Talking about Botox or botulinum toxin elicits different reactions: some love it and can’t wait to try it again with their aesthetic doctor to achieve visibly smoother skin and make wrinkles disappear, while others consider it a dangerous substance that causes swelling, prevents natural expressions, and restricts facial muscle movement.
But what are the real effects of Botox? Is it possible to have a “natural Botox effect” without going to an aesthetic doctor and without risks?
First, let’s debunk some myths: Botox should not be confused with fillers, which are hyaluronic acid injections that can cause swelling. Fillers can be applied to various parts of the face, such as the lips, cheeks, or forehead, to modify volumes and harmonize the face, or, according to some preferences, to make certain areas, typically the lips, more substantial and pronounced. Botox, however, can only legally be applied to the upper third of the face, namely the forehead and around the eyes. This is because its action affects the muscles, which in turn impact the appearance of the skin. Botox is very potent and effective for expression lines, also known as glabellar lines, which create more or less deep furrows on the forehead. These types of wrinkles arise from muscle contractions, such as when we frown. In many people, including the young, the skin does not fully relax after this movement, and over time, this lack of relaxation creates furrows in the dermis, resulting in expression lines. Botulinum toxin interrupts this phenomenon by modulating muscle contraction and completely relaxing the muscle, resulting in smoother skin.
While Botox treatments can only be performed by an aesthetic doctor, cosmetics today also offer new treatments for use in your beauty routine that have a similar action, namely acting on muscle contraction and relaxing the skin: neuropeptides.
COSMETIC INNOVATION WITH NEUROPEPTIDES
“Neuropeptides are small protein molecules released by nerve cells in response to a stimulus, mediating or modulating neuronal communication by binding to specific receptors”[1] (from the Treccani Medical Dictionary). They are considered an excellent alternative to Botox treatments because they act in the same way and help smooth mimic wrinkles without any risk:
- They globally improve the skin’s appearance.
- They slow the formation of wrinkles in the skin of people of all ages.
- They improve skin tone and elasticity.
“Neuropeptides like those in the formula of D-Stillate Eye Serum 0.5 for the eye contour and D-Stillate Facial Serum 50k for the face and neck are next-generation and help to completely smooth the skin. For the eye area, we used a Tetrapeptide combined with high and low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, and Vitamin E, which can address all signs around the eyes, while for the Facial Serum 50k, the action of Pentapeptide-18 in synergy with Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, along with high and low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid, makes the skin smoother, firmer, and visibly younger.” (Dr. Brunello Barone, founder of D-Stillate).
Neuropeptides are among the most innovative and effective cosmetic treatments against aging; however, it is noted that to maintain youthful skin over time, a good beauty routine should be combined with an appropriate lifestyle, a balanced diet, and avoiding photodamage.
[1] https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/neuropeptidi_(Dizionario-di-Medicina)
