Key ingredients: peptides, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), vitamin B5, edelweiss extract, rice lees extract | Who it’s for: anyone who wants affordable, fine line-smoothing skin care | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Are topical creams as effective as Botox injections?
Injectables reign supreme when it comes to getting rid of fine lines, smooth texture, and plump lax skin. However, certain products can yield results similar to those of the neuromodulator botulinum toxin—a.k.a. Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport, among others—which works by relaxing the muscle contractions responsible for creating expression lines and wrinkles.
So, are there products that provide the near-immediate fine-smoothing effects of neuromodulator injections? No. At this time, at-home topicals aren’t advanced enough to act as swiftly and effectively as professional-grade treatments like Botox. Still, there are formulations with plumping and tightening ingredients to reduce the appearance of fine lines and sagging skin. “Although there is no true ‘Botox in a bottle’ that is applied topically to the skin, there are great topical products that can give the appearance of softening expression lines and improving skin texture over time, particularly with neuropeptides,” confirms Dr. Reed. You can even use them in tandem with professional Botox treatments (from a board-certified dermatologist, of course) to enhance and prolong its line-dissipating benefits.
What are the key ingredients in “Botox in a bottle” products?
“The best line-fighting creams are those that help build our skin’s own building blocks, namely collagen and elastin fibers,” explains Deanne Robinson, MD, a Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist. She recommends topical retinoids, firming peptides, brightening vitamin C, and growth factors to help support skin cell turnover, increase collagen fibers, and hydrate the skin to help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and frown lines.
Certain peptides, like neuropeptides, also serve as neurotransmitters in the skin. They work similarly to botulinum toxin by limiting muscle movement—although to a much lesser degree than that in injectables. With that, consider these skin-care products, including moisturizers, serums, and treatments, your best bet for products that work like Botox injections—just without the pinch.
Meet the experts
- Amy Forman Taub, MD, a Chicago-area board-certified dermatologist
- Angelo Landriscina, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Heidi Prather, MD, an Austin, TX-based board-certified dermatologist
- Omer Ibrahim, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist
- Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California
- Kellie Reed, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, Texas
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City,
- Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, MD, aNew York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Robert Finney, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Deanne Robinson, MD, a Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist
- Emily Wood, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
