The Beginner's Guide to Strategic Botox—And a Skincare Plan to Go With It

There comes a time in everyone’s skincare journey where all roads seem to lead to Botox. But what most people don't realize is that even if you aren't ready to go-for-the-Bo quite yet, it is still a good idea to see a fully vetted skincare clinic to create a treatment plan and explore your options.

“You want an expert who can understand the source of a wrinkle (which might not be what you think it is), and give you a proper diagnosis,” says Goodman. “I have quite a few patients who were nervous about it, so they went for 'just a little Botox here and there.' The problem is that is twofold: first, Botox is not necessarily the solution to everything, and second, even a little builds up over time and then, 5 or 10 years later, the brow feels lower because the muscles have weakened unevenly, which is what you were trying to prevent in the first place.” Goodman recommends approaching your skincare as part of a consistent long-term plan—just like healthy eating and working out, diligent, informed decisions yield better results than random bouts of attack. “Tailored results are always best, especially if you work with an expert who is thinking about not just how your face will look now, but what the work will look line down the road. If someone comes in and they want anti-aging but not Botox, we could maybe explore lasers as part of a robust skincare treatment or Argireline, which is a natural muscle relaxer. The important thing is getting a plan designed for you and then you can adjust as you go.” To address the rather viral elephant in the room, however, Goodman notes that the more extreme side effects of Botox that can scare people off, like the influencer her posted about her drooping eyelid, are easily avoidable. "I mean, I am glad it opens the door to discussing it, but with a properly certified expert, maybe 1 percent of people would have a droopy eye like we saw all over social media, and even then, you could come back to the office and have it fixed or at least reduced to be not that noticeable," she says.

Goodman, who trained in France and takes the more medical French approach to anti-aging, has her own clinics in New York and Brentwood. But she says when considering making an appointment with her or anyone, look them up on social media and see if their aesthetic matches yours before going in (not unlike looking for a hair stylist). Of course, if you still aren't ready to see someone IRL, there is no shortage of products that can yield more mild results—Goodman is a devotee of Biologique Recherche. Below, a few anti-aging products that can brighten and tone along your path to smoother skin.

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