8 Anti-Aging Products That Are Better Than Botox

Botox has its fair share of pros and cons. Tops on the list of pros? It zaps wrinkles almost instantly and gives you long-lasting results.

But settling into your dermatologist’s chair for injections isn’t as easy-breezy as it sounds. Shots can be painful and cause bruising. And at $450 (or more, depending on how many areas you have injected), it’s certainly not cheap either.

However, with a little patience and dedication to a nightly skin-care regimen, you can achieve smooth, wrinkle-free skin without injections. And you can really maximize those results by eating right, exercising and keeping your stress under control, according to Howard Murad, MD, founder and CEO of Murad. “Quite honestly, I have seen better total body results in my patients following [a healthy lifestyle] program than with cosmetic fillers and injectables,” he says.

When it comes to fighting fine lines, these eight skin-care miracle workers all give Botox a run for its money, and they have a ton of additional skin benefits like lightening dark spots and stimulating cell renewal as well.

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No. 8: SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum, $270

Key Ingredients: Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), hyaluronic acid, palmitoyl tripeptide

You may already be familiar with hyaluronic acid’s ability to moisturize and plump skin, but GABA is probably new to you — though it’s definitely worth knowing. Murad says GABA can “have a tightening and ‘freezing’ effect similar to what occurs following Botox injections.” Combine that with collagen-stimulating peptides, and you’ve got a serum that works overtime to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.

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No. 7: Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Eye Cream, $68

Key Ingredients: GABA, ferulic acid, retinol

Not only does this eye cream have GABA and retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it also contains ferulic and gallic acids to protect the sensitive skin under the eyes from sun damage and reduce those pesky dark circles that never seem to go away.

No. 6: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask, $24.99

Key Ingredients: Pro-Xylane, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica

This drugstore alternative to Botox combines Pro-Xylane for firmer skin with hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica to help keep skin moisturized and repair it from environmental damage.

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No. 5: Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Fast Acting Serum, $120

Key Ingredients: Snail conopeptide, matrixyl

The secret behind this anti-wrinkle serum lies in the synthetic snail venom, which was created to mimic cone snail venom’s ability to relax wrinkles for a smoother appearance. This luxe serum also contains matrixyl to boost collagen production and actual diamond dust to blur fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.

No. 4: StriVectin Labs Extreme Cream, $89

Key Ingredients: NIA-114

This silky, moisturizing night cream contains StriVectin’s patented NIA-114 technology to instantly hydrate and plump the skin. Over time, it works to protect the skin from free radicals that speed up the aging process.

No. 3: Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask, $63

Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C

By smoothing wrinkles and hydrating the skin, the retinol in this face mask “help[s] restore skin texture and tone,” Murad says. Combine that with the vitamin C which helps stimulate collagen production and plant extracts to give skin an instant glow after each use.

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No. 2: Revive Intensite Line Erasing Serum, $600

Key Ingredients: Synthetic cone snail venom

At $600, you might be thinking you may as well spring for the Botox. But in addition to the pain factor being zero, this serum will last you much longer than a one-time treatment. Like the Peter Thomas Roth serum, the synthetic cone snail venom works similarly to injectables to relax deep wrinkles.

No. 1: Rodan + Fields Redefine Acute Care Skincare for Expression Lines, $220

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1

These guys won’t be available until January, but the new technology behind them is worth the wait. Each patch contains over 100 microscopic liquid cones full of anti-aging ingredients like peptides to reduce wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid to fill in smile lines and crow’s feet around the lips or under the eyes. Apply a set (each pack comes with 10) before bed, and wake up with smoother skin.

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