Try This Before Botox: 9 Ways to Smooth + Plump – Toups and Co Organics

How Long Should You Try Clean Botox Alternatives Before Giving Up?

So many women in your local garden club have Botox, but you’re still skeptical about toxins and potential side effects. Use these clean Botox alternatives to get (almost) the same results.

Who doesn’t love a quick fix for wrinkles and fine lines?

Yep, the Botox pressure is real.

Just a quick injection promises to future-proof your face and soften expression lines, without drastic measures. Whether it’s the glitzy signs at your local med spa or friends inviting you to their next “Botox party,” it’s hard not to catch the hype.

But don’t hop on the bandwagon too fast. Botox comes with its own set of troubles. It’s made from botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin that freezes muscles in place. It temporarily blocks nerve signals and weakens face muscles over time.

That’s actually the opposite of what to do to maintain facial structure.

Instead of numbing the muscles (which makes us dependent on injections), we want to build healthy tissues, boost collagen production, and exercise the facial muscles to keep our skin plump and youthful. If you’re on the fence about Botox, trust us: try these clean Botox alternatives before signing up for a med spa subscription.

Restore Bounce to Your Skin with 3 Needle-Free Steps

The goal? It’s not to freeze your muscles in place but to restore structure and flood the face with nutrients. That way, you’re targeting the root issue and setting up your skin for long-term bounce. Here’s how to do that in just three easy steps.

Targeted skincare. Specifically, a nutrient-dense routine that includes a serum, moisturizer, and weekly exfoliating method.

Nutrient-dense diet. Notice we didn’t say “clean.” You want to prioritize foods that are high in collagen, minerals, and antioxidants to build up your skin.

Consistent routine. Even the most potent skincare products can’t fix inconsistency. Commit to your routine as an act of self-care.

Meet Your Clean Lineup of Botox Alternatives

Nutrient-dense foods, muscle-supportive routines, and potent skincare. Here’s everything we’d try before getting injections.

Nephrite gua sha + facial massage

If tight muscles drive your expression lines, gua sha can soften them. The daily stimulation increases blood flow, supports lymphatic drainage, and helps you absorb skincare even more effectively. Not to mention, relaxed muscles are flooded with collagen and other skin-building nutrients. The key to getting results is to keep up with your gua sha practice.

Frequency: Use your gua sha 2–3 times a week.
Trial Period: 3 months.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Nephrite Gua Sha.

Tallow face moisturizer

Grass-fed tallow balm contains vitamin A (a small dose of retinol) and other building blocks of healthy skin. It’s more than a moisturizer; it’s protection for your skin barrier that floods your complexion with fat-soluble vitamins. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients indirectly support collagen production, too, by protecting cellular function. We especially love tallow balm for mature skin that’s imbalanced, dry, and not responding well to your “tried-and-true” skincare products.

Frequency: Use it twice a day or once before bed.
Trial Period: 2 months.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Tallow Balm.

Whole food vitamin C serum

One thing Botox doesn’t do is brighten your complexion. That’s the real evidence of healthy skin, right? So let’s take a holistic approach to graceful aging. We love vitamin C serum because it fades dark spots, encourages cell turnover, tightens skin, and gives you that contagious glow. It’s the ultimate “multitool” serum that delivers nutrients and antioxidants for long-term results.

Frequency: Use it up to twice a day.
Trial Period: 4 weeks.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Vitamin C Serum.

Bakuchiol skincare

Can we tell you a secret about retinol products? They’re often synthetic vitamin A derivatives. In their synthetic form, they can irritate the skin and even raise questions about safety. That’s why retinol products aren’t recommended when pregnant or breastfeeding. Luckily, retinol alternatives can produce the same results without the risks. Our favorite is bakuchiol, an extract from the babchi plant. Studies show that it’s comparable with retinol but better tolerated.

Frequency: You can use bakuchiol daily.
Trial Period: 4 weeks.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Bakuchiol Serum.

Resurfacing AHA fruit acids

Exfoliation needs to be part of your skincare routine for mature skin. The goal is to slough off dirt and dead skin cells so your serum and moisturizer can penetrate the skin barrier. AHA fruit acids are natural exfoliating agents that come from citrus fruits and milk. Think of them as a step down from a professional chemical peel (but one you can do at home with natural ingredients). You’ll notice fresh, resurfaced skin that’s prepped and ready for serum.

Frequency: Twice a week.
Trial Period: 2 months.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Resurfacing Mask.

Red light therapy

Humans used to get red light through exposure to sunlight and cooking fires. But we’ve moved increasingly indoors, which means less exposure to this much-needed therapy. Red light helps supercharge our mitochondria, penetrating deep into the skin to improve collagen production and skin elasticity. It’s an easy tool to add to your routine (after cleansing but before your serum) to improve the appearance of scars, reduce hyperpigmentation, and plump the skin.

Frequency: Use red light therapy once a day for thirty minutes.
Trial Period: 6 weeks.
Product Rec: Bon Charge Red Light Mask.

Hyaluronic acid

If your skin is showing early signs of aging, you might be dehydrated. Hyaluronic acid and a good moisturizer are your first defense against fine lines, especially if they show up during pregnancy or when your body is under stress.

Your body naturally makes hyaluronic acid and uses it to cushion the joints and plump the skin. It attracts water. As we age, we lose hyaluronic acid naturally, which is why it’s helpful to add it back in through skincare.

Frequency: Use it up to twice daily.
Trial Period: 6 weeks.
Product Rec: Toups and Co Vitamin C Serum.

Gelatin-rich foods

Your grandma said green Jell-O was her secret to plump skin. And, while we don’t recommend eating the artificial version, she might not be wrong. Gelatin is a flavorless protein that comes from animal collagen, so it has the exact amino acid profile our skin needs to thrive. Gelatin is so effective at plumping and smoothing skin, some influencers call it “eating your Botox.”

Frequency: Add gelatin to your diet once daily.
Trial Period: 8 weeks.
Product Rec: Perfect Supplements Grass-Fed Gelatin.

Facial taping

Sounds like snake oil, right? But there’s science behind facial taping. When you hold your muscles in place overnight, you retrain them. The next morning, you’ll notice less tension and fewer expression lines. It’s a good way to keep away sleep creases, too.

Frequency: Try face taping nightly for best results.

Trial Period: 6 weeks.
Product Rec: Frownies Face Patches.

What You Actually Need to Hear About Aging Gracefully

When your mom complained to you about her wrinkles, she wasn’t just talking about the forehead lines and crow’s feet. You know that now, right? Aging is an emotional experience. When you don’t recognize yourself in the mirror, it’s easy to feel a sense of loss. But it’s important that we process that loss well, not avoid it with injections. On the other side of aging is a new season of life — one where we experience radical self-acceptance and self-love that has nothing to do with our complexion.