Does Any Cream Work As Well As Botox?

This is controversial, but we have to say it. If you search around on the internet for more than ten seconds, you’ll stumble across all kinds of skincare product lists that claim to be “as effective as Botox” or “Botox in a bottle.” But if you’re thinking it might be too good to be true, your suspicions are correct. There’s a reason why people who get Botox keep going back for more–it’s because it works better on fine lines and wrinkles than any cream or serum. Plus, there are benefits only Botox can give you, because of how it works. 

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What is Botox and how does it work?

Botox is the trade name for botulinum neurotoxin, which temporarily relaxes muscles. Even though the botulinum toxin is just that–a toxin–it’s safe to inject into the muscle because it doesn’t travel throughout the body. Botox stays where it’s been injected, in localized areas like the forehead, between the eyebrows, or in the jaw. When we use our facial muscles to make expressions, that causes fine lines and wrinkles to form in the skin. By relaxing those muscles, Botox improves the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and can even prevent new ones from forming. 

Why is Botox different than creams and serums? 

Botox works on the muscles underneath your skin, directly addressing the cause of many fine lines and wrinkles. There is no serum or moisturizer that penetrates into your skin that deeply, because your skin is meant to act as a barrier between your body and the world. Your skincare stays in the upper layers of your skin–very little is absorbed into your bloodstream and into your body. Botox treats wrinkles in a way that serums just can’t. 

Is anything as good as Botox for wrinkles?

Topically, there are a lot of active ingredients we love and recommend for battling the signs of aging, including Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide. But when it comes to fine lines and wrinkles, the only topical ingredient that is FDA approved to treat them is vitamin A, also called retinol or retinoids. You can read our complete retinoid guide to learn more, but the short version is: prescription vitamin A is the most effective, while OTC formulations still deliver results. Still, even prescription retinol doesn’t deliver results as dramatic as Botox. Botox also starts working faster. Vitamin A needs several weeks or months of consistent use, whereas Botox starts working within one to two weeks. We recommend using retinols to support your skin care goals, slow the signs of aging, and even out your skin tone. But retinol isn’t a direct substitute for Botox. 

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Other Benefits of Botox

You already know that Botox treats wrinkles and fine lines. But the greatest thing about Botox is that it can be used throughout the face and body to treat all kinds of concerns–not just aesthetic. Here are some of the health issues Botox can improve: 

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• TMJ: Botox injections in the masseter muscle can treat the pain and teeth grinding of TMJ. 
• Trapezius muscles: holding all your stress in your shoulders? Getting tension headaches that radiate up your neck? Botox temporarily relaxes the trap muscles in your shoulders, so you can get relief. 
• Excessive sweating in hands and armpits: if prescription strength antiperspirant won’t stop you from sweating through your shirt, Botox injections are a common treatment. The Botox stops your sweat glands from producing sweat in your underarms or palms.

• Treatment of migraines and chronic headaches: nobody really knows why, but Botox injections in the forehead help some people who have migraines. 

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Where do I get Botox near me? 

If you’re ready to banish your fine lines, going to a qualified and licensed provider is a must. In the Upkeep app, we’ve done the legwork for you and partnered with the best providers in your area. It’s easier than ever to book Botox, with the Upkeep app. Download now on the App Store or Google Play!