What I Wish I knew Before I got Botox

I was listening to a Sahara Rose podcast, where she was interviewing Liliana Cruz, founder of Wild Lily Organics who I happen to follow on Tok Tok because she has amazing advice when it comes to gua sha, and facial massage.  

She goes into the truth about botox.  I highly recommend this for anyone considering getting botox.  Especially if you are younger.  I know women in their 20's who are getting botox strictly for cosmetic purposes and they do not have any wrinkles.  

I often thought about how it can't be beneficial, with consistent, long-term to be getting botox.  First of all, us women all know what happens to our body when we stop exercising.  Our muscle tone diminishes, we don't feel as strong, and everything starts to sag a little more.  When you are getting botox, you are stopping the muscles of your face from making certain movements, which in turn, atrophies the muscle, because you are not using it.  Now, I had some superficial lines that were beginning to show at rest, in my mid-thirties when I started getting botox.  It has definitely prevented those lines from etching deeper into my skin.  However, I have noticed there are not so great side effects to this as well.  You can definitely tell when the botox wears off and it gets you stuck in a cycle of needing more botox, which isn't cheap.  

I highly recommend doing gua sha facial massage on a regular basis, to exercise the muscles of the face and to encourage circulation.  I think perhaps botox once a year, coupled with gua she daily could be beneficial, as you age.  I don't think botox is necessary for women in their 20's, when your skin still has a lot of collagen.  

I also really like Jennifer Adell, she has a lot of great skincare advice as well.