Glamotox: A Substitute for Botox?
I did have Botox once. But it didn't do anything for the places I wanted to fix, which are around my nose and lips. It's best for your forehead, and I had a browlift twenty years ago that seems to have taken care of that issue for me. Not to mention the fact that it's hard to inject botulinus toxin into yourself and feel natural or even safe.
So I'm interested whether anyone has tried Glamotox, a new alternative to Botox sold by Rodial, a UK company. Here's what the company says:
Want to look younger without the needles or the knives? Rodial proudly introduces glamotoxTM, a non-invasive alternative to surgery. Infused with an SPF 18 moisturizer and micro-injected hyaluronic acid, glamotoxTM combines daily hydration with wrinkle plumping agents.
Benefits:
• Daily moisturizer with SPF 18 sun protection
• Instant wrinkle filler
• Muscle freezer
• Eye cream
This is what I know about Hyaluronic acid: it comes from horse pee. My friend Mary takes it internally because it helps her knee problems. It apparently lubricates the joints. I can't take it because, like aspirin, it upsets my stomach. But it is apparently a joint and tissue hydrater, and it is a major ingredient in Restylane.
If you have indeed used Glamotox, will you tell me about your results?
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unregistered guest
4 Jan 2008
I have not heard of Glamotox before but I know there are a lot of great substitutes for Botox out there. Sometimes it just takes doing a bit of research to find the right one for you. I use Hydropeptide by azure cosmeceuticals. It's a great anti aging skin care line and I love the way it makes my skin look and feel.
17 posts
30 Jan 2008
Botox didn't do anything for your lips or nose, because it isn't used for that. Botox is not a filler. It is used to relax muscles, not plump them. Surely you did not have Botox injected into your lips or nose. Botox has safely used clinically for decades. Most people never heard of it untill it began to be used off-label for cosmetic purposes. Botox Theraputic is and has been used for over 30 years to correct excessive salivation in infants, facial tics, excessive sweating, and several other uses. I'm a little surprised to see a posting that questions the safety of Botox, but mentions nothing of the risks of the general anesthesia you would have undergone when your face was peeled off, the slack cut, and then stitched back together again for that brow lift you had. Plastic surgery is safe in the hands of an experienced surgeon, so is Botox. I looked at Rodial's website, and with the exception of "micro-injected" hyaluronic acid, they provide no ingredient lists to back up their claims. There are some peptides (most recognizable is Argiriline) that can slightly decrease muscular contractions, and silicones applied topically can fill in wrinkles and provide a smooth appearance. Generally, any product containing any of the more effective topical firming/smoothing agents will have it written all over the bottle and proclaim it from the hills. I'd be willing to bet Rodial's 95.00(uk) product comes up short in the high performance topicals category. Hyaluronic acid is not derived from horse urine. Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in your skin, cartilage, cells, etc. It's essentially part of the intracellular goo that we are made of. For cosmetic purposes; hyaluronic acid is created in a lab. Older cosmetic fillers (Hylaform) used hyaluronic acid derived from rooster combs (I know, almost as gross as horse urine). Newer versions, such as Restylane, Juvederm, Captique, and Perlane, use non-animal hyaluronic acid, which is synthesized in a lab from bacteria. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it attracts and binds water. Hyaluronic acid holds about 1000x it's weight in water, which means it is excellent in topical products because of it's hydrating capabilities, making skin appear more plump. Bottom line: There are no real "alternatives" or "substitutes" to Botox or fillers like Restylane. There are things that can make you look a little better, at least temporarily, but nothing that would give comparable results. If I was going to spend that amount of money on a face cream, I would choose something with ingredients that have demonstrated capabilities and some white papers from clinical trials, not just a bunch of unrealistic claims, like "wrinkle-freezer". However, there are plenty of good products out there. Being an educated consumer will help to make good choices for your health as well as your pocketbook. Just my two cents!
unregistered guest
19 Jan 2009
You are totally mistaken about the origins of hyaluronic acid. You should correct that point in your "blog". Are you thinking of Premarin which DOES come from (pregnant) horse urine and is used to make hormonal treatments for menopause? Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body and as has been noted by another commenter, it is commonly derived from rooster combs. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture in the skin. It is used in many, many moisturizers. I think it's terrible that someone puts such obviously false information onto the internet - some people will actually believe you. Also, if you expected Botox to help your lips and nose, you didn't learn much about it before you paid to have it injected. Botox is best for forehead lines and frown lines. Now... I have used Glamotox and find it to be an adequate but expensive moisturizer. there are much better products out there for less money.