I am going to be 41 next month! Wow does it happen fast. Given that, I thought it would be a great time to talk about how to delay the aging process. Aging is something I’ve always thought about, however, I find many methods of anti-aging really intimidating. Botox and fillers, are mainstream and even very young women (as young as teens) are having the procedures. While I firmly believe you should do what’s right for you, these invasive procedures haven’t been right for me thus far. Never say never! Now, with social distancing with no end in sight, we’re having to think twice about all procedures. Here’s my botox alternatives routine that has served me well!
Tools for Botox Alternatives
BeautyBio Glo-Pro $199
The BeautyBio Glo-pro is seriously transformative. It is an at-home micro-needling tool that pumps up your skin’s collagen production. I don’t like telling anyone they need something, but if there’s one investment you should make it’s this one. It costs as much as a facial and lasts for as long as you to take care of it and replace heads every 3 months. I have the lip head and the face head and you can also get a head for body and eyes. The kit above contains the face & lip!
What to expect- smoother, plumper, more even skin. The beauty of this at home micro-needling and therefore, deep exfoliator, is that it helps your face absorb all the stuff you put on it! Sometimes, we may have product that is wonderful but just sits on top of our skin blocked by cells and dirt. A side effect that I have loved is that the lip attachment has boosted my lip size by about 30%! I have very thin lips and have always wanted fuller ones, this was such a great botox alternative and also lip filler!
Ice Cube
There’s lots of fancy devices out there, including this one by BeautyBio but it’s cheaper to use an ice cube! And works practically the same way. Ice/cold will reduce inflammation, which is key as inflammation makes skin susceptible to damage. The cooling effect also helps close up pores, which helps prevent clogging and breakouts.
How I use it: Using purified or filtered water in the morning, I grab a small icecube some mornings (should be all!) and wrap it in a paper towel. Then, I press it all over my face focusing on my eyes for about 30 seconds. Once my face is acclimated to the cold, I do another 15-20 seconds with no paper towel and wash off with cold water. This is after washing my face and before I put product on.
Face Roller
I gotta admit, I was on the fence about these! However, now that I understand the benefits and “how-to” of facial massage, these are a must. There’s no make-shift roller you can really use on your face I would trust, so I recommend these two at two different price points. The massage diagram above can be done with your fingers too.
Benefits of doing this: This type of massage with the face roller isn’t gonna iron our your wrinkles or fine lines. However, doing this regularly will help drain your face of excess fluid, which ages you quickly if you don’t manage it.
Better for wallet here
The Potions for Botox Alternatives 🙂
Ok, now that we got throught the mechanical aspects of Botox alternatives, let’s head to chemical. These are the “potions” and lotions I use regularly that I swear by.
Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel $63
If you want an active product that’s fighting aging for you while you sleep, this is it! It leaves my skin dewy, smoother and brighter. I put this on most nights as the first layer before moisturizing.
Eye make-up remover $25
It’s always the little things that we don’t think about that get us! Gently and thoroughly removing your eye make-up is so important to helping your eyes stay looking young. Pulling and tugging, or worse, not taking off your eye make-up properly will take a big toll on your eyes. I like this cleanser because it melts my make-up, is non-toxic and I don’t need to use very much! This lasts about 4-5 months.
Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is anti-oxident and while it’s all the latest rage, it’s something I’ve been using for the past 3 years! What I noticed when I began to use it? Less dark spots, brighter skin, and helped my melasma so much! Here are my top picks:
The Brightening Oil $69
This Oil is dual purpose. It’s the first Vitamin C anything I used and it was a game changer. I have really oily skin and did not have an issue. The only time I don’t use it when I use a tanning facial oil, which by the way, I’m obsessed with.
OLEHENRIKSEN VITAMIN C SERUM $65
I’ve been using this serum for about a week and really really love it. It’s clean, but here’s my favorite part. I’ve tried several Vitamin C Serums and the issue is that it usually feels like you have orange juice on your face! Ugh. Not this one, it get absorbed right away, smells beautifully and my skin just soaks it right in for a smoother appearance!
Beautycounter Vitamin C Serum $79
I haven’t not been able to get my hands on this serum as it’s constantly sold out, however, I have high hopes! If you can get your hands on this when your read this I highly recommend. The best part of Beautycounter products is that you can return the product (empty even) after 6 weeks for a full refund (minus shipping) if you’re not happy!
Countertime Supreme Cream $89
This is the jam that makes my skincare world go ’round from an anti-aging, botox alternative perspective. It’s a clean retinol alternative and absolutely amazing. It’s got hundreds of 5 star reviews. Think of it as a shield for your face, protecting it from weather,expressions and make-up.
Eye Cream $63
The only eye cream I have ever taken to! Not too greasy or heavy, just super hydrating!
The semi-annual “bootcamp”
Retinols are your best bet for chemical anti-aging! To get a super concentrate of it, along with the daily moisturizer from above, do The Reversal R 45 twice a year! I have done 2 and it’s seriously miraculous! You really do turn the back the clock with this.
So there you have it! My top picks for Botox alternatives. Make sure to always wear sunscreen, and be “aware” of repititive expresssions, such as brow furrowing. Along with that, maintaining your weight is really important in the health and elasticity of your skin. Above all, remember real beauty and “anti-aging” starts within. 🙂 XO, Z
