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Martha Stewart’s go-to skin care brand is included.
Plastic Surgeon Loved Skin Care
- Most Affordable: The Ordinary 10% Argireline Solution, $10
- Martha Stewart-Used Brand: Alastin Restorative Skin Complex Anti-Aging Peptide Serum, $258
- Endlessly Reusable: Sio Beauty FaceLift Hydroseal Silicone Wrinkle Patches, $47
- Recommended by Two Plastic Surgeons: Skinceuticals P-Tiox Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum, $150
- Loved by Dermatologists: Skinbetter Science InterFuse Eye Treatment Cream, $135
To quote Frank Reynolds in the “Great Recession” episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “time’s is tough.” Though things are not as bleak as they were in 2009 (I think?), others and I are trying to cut costs whenever and wherever possible. Friends have told me that their Botox treatments may be getting the axe, which has led me to ask four plastic surgeons about the best topical alternatives.
Before I get into that, I must share a disclaimer: “Unfortunately, there is no topical skincare product that can truly mimic the exact effects of Botox,” Dr. Benjamin Caughlin at Impressions Face and Body said. “They work by temporarily blocking nerve signals at the neuromuscular junction, preventing targeted facial muscles from contracting. Topical products cannot reach this depth, so they cannot produce the same effect.”
That being said, the closest you can get to those professional wrinkle-smoothing effects starts with The Ordinary’s $10 Argireline Solution Serum.
The Ordinary 10% Argireline Solution Serum
“For patients looking for an affordable option, The Ordinary’s Argireline Solution Serum contains acetyl hexapeptide-8, a peptide that may modestly reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles with consistent use,” Dr. Rozbeh Torabi of Elite Plastic Surgery said. “While the effects are subtle compared with Botox, it offers an accessible introduction to peptide-based anti-aging skincare.”
Alastin Restorative Skin Complex Anti-Aging Peptide Serum
“The closest thing you can get to Botox for overall skin quality is a growth-factor serum that improves the skin’s resilience,” Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva at LEA Plastic Surgery told me. For this, she “loves” the Restorative Skin Complex Anti-Aging Peptide Serum from Martha Stewart-used brand Alastin. “Its TriHex Technology supports the skin’s own collagen and elastin production, so lines soften simply because the skin underneath is healthier.”
Sio Beauty FaceLift Hydroseal Silicone Wrinkle Patches
Dr. Caughlin’s recommendation—Sio Beauty’s FaceLift Hydroseal Silicone Wrinkle Patches—is perhaps the best bang for your buck, considering they can be reused endlessly. “If your objective is to replicate the effects of Botox non-invasively, mechanical wrinkle patches represent the most effective at-home alternative,” he said. Dr. Caughlin added that they’re similar because they prevent your skin from “splinting” and performing those “repetitive muscle movements that are responsible for [deepening] expression lines while you sleep.”
Skinceuticals P-Tiox Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum
Though a little expensive, this Skinceuticals serum is a fraction of the cost of a Botox treatment and comes recommended by two plastic surgeons. “This serum combines neuropeptide technology with advanced hydrating ingredients to soften the appearance of expression lines while improving skin texture. It’s an excellent option for patients who aren’t ready for injections,” Dr. Torabi said.
Dr. Luis Macias of Aesthetic MdR reiterated that “Botox works by temporarily relaxing the muscles that create expression lines, which no topical product can truly do.” But, the P-Tiox Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum is “the closest option we have for patients who want to improve the appearance of those lines without injections.” He says it’s thanks to a combination of peptides, niacinamides, and other clinically proven ingredients that “help smooth skin, improve hydration, and soften the look of fine lines over time.”
SkinBetter Science Interfuse Eye Treatment Cream
SkinBetter Science comes up often when I speak with dermatologists, and apparently, it’s a hit with plastic surgeons, too. Dr. Taghva called its Interfuse Eye Treatment Cream her “favorite” Botox alternative. “It’s built around neuropeptides, which gently interrupt the signal between nerve and muscle, similar in concept to Botox, just far gentler and without the needle. It targets expression lines around the forehead and eyes. It won’t stop movement outright, but with consistent use, patients usually see real softening of those [wrinkles].”
Check out more plastic surgeon-recommended skin care below.
Gold Bond Age Renew Neck and Chest Firming Cream
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
Byoma Barrier Repair Moisturizer Treatment
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Read the original article on InStyle
