Wait, I Tested a Serum That's Legit Like Botox in a Bottle

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Listen, I’m no stranger to neurotoxins and injectables (currently sitting here with Daxxify in my jawline muscles and forehead wrinkles), but that wasn’t always the case. I spent the first few years of my beauty career too terrified to try Botox (or Xeomin, or Dysport, or Juveau) in fear of looking too “frozen.” Instead, I stocked up on over-the-counter retinols, chemical exfoliants, collagen creams, and peptide serums in an effort to smooth my wrinkles and fine lines. And honestly? I actually found a cocktail of formulas that are basically Botox in a bottle—i.e., products I constantly recommend to anyone who isn’t ready or willing to try neuromodulators.

But let’s get one thing straight first: “Topical products can never compete with a neuromodulator like Botox,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, “because they’re not injected directly into the muscle to decrease movement like neuromodulators are.” However, topical products can be incredible at increasing collagen production and smoothing skin, which can soften fine lines and wrinkles over time, notes dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. Not sure where to start though? I gotchu—here are the 12 best Botox-in-a-bottle products I swear by for helping to prevent and treat wrinkles:

Our top picks for "Botox in a bottle" products of 2023:

Keep reading for tons more information on the anti-aging serums and products that basically work like Botox in a bottle, courtesy of Dr. Hartman and Dr. Garshick and many years of testing on my own skin. Then, we’ll get into the good stuff: Can topical products compete with Botox (or neuromodulators in general)? Scroll on for the deets.

Argireline Solution 10%

TikTokers constantly call this serum “Botox in a bottle.” Why? Because it’s filled with argireline, “a synthetic peptide that can potentially help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by disrupting the signal between your nerves and muscles,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, “which can slowly—and on a much smaller scale—reduce muscle movement, similar to a neuromodulator.” Plus, argireline boosts collagen and elastin to give your skin a firmer, more even look over time. Just massage it into your face and neck once or twice a day to help firm your skin and slow down the production of wrinkles over time.

• Key ingredients: Argireline (peptide)

• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEWS: “This is truly Botox in a bottle,” writes one reviewer. “I have definitely noticed a decrease in my forehead lines after using it consistently. Highly recommend.”

Retinal For All Renewing Serum

Of all of the over-the-counter retinoids I’ve tried, Peach & Lily’s Retinal for All is my absolute favorite for how gentle it is. But why do you even need a retinoid anyway? “Retinoids are the single most effective component of a skincare regimen for preventing signs of aging that is also backed by science and research,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. Essentially, “retinoids regulate cell turnover, which encourages your skin to shed faster to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, potentially prevent acne, and even fade discoloration,” he says.

The downside? Retinoids—especially retinaldehyde, the strongest over-the-counter retinoid that's found in this Peach & Lily serum—is quite sensitizing, leading to dryness and irritation. But this formula is legit cool, because it uses a compound called ectoin to essentially "pause" the receptors in your skin that trigger inflammation, allowing your face to handle retinaldehyde with virtually none of the usual burning, itching, or flaking. Seriously—the Cosmo beauty team is obsessed with this stuff.

Still, just to test for reactions, I started slowly, massaging a pea-size dot all over my face twice a week for two weeks, then three nights a week for three weeks, and now every other night to smooth out the uneven skin texture on my forehead and fade dark spots.

• Key ingredients: Retinal (retinaldehyde), ectoin, ceramides

• Size: 1.01 oz.

THE REVIEWS: One tester writes, “Another Peach and Lily product I'll forever have on hand. I've tried several other retinol products, and this has been the best for my sensitive skin. I can see and feel a difference with my skin, and it hasn't had any adverse reactions!”

Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen + Niacinamide Activating Serum

Niacinamide is considered a miracle ingredient by many because it practically does it all: Smooths texture, plumps and firms skin by boosting collagen, and soothes irritation. But I’ll be honest, I never saw the hype…until I tried this hydrating serum from Skinfix. It, obviously, uses niacinamide to help keep my skin tight, along with MVP collagen-boosting peptides, skin-barrier-supporting ceramides, and moisturizing topical collagen to really make my skin look and feel so hydrated and ~bouncy~.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, collagen, peptides, ceramides

• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEWS: “Fantastic product,” one reviewer writes. “Soft, non-greasy texture. I saw plumping results the next day when I used it as a serum under my night cream.”

Vitamin C Complex Face Serum

Dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, recommends incorporating this vitamin C serum into your daily routine if you’re concerned with slowing down wrinkles, because it’s the GOAT for fighting against free-radical damage that leads to fine lines, dulling, uneven tone, and sagging skin. Plus, it increases collagen production to keep skin firm and tight. This lightweight formula actually uses three different forms of vitamin C, but is still surprisingly gentle on sensitive-skin testers (likely due to the moisturizing hyaluronic acid and vitamin E mixed in).

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E

• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEWS: One review reads, “Love the consistency of this vitamin-C serum! It leaves a nice glow on my skin. I use it before I put on my sunscreen every day. It's so affordable compared to other brands that I trust. I reorder this every time I run out.”

TNS Advanced+ Serum

I don’t have any static wrinkles yet—i.e., wrinkles that stick around even when you’re not moving your face—and I’m hoping to keep it that way for as long as possible, which led me to start smoothing this award-winning (seriously) anti-aging serum every night. It’s filled with peptides and 450 growth factors—sounds weird, I know, but keep listening—that essentially jumpstart your skin’s renewal process to promote elastin production and tighten your skin to help prevent fine lines. Plus, it’s got loads of hydrating botanicals that leave my skin feeling v moisturized and soft.

• Key ingredients: Growth factors (repairing), peptides

• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEWS: “My friend is an aesthetician and gave me a bottle as a gift while I was visiting her, and OH MY GOSH,” writes one tester. “I am a week in, and my skin looks drastically better. It's smoother in appearance and looks hydrated, and my laughter lines are almost non-existent. The overall texture and appearance is so good so early on, I can't wait to purchase more when the time comes and see what my face looks like in about a year! Definitely buy it.”

Revox Line Relaxer

One of dermatologist Corey L. Hartman’s favorite formulas for getting a Botox-like effect is this cult-favorite serum from Revision Skincare. It uses a combo of five potent peptides (including argireline, which he loves for slowly softening wrinkles), as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid to make your skin look a bit fuller and plumper after tapping it on. Dr. Hartman says he even recommends it to his patients who receive Botox and neurotoxins, since it can "help maintain their procedure results," he says.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid

• Size: 1 fl. oz.

THE REVIEWS: One review reads, “I have purchased this product three times now. It’s great at reducing fine lines and plumping fine lines if used daily. I use it at night under my other serums and really notice a difference.”

Retinol Correxion Under-Eye Cream

Instead of injecting Botox around my very sensitive bb eyes, I dab on this retinol eye cream three nights a week to help boost collagen and trigger cellular turnover, leaving me with smoother, brighter under-eyes over the course of a few months. Dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, also loves this cream because it’s “specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes with hydrating panthenol and glycerin.” Translation: It lightly hydrates while doing ~work~ on your wrinkles.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, panthenol, glycerin

• Size: 0.5 oz.

THE REVIEWS: “I use this under my eyes daily, and I think there's a notable difference in preventing under-eye wrinkles and fine lines,” writes one reviewer. “It applies smoothly, and the cream does not have any scent.”

Needle-less Serum

Fact: I massage on this peptide-rich serum twice a day, and it has made my skin look so freaking plump and healthy It’s full of neuropeptides, which “block the release of chemicals that make your muscles contract and create expression lines, giving somewhat of a Botox-like effect,” says dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. No, it won’t “freeze” your muscles, but it can help slowly soften fine lines and wrinkles and firm up your skin to prevent them from forming in the first place. FWIW, this plumping serum is also full of other skin-loving ingredients, like collagen-boosting peptides and niacinamide, as well as hydrating ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide

• Size: 1 fl. oz.

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve been using this for about six months and cant believe the results,” writes one reviewer. “My skin looks so youthful. The dullness is gone, and I will never be without this.”

Instant FIRMx Temporary Face Tightener

Winner of a 2023 Cosmo Holy Grail Award (nbd!), this makeup primer/serum hybrid temporarily smooths out fine lines with a blend of silicates (a powder found in clays and granite that "fill in" the cracks and ridges on your skin to create a blurring effect). Legit, the second I press it into my tech-neck lines, I start to feel the product firming and tightening, and my lines practically disappear. The firmness and smoothing only lasts for two to three hours, but it’s great in a pinch when my skin looks super dull or when I want to feel extra fresh before a special event.

• Key ingredients: Silicates (temporarily tightening), glycerin, panthenol

• Size: 3.4 oz.

THE REVIEWS: “This product is incredible,” one review reads. “It really does pull the eye bags tight, reduces puffiness, and smooths out the fine lines and crow's feet. I have fairly noticeable forehead lines, so I decided to apply it to those, and wow! It really does help reduce their appearance, especially in photos.”

AlphaRet Overnight Cream

Being in my late 20s means I’m still treating the cystic acne on my jawline while also targeting the fine lines on my forehead. It’s exhausting, tbh. But Skin Better Science’s AlphaRet treatment has legit been my go-to product for the last few years, because it combines anti-aging and pore-clearing retinol with an exfoliating AHA (glycolic acid) to help smooth, treat, and firm my skin at the same time. I just smooth on a pea-size dot once or twice a week (because it’s quite potent), and I get far fewer breakouts while simultaneously staving off wrinkles. Easy, peazy.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid

• Size: 1 fl. oz.

THE REVIEWS: “I have never used a retinoid that hasn't majorly irritated my skin by leaving it flaky for days after one use that I wasn't even sure I wanted to try AlphaRet Overnight Cream,” writes one tester in a review. “But I'm so happy I took the chance because I haven't had any irritation, flaking, or redness and started using it every single night right from the beginning. It has majorly improved fine lines, texture, and overall brightness of my face.”

Does Botox in a bottle really work?

“Botox in a bottle” skincare products work to help soften fine lines and wrinkles over time, but they don’t have the same powerful and long-lasting smoothing effect as a neuromodulator, says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. “Patients can see changes in a matter of a few days to a week with a neuromodulator, and those changes continue to improve in the weeks following the procedure,” he says.

Meanwhile, at-home products “can take weeks to months to soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles,” says dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. Still, that doesn’t mean these so-called “Botox in a bottle” products aren’t worth it. “In general, these products tend to help reduce the appearance of static wrinkles by helping to boost collagen production,” says Dr. Garshhick, "while in-office Botox injections help to rapidly address dynamic wrinkles” (i.e., wrinkles you only see when you make specific facial movements, like squinting or scrunching).

The tl;dr: While Botox temporarily paralyzes your muscles to limit wrinkles, skincare products boost collagen and elastin production to help soften fine lines over time. And, when used in conjunction, you're basically guaranteed to get good results both quickly and over time.

What does Botox do?

Botox—and all neurotoxins—temporarily freezes your muscles to prevent you from making expression lines. “Botox works by preventing the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine to prevent muscle movement,” says Dr. Garshick, “which relaxes certain facial expressions and reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles" (i.e., wrinkles that appear when you move your face).

While topical products may help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production, “even products containing neuropeptides that act on muscle-relaxing neurotransmitters [editor's note: like The Ordinary’s Argireline 10% Serum] still won’t have the same effect as Botox,” she says, even though these products can still be highly effective at home.

How to choose the best “Botox in a bottle” serum:

Look for active ingredients

Sadly, there isn't a single anti-aging ingredient that works as well as—or can replace—Botox (or neurotoxins/neuromodulators in general). Instead, you should opt for a mix of active ingredients throughout your routine to help soften and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Here are the top recommendations to look for, according to Dr. Garshick and Dr. Hartman:

• Retinoids, like Peach & Lily Retinal for All Serum, speed up cell turnover to smooth out skin texture and fine lines, as well as boost collagen production to help firm skin over time

• Vitamin C increases collagen and elastin production, and also helps protect your skin from damaging and irritating free radicals. (Fyi: Our testers loved the Naturium’s Vitamin-C Complex for this purpose)

• Peptides—like the ones in Revision Skincare Revox Line Reducer—increase collagen and elastin production, which helps soften fine lines and wrinkles, as well as helps temporarily soften muscle contractions to slowly (and subtly) reduce expression lines

• Niacinamide boosts collagen to help plump and tighten skin, as well as smooths texture and soothes irritation (my go-to pick ist Skinfix’s Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen + Niacinamide Serum

• Growth factors, like the ones packed into SkinMedica’s TNS Serum, kickstart your skin’s natural healing process and help encourage collagen production

• Hyaluronic acid-spiked products, including Drmtlgy’s Needle-less Serum, help to draw moisture into your skin, resulting in a light plumping effect that can potentially soften lines and wrinkles

• AHAs exfoliate your skin to reveal brighter, smoother, softer skin, along with helping to produce collagen (I personally swear by Skin Better Science’s AlphaRet, which uses both retinol and AHAs).

Manage your expectations

If you have fine lines you want to reduce RTFN, try a temporary-smoothing treatment like Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm-X. No, it won’t increase collagen production or have continued results, but it will give you two to three hours of "blurred" and tighter-looking skin. Or, if you’re in it for the long game, try a peptide-rich product that will slowly build your collagen. Cosmo’s beauty team agreed The Ordinary’s Argireline 10% Serum is the best inexpensive-yet-effective product to incorporate on a daily basis.

Meet the experts:

• Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL. He is currently on the board of directors of the Skin of Color Society.

• Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MCDS Dermatology in New York, NY. She is also a clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from neck-firming creams to microdermabrasion at home. She’s an authority in all skincare categories, but is an expert when it comes to “botox in a bottle,” thanks to years of slathering on topical treatments to avoid her fear of injectables. She regularly tests and analyzes anti-aging skincare for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and brands.

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