Binging on Botox: Alternatives
While botox is highly glamorized by the media and hollywood, it can actually have some long lasting effects that could do more damage than good to your skin, especially when starting at a young age. 20% of people in their 30s do botox in order to try to prevent the aging process, when wrinkles haven’t even developed. Long term effects include muscle weakness, which may lead to atrophy due to lack of use, thinner skin, skin discoloration, drooping eyelids, and many more. Luckily, there are ways in which we can reverse the appearance of fine lines and slow down the aging process naturally and effectively, in ways that won’t wear out your skin long-term.
Now that we know the side effects of botox, you may be wondering what other options there are to prevent signs of aging. Skin begins to lose firmness and elasticity, which results in wrinkles as we age due to the depletion of the skin's connective tissue, which is made up of collagen and elastin fibers located deep in the skin dermis. To maintain the skin’s connective tissue:
1. Eat A Clean Diet:
Our skin reflects what we put into it. It is important that our diets are packed with antioxidants and collagen building foods. To learn more, check out our blog on Collagen Boosting Foods.
2. Exfoliate:
Exfoliating the skin has multiple benefits. Removing dead skin cells helps increase dermal volume while also revealing healthier skin underneath. Exfoliating also helps remove harmful impurities from the skin, leaving it much healthier and cleaner.
3. Apply SPF:
Harmful sun rays penetrate deep into the skin, and damage the elastic fibers that keep skin firm and elastic, which allows wrinkles to develop. It is important to invest in sun protection that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and apply it throughout the year. Applying sun protection is one of the easiest ways to prevent the skin from premature aging.
4. Invest in a Serum and Moisturizer that contains antioxidants, plant stem cells, ceramides, and peptides:
The quality of your moisturizer and serum makes all the difference for the way your skin looks. It's important to invest in a serum and moisturizer that contains high quality, effective ingredients. Plant stem cells contain anti aging properties which helps increase collagen production, resulting in improved tone and texture. Ceramides help protect against environmental aggressors such as pollution. In Addition they lock in and retain moisture in the skin, combating dryness and irritation. Antioxidants are skin firming, anti-inflammatory, reduce signs of irritation and redness, aid in repairing sun damaged skin, and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Examples of antioxidants are vitamin C and E. Peptides also encourage collagen production while helping to plump and nourish skin. Keeping your skin moisturised, nourished, and hydrated minimizes dryness.
To learn more about the long term effects of botox, check out our previous blog: Binging on Botox: The After Effects.
