of skin concerns, including sun damage, wrinkles, and acne—without the risk of irritation that comes from treatments like retinol.

Red light therapy (RLT) is one of the hottest new innovations in anti-aging technology—and it can now be done in the comfort of your own home. RLT works by penetrating your body with light on a cellular level, which can potentially stimulate repair and regeneration of the skin from the inside out. Recently, one small study found RLT reversed signs of sun damage with the results lasting up to one month after RLT was discontinued.

Ceramides are a type of fatty acid naturally found in skin cells. They’re responsible for keeping your skin moisturized and even for preventing germs from entering your body. Add them to your skincare routine by choosing a moisturizer formulated with ceramides. You can also opt for a supplement. Oral ceramide supplements have been shown to improve skin hydration and elasticity and produce noticeable reductions in eye wrinkles in as little as 12 weeks.

Hyaluronic acid is a complex sugar molecule found throughout the body, particularly in your connective tissue, skin, joints, and heart. It has several important functions: keeping your joints moving fluidly, ensuring your skin stays hydrated, and giving your skin more flexibility. As you get older, the production of hyaluronic acid begins to slow down, which is where topical creams and serums come in. You can also boost your skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by eating more citrus fruits, mollusks, bone broth, and soy, as well as magnesium- and zinc-rich foods.