There’s a new beauty trend making the rounds at hair salons and we think it’s pretty gross.

Women are turning to botox to help their hair blowouts last longer. The new trend is appropriately called the “Blowtox.”

“How does one get a Blowtox?” you may find yourself thinking… Let us tell you all the disturbing details. The hair blowout preservation tool was created to help women who workout (think really sweaty workouts like intense cycling classes, such as SoulCycle) maintain their pricey hairdos. The Blowtox is, basically, a set of a “couple dozen” shots to the scalp. The Botox “stops up” sweat glands for three to nine months, thus, allowing blowouts to last a bit longer every week. The FDA has approved Botox for excessive underarm sweat, so, I guess that it makes sense that it could also help curb regular exercise sweat, too.

Now, I can’t imagine using Botox on my face, let alone having it shot directly into my scalp, just to have a hairstyle last longer. But to each their own, I guess.

Fast Company did the math and discovered a Blowtox — a totally elective procedure that runs about $1,500 a treatment — could save some women money.

“For some (fabulously wealthy) women, a $1,500 Blowtox treatment may actually save money. A blowout at a trendy hair dry salon costs $40 (for the uninitiated, a “blowout” is when a salon shampoos and styles your hair without cutting it). Let’s say that a dose of Blowtox saves two blowouts per week. That’s $2,880 over nine months. On the other hand, you really don’t need a professional beautician to blow dry your hair,” reports Fast Company.

OK, sure, whatever. We still think this new hair trend is weird.

And we couldn’t end this piece without reminding everyone that some blowouts — even minus the Botox — are incredibly toxic. According to the Environmental Working Group, Brazilian-style blowouts, which can last for up to six months, can “contain as much as seven percent formaldehyde, a toxic chemical, which the U.S. government in 2011 designated a known human carcinogen. Formaldehyde also triggers allergic reactions.”

Related on EcoSalon

Face Mapping: What Your Acne and Wrinkles are Telling You

Should You Dump Your Doctor? Naturopathy and Conventional Medicine: How to Make Both Work for You

How to Prevent Wrinkles? Lace Up Your Runners

Image of smooth hair from Shutterstock

The post Um, People are Prolonging Hair Blowouts by Shooting Botox into Their Heads appeared first on EcoSalon.

Do you feel in constant battle with acne or wrinkles? Always working to diminish their appearance or prevent them from recurring? You may be missing the message. Face mapping can tell you a lot about your inner health.

We sometimes forget that skin is more than just a pretty cover that we try to keep looking its best. The skin is an organ, the only one we can see when we look in the mirror, and tells us a lot about our inner health. We just have to slow down and notice the subtle cues.

Ayurveda has always been about reading facial cues to uncover health disturbances. No, not a smirk or grimace. More like those pimples or wrinkles we spend so much time fretting over.

Before you go about banishing imperfections, find out how your breakouts and lines correspond to physical and emotional health. Do you tend to get pimples on your forehead? Have more prominent lines around your eyes? Redness on the chin? These all point to imbalances you cannot so easily see.

Why even worry about it when we can simply make a doctor appointment for blood tests or scans? Paying attention to early signs can help to get your system back on track before real disease sets in. Ayurveda acknowledges six phases for disease to become established in the body. Taking note of issues and altering your lifestyle before they are a big deal can prevent worsening health in the future.

So, you are ready to take action now. How do you know what your zits and wrinkles are saying?

The three doshas correspond to different regions of the face – forehead = Vata, chin and jawline = Kapha, the middle = Pitta. First step, notice which dosha your issues are in. Imbalanced vata skin tends to see clogged pores, dry skin, and wrinkles. Pitta imbalance shows up as redness or inflammation. Kapha usually looks like cystic acne or excessive oiliness.

Balancing the dosha that seems to be troubled is the first step toward healthier skin and system. But face mapping goes much deeper than this. Each region has specific spots that connect to internal organs and emotional states.

Face Mapping Basics

Above Brows: Blemishes above the brows relate to gallbladder and liver, suggesting the system needs a detox. Wrinkles on the forehead are called worry lines but can also tell of a diet too high in unhealthy fats and sugar. A diet void of processed foods and destressing with meditation will help these issues.

Between Brows: Blemishes between the brows signifies insufficient sleep or a diet too high in unhealthy fats. Creases in this area are connected to liver (right side) and spleen (left side). It may also mean repressed anger.

Dark Undereye Circles: Racoon eyes relate to poor circulation, while puffiness can mean impaired kidney function. Be sure you are getting enough water, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Crow’s feet come from squinting and smiling, plain and simple. Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect this delicate area. It is also important to note that dark circles can coincide with allergies, either seasonal or food related.

Nose: Connected to the lungs and heart, breakouts and redness in this area may mean internal inflammation. A diet rich in essential fatty acids and keeping caffeine and spicy foods to a minimum should help. Vitamin B can help to prevent breakouts and it may be a good idea to have your blood pressure checked if you experience pimples or broken blood vessels of the nose regularly.

Cheeks: Breakouts and irritation here could mean liver (left cheek) or lung (right cheek) issues. Chinese medicine suggests too much sugar is related to right cheek issues, while spicy foods and being overworked correspond to the left cheek. Problems on either side may also mean slow metabolism. Of course, we can’t forget that cheeks come into contact with grease and dirt from our hands, phones, and pillow cases too. Remember how Mom always told you to keep your hands off your face? Mom really does know best. Keeping this area clean will help to prevent blemishes.

Mouth: Blemishes around the mouth and on chin are usually related to hormones. Overly processed foods and lots of sugar can also cause zits here. Organs linked to this area are intestines and colon. If this seems to be your problem area, cut back on the junk and sweets in favor of a healthy, whole food diet rich in fiber. And, of course, reduced stress is beneficial too. Deep lines on the sides of the mouth can mean reproductive or pancreatic issues. Problems in this region can also be related to a closed mind or outdated opinions.

This is a lot to take in and you certainly should not try to diagnose any serious health issues yourself. If you are having persistent breakouts or are wondering why you have wrinkles one place and not another, these tips can set you in the right direction.

Related on EcoSalon

Herbs for Stress: Are Adaptogens the New Antidepressants?

Is Topical Botox on the Way?

4 Natural Botox Alternatives That Actually Work

Image of woman looking in mirror via Shutterstock

The post Face Mapping: What Your Acne and Wrinkles are Telling You appeared first on EcoSalon.

Be forewarned: There may be dragon’s blood in your skincare.

No, this is not a “Game of Thrones” Season 5 premiere week marketing ploy. Dragon’s blood is an actual skincare ingredient.

We love our anti-aging skincare. Nearly every beauty brand these days includes an anti-aging product or two. Seems we are willing to slather on almost anything in the name of youthful skin from plant oils, to acids, to blood of the dragon.

Ok, it may look like blood and does come from a living thing, though not a mythical beast. Dragon’s blood is the resin from the rattan palm tree, or Daemonorops draco, which grows in Southeast Asia. When the bark is sliced, the sap drips out and looks very much like blood.

The ingredient may be new to us but has a long history of use in the East as a topical treatment, digestive aid, fever reducer, incense, and dye. It is also said to be used in modern witchcraft as an ink in spell writing. Creepy nickname, Harry Potter-esque tree species, and black magic rituals aside, the use of dragon’s blood in cosmetics may be legitimately beneficial.

Dragon’s blood contains natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, making it suitable for use in skincare. The ingredient also has a pleasant earthy smell which works well in soaps and lotions. While you aren’t coming across this ingredient every day, it is becoming more popular among creators of anti-aging skincare for its antioxidant and skin protective effects.

If you want to hop on the latest trend since snake serum and try a little blood o’ ye dragon for yourself, you should know it is not that easy to come by. Not that it is so rare, just that most brands touting the whole dragon’s blood hype are using it in name only. Some do contain actual dragon’s blood but also contain synthetic ingredients. I’ve yet to find a completely nontoxic anti-aging product that contains dragon’s blood. You can try it in Soap for Goodness Sake Dragon’s Blood Bar Soap or Zum Rub moisturizer in, um, dragon’s blood scent.

To find the ingredient on a product label, look for: Daemomorops Draco, Jatropha Dioica, Croton Lechleri, or Dragon’s Blood. For all of you DIYers out there, dragon’s blood resin is available for purchase at Mountain Rose Herbs if you feel the urge to concoct your own home brew. And please, if you do, let us know how it goes.

Related on EcoSalon

4 Natural Botox Alternatives That Actually Work

Is Topical Botox On the Way?

6 Skincare Mistakes You May Be Making and How to Fix Them

Image of Dragon’s Blood sap by J. Davis Rorer at Flickr.com, cc

The post Dragon’s Blood: New Miracle Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredient or Spoils of Dragon Slaying? appeared first on EcoSalon.

The injectable is widely used but certainly not for everyone. Is a topical Botox the next big thing? And would you try it?

With the shift to natural ingredients in skincare on the rise, Botox may seem like a clean beauty villain. But once those deeper lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin make their appearance with age, many green beauty gals are giving the injectable a second thought.

You’ve likely seen facial creams hailed as Natural Botox or Botox Alternative. Sure, there are natural anti-aging ingredients that offer powerful line-smoothing, skin-plumping results. But the super smooth, creaseless effects of Botox? Not so much.

Once exclusively an anti-aging solution for celebrities, Botox is now used far and wide by both women and men. Botulinum toxin, the main ingredient in Botox, works by blocking signals to nerves which would ordinarily cause muscles to contract. In essence, muscles injected with the toxin are temporarily paralyzed. Effects last approximately 4-6 months.

For those who hate needles, and the redness and bruising they cause, topical Botox is on the horizon. RT001 is currently in the works by Revance Therapeutics, a Silicon Valley company who estimates the pharmaceutical gel formulation will be on the market in the next 2-3 years.

Can a Botox cream really work? We know that our skin is good at absorbing what we put on it, good or bad. RT001, which will be classified as a drug, will be administered topically by doctors only. So far clinical trials look promising, showing around a 20 percent improvement in crow’s feet with effects lasting about 2-3 months. Maybe not quite the results seen with Botox injections, but still…no needles. No word as yet on cost of the cream. (Botox injections run $10-20 per injection, or by the vile which could cost up to $2000, depending on the doctor.)

So, no OTC Botox cream just yet. However, leading derm to the stars, Dr. Fredric Brandt, who is working with Revance on RT001, has formulated a Botox-like cream. And this one can be used at home. The cream contains a peptide formulation that travels to nerve and muscle fibers in the skin and acts like Botox, freezing muscles so they won’t contract. The newly released cream, Needles No More, goes for $89 and is available at Sephora or Dr. Brandt’s website.

A simple swipe of face cream versus injection by needle may seem a safer route to line-less skin. The issue of toxicity, however, persists. Botulinum toxin is one of the most poisonous biological toxins. While the amount of the neurotoxin delivered by Botox injections is very small, larger amounts can cause the life-threatening illness Botulism. While no one has been reported to have died by Botox injection, there are other adverse side effects like muscle weakness, stiffness, rash, and trouble breathing.

Clean beauty aside, how safe is the stuff really? Botox has only been used for a relatively short period of time. Will we one day be horrified to discover the negative long-term health consequences of this skin fixer? Or will it continue to become even more mainstream? And do we really need to look as young as possible forever or learn to embrace our real age?

Related on EcoSalon

5 Fantastic Anti-Aging Products that Won’t Kill You in Large Doses

4 Ways to Face Your Fears

Uprooted by Gray: Distinguished or Extinguished?

Image of syringe and cream via Shutterstock

The post Is Topical Botox On the Way? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Renee Zellweger’s face.

Those three words are getting nearly 3 million Google search results today. Apparently, everyone in the world has lost their freaking minds – and not in the good way.

Everyone except Renee Zellweger.

Did she do something to her face? Maybe. But maybe she just, you know, AGED.

Do you look the same as you did 20 years ago?

Or maybe the better question is: Should you?

Here’s the real problem with Renee Zellweger’s face: Our culture wants women to go directly from young/cute/hot/sexy to the matronly grandmother figure. There is no in-between that’s culturally acceptable right now.

Ladies, you know that gray area between ages 40 to 60, when you’re likely at your mental prime, and probably your career peak (unless you’re a celebrity)? Well, it’s probably a good time to quit your job and stay out of sight for a while. Why not take a really, really long cruise or something? Because—especially if you’re one of our beloved celebrities—there’s nothing we hate more than watching you wrinkle and sag.

Oh, except watching you try to stave aging off with plastic surgery and Botox. That’s so vain. Why can’t you just be better at, you know, aging gracefully? Sophia Loren did it. What’s wrong with your genes?

Plastic surgery works for someone like Joan Rivers because she made fun of her face and her sexuality all along the way (“My vagina is like Newark. Men know it’s there, but they don’t want to visit.”). She had chutzpah, and as she was never really a sex symbol in the first place, her looks didn’t matter as much. At least, not to her fans and critics. Obviously she took her face rather seriously. Most of us do.

But other celebrities aren’t as blatantly vain or direct about it as Joan Rivers was. They hope a nip or a tuck will appear understated and hardly noticeable, like they’ve been drinking green juices and taking yoga every day of their lives. (Which, some celebrities also do, to impressive results.)

But we can’t have it both ways.

We can’t dismiss women for aging naturally as no longer relevant or beautiful or sexy and then criticize them for taking measures to diminish the effects of aging. That’s an oxymoron. Emphasis on moron.

Renee Zellweger has been out of the spotlight for several years. Not that she needs to work, but certainly she enjoys having a life and being a person who gets to do fun celebrity-esque things outside of her house, even if she isn’t promoting a movie. Isn’t that her birthright? So, her face has changed. C’mon, America. When will we change ours?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on EcoSalon

3 Films that Prove Feminist Movies in the Horror Genre Exist

Mind Blowing: Talk to Women About Sports as You Would with a Dude

Yes, They’re Real! 10 Myths About Women With Big Boobs

Image: zennie62

The post Renee Zellweger’s Face appeared first on EcoSalon.

Botox is one of the most common medical procedures in the world right now. But if injecting poison into your face isn’t appealing, there are natural botox alternatives that are a lot healthier. 

The amount of medical cosmetic procedures available right now worldwide is pretty incredible, but Botox remains one of the most popular and cost effective on the market today.

Botox works so well because it minimizes the muscle and nerve activity wherever it is injected. Usually it is used on the face with most people focusing on the forehead and around the eyes.  The botox injections prevent these parts of the face from experiencing movement for a period of about 3 months – and without movement there are no wrinkles, which makes botox so effective and powerful with no down time.

While Botox is widely considered safe when performed by a certified doctor, there are side effects that need to be considered and that you might not even realize exist.

Botox is actually just a trade name for what is known as botulinum toxin A, which is a form of food poisoning that occurs when a neurotoxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is ingested. It is true that this is what makes botox potentially dangerous with one of the most serious symptoms being paralysis. In some cases it has proven to be fatal.  Some people may also experience bruising or flu-like symptoms, and if Botox is not administered correctly you can actually end up with a crooked smile, droopy eyelids, and even excessive tearing in your eyes.

The good news is that there are natural botox alternatives and that many of them really do work.

As a skincare expert, I have found some of these natural botox alternatives to be equally as effective, less costly and far less risky than botox:

1. Apply Alpha Hydroxy Acids (or AHAs)

One natural solution to fine lines and signs of ageing is using AHA’s. You can apply AHA’s to the skin to remove dead skin cells while smoothing and firming skin too. Look for citric, lactic, malic or other types of AHAs in an alpha hydroxy cream, or other topical product. Apply daily to remove the dead top layer of your skin and increase the thickness of deeper skin layers.

Always consult your skincare professional before using new product.

2. Try Facial Acupuncture or Acupressure

This powerful alternative has roots in Eastern traditional medicine and it specifically stimulates certain points in the body that allow for the proper flow of energy, or qi. It’s important to always consult a specially trained acupuncturist or acupressure specialist.

3: Try Microneedling

This treatment stimulates the production of collagen, elastin and growth factors, and has been proven to show significant improvement in skin texture, firmness and elasticity. It works by using a device called a dermal roller which is covered in fine, thin stainless steel needles, which are rolled over the skin.

The needles used during this procedure are short and only target the upper layer of the epidermis. The top layer of skin is punctured leaving microscopic channels that maximize the penetration of nutrients, stimulate cell repair and the proliferation of new cell growth. This allows for cell regeneration and the uptake of nutrients by skin cells deep beneath the surface.

The key to needling, however, is the healing response that this process stimulates, which releases several key growth factors for optimal cell turnover.

4. Use Peptides

Peptides are naturally occurring proteins that actually help your skin produce collagen. Collagen is known as the anti-wrinkle protein and a certain peptide called Argireline is very powerful when applied topically. You can find a range of peptides in many skincare brands.

While tips like these really can provide impressive results, the very best way to avoid dealing with wrinkles and lines is to stay protected when out of the sun, eat a healthy diet full of superfoods and get regular professional skincare treatments.

Kerry Benjamin is an esthetician and skincare expert based in Los Angeles who is renowned for transforming troubled skin.
Kerry’s advanced techniques allow her to develop individually tailored skincare regimens for her clients. She is also known for her signature treatment called StackedSkincare™, which she performs exclusively at her private oasis, Spa Benjamin, in Santa Monica, California. For information on skincare and other tips visit www.kerrybenjamin.com .

Related on EcoSalon

‘Too Skinny’ Mannequins Cause Outrage, or is the Obesity Epidemic the Real Problem?

8 Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands to Make Your Skin (and Heart) Glow

6 Juicy Ingredients to Drink and Wear for Glowing Skin

Image: ekai

The post 4 Natural Botox Alternatives That Actually Work appeared first on EcoSalon.

No one sets out to age poorly. Cigarettes are smoked from youthful hands, complexions are baked in an unforgiving sun—40 is forever and a day away, so why worry? Until you turn 40. Or 35. Or in certain parts of the country, at a sprightly 22 after a night of hard drinking.

So, what happens? Women and men start to seek out a little ‘tox there, a little filler here. “It’s just a light touch,” they say. “No one will be able to tell.” And yes, some people are able to pull this off without looking like a wax model. At the same time, others refashion their faces into silicone masks ready to burst forth like a Vegas fountain.

Welcome to aging in the first world. On one end of the spectrum, there are the blissful Botoxers who insist that constant injection of onabotulinumtoxinA into their skin is the best way to look young, God bless. On the opposite end, there are the consumers who insist that wrinkles are a badge of honor and the only moisturizer they need is their great-grandmother’s olive oil dabbed behind their ears at night, thank you very much.

The rest of us? We fall somewhere in between. We spend a lot of time and money flopping around on the spectrum, hoping to find that magical product made entirely by gossamer organic elves who know just what to do. Our faces will be graced with a health glow, not reshaped into funhouse masks.

As a woman approaching the big four one this year, I’m striving to age as gracefully as, say, Naomi Watts, who says she’s avoided the ‘tox and yet still looks like a personal lighting crew travels with her at all times. Personally, my anti-aging regime will never involve injections. But hella if I don’t moisturize. Or tone. Or invest in large crates of safe sunscreen.

Sure, I’m not using a biological weapon to plump up my face, but I’m still trying to slow the progress of an indentured groove that’s taken up residence between my brows. Does this mean I’m not aging gracefully? To some, yes. But that’s okay. I enjoy olive oil too, especially in delicious, delicious lemon cakes.

So for my comrades out there who care about safe ingredients, yet still want to retain a healthy glow—here are five fantastic anti-aging products that won’t kill you in large doses.

1. Complexion Conserve Remedy Reserve Serum by Farmaesthetics ($48.00)
This serum may be better known as youth via glass dropper. Containing certified organic oils and the all-powerful vitamin E, I found it to be one of the most quickly hydrating moisturizers I have ever encountered. If you invest in one new product this year, you can’t go wrong with this one.

2. Pumpkin Enzyme Masque by Shamanuti ($32.00)
Skin that is congested and pavement-radiant inevitably looks dull and tired. Made with pumpkin and bilberry fruit extracts, this organic enzyme face masque offers up the same rejuvenating effects of alpha hydroxyl acids. Shamanuti’s products are specifically formulated with nutrients to nurture your skin, enhancing its natural beauty via vitamin-rich and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

3. Stimulastine Jour and Stimulastine Nuit by Yon-Ka Paris ($110.00 per bottle)
Okay, yes, these products come at prices that are not for the faint of heart. However, this day-and-night duo from long-time botanical giant Yon-Ka promises, among others, to “fight the deterioration of elastin, reduce the span and depth of wrinkles, and smooth skin.” A French company dating back to 1954, this would be the product your fashionable grandmother used to maintain her youthful glow. It is made with 94 percent natural ingredients, including shea butter, coconut oil and good old vitamin E.

4. Supreme Polypeptide Cream by MyChelle Dermaceuticals ($54.00)
This product promises you a world of rejuvenation—and claims to have the science to back it up. Formulated with an ingredient called Proteasly TP Pea Peptide, it promises to improve skin’s elasticity and increase overall firmness by 35 percent in just six weeks. Vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free, it offers up a more “refined” appearance for mature skin.

5. Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner ($9.95)
Sticker shock on the price of natural youth? Check out one of my all-time favorite products, this Whole Foods-available toner from Thayers. Spritz it on your face after every shower and you’ll tone, moisturize, and sooth your complexion, highlighting your natural beauty at any age.

photo credit: LatinaPower2009 via photopin cc

The post 5 Fantastic Anti-Aging Products (That Won’t Kill You in Large Doses) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Can you achieve fewer wrinkles without injecting toxins into your face?

Expression lines. Even though they’re really a reflection of a life rich with laughter, it sort of sucks that after a while, they tend to stick around even when we’re not smiling. Caused by repeated muscle contractions, over time, skin loses its ability to rebound and starts to crease more permanently where the contractions occur, giving us those dreaded lines between the eyebrows, forehead rows and marionette lines around the mouth. The most common, and yes, we must admit, effective way to reduce these types of wrinkles is via Botox injections (or similar products) into the muscle causing the contraction to basically paralyze, which halts the cause, allowing skin to bounce back and the line to smooth out.

While many regard Botox injections as a safe, relatively low risk procedure to soften these lines and prevent new ones from forming, many of us aren’t too excited about the notion of going under the needle for a little dose of potent poison. Side effects can include swelling or bruising where injected, headache and flu-like symptoms. If not injected into the right places, the toxin can spread into surrounding areas, causing eyelids to droop or become crooked or cocked, dry eyes or excessive tearing. These issues are temporary and will usually resolve within a few months, but scarier side effects where excess toxin that can’t be absorbed by the muscles spills into the blood stream and cause botulism-like effects include all over muscle weakness, vision problems, trouble speaking or swallowing, breathing difficulty and loss of bladder control.  Good times…not to mention the pain and the expense. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather opt for one of these needle-free options to minimize expression lines.

1.  Patch them up:  Made from a polyethylene film with a non-toxic adhesive, Furlesse patches are hypoallergenic, latex-free, PVC free, BPA free and have been through extensive testing to ensure they don’t cause harm to the skin.  Designed to help minimize 11s, forehead rows, crow’s feet, vertical lip lines and smile lines, they work by holding skin taut and flat, thereby reducing the depth of the wrinkle. Honest to god (or whoever you  might pray to), they help achieve smoother skin within hours.

2.  Pick your poison:  There’s another natural poison creating a buzz in beauty – been venom. While the plight of the world’s honey bees may cause some to steer clear, studies suggest that purified bee venom applied topically can relax wrinkle-causing facial muscles while also increasing blood flow and stimulating collagen and elastic. It goes without saying that if you’re allergic to bees, or vegan, steer clear. Before you shove your face into the hive, opt for a less painful (and far safer) application via a facial mask. Wedderspoon’s Queen of the Hive Face Contour Mask uses ethically sourced bee venom, certified organic ingredients and is cleanly formulated.

3.  Interrupt communication: Peptide based muscle relaxing ingredients are not included in many wrinkle targeting cosmetics.  The growing list of peptides used to reduce wrinkles includes Argireline, Snap 8, SYN-AKE, and Leuphasyl, and I’m sure I’m missing a few here. These peptides work by targeting the neurotransmitters in cells that tell muscles to do things like contract, and instead tells them to relax. The theory goes that this minute reduction in facial muscle contraction will reduce expression line wrinkles. To boot, these peptides also stimulate the production of collagen for a one-two punch to reduce wrinkle depth and help prevent the formation of new ones.  Check out No-Tox by MyChelle, a cleanly formulated option featuring peptides to reduce wrinkles.

4.  Relax them:  Also known as the tooth ache plant, Acmella Oleracea is the source of an active ingredient called Gatuline Expression, another ‘Botox in a jar’ cosmetic ingredient shown to relax facial muscles. Long used to alleviate tooth and gum pain, this plant extract  has pain reducing  qualities when applied topically. Applied to the face,  it is readily absorbed and has been shown to relax facial muscles and thereby reduce wrinkle depth. Look at Camocare’s Youth Elixir Serum as one option for a natural serum using Gatuline Expression.

Looking to try brands like these?  Check out Goodebox, a healthy beauty & natural wellness sample service.

Have any interesting home remedies to reduce wrinkles?  Tried another clean beauty product that’s worked for you to reduce wrinkles?  Let us know!

Top image: Andres Rueda

The post Needle-Free Alternatives to Botox? appeared first on EcoSalon.