I’m very open about getting botox.  At first, I was nervous to tell people but once I started to openly share people were genuinely interested in it and I wanted to share my story.  I’ve been doing it off and on for 5 years I started in my 20’s because I ruined my skin at a young age.  I was the kid who would lie to her mom that she put sunscreen on because I liked the way I looked when I was tan.  I told myself I don’t burn so why do I need sunscreen? 

Growing up I was also blessed with great skin.  I never broke out, so I told myself I don’t need to wash my make up off all the time because my skin always looked good.  Well fast forward to my 20’s, years of tanning beds, sitting in the sun slathered in oil, and I was already seeing fine lines.  I wanted to get ahead of it and start to use something that would slow my aging process since I had sped it up.  I tried every anti-aging cream on the market.  Was spending hundreds on jars that promised to smooth out my wrinkles.  NOTHING worked! Then I realized if I just spent a few hundred dollars on botox 3x a year I would maybe be saving money AND seeing real results.   

I started my botox procedures at a doctor’s office where they charge $250 per location.  I was able to talk them into splitting the botox between my forehead and between my eyes.  I was happy with the outcome but then their price increased to $275 and she wasn’t willing to split locations, it was going to cost me over $500 to do my forehead and in between my brows.  I started asking around and found out it’s better to go to a place that charges per unit.  When they charge per unit you can have them put it anywhere and it is customized to your face without breaking your bank.   

I was invited to a Botox party and was excited to be able to get units of Botox anywhere I wanted.  I was able to tell her I have $300 dollars, I want it to fix my forehead, in between my brows, a slight eyebrow lift, and a lip flip to help with my tiny upper lip.  Not only was she way more knowledgeable than my doctor and placed it more strategically for better results but she also used about 10 needles for less pain.  Each poke dulls the needle which can cause more bleeding, bruising and pain.   

There are 10 signs that your skin is starting to age and Botox may or may not be a solution for you.  

10 signs of skin aging 

1. Dry Skin: This is why Jenny and I drink a LOT of water.  It’s so important for our skin.  
2. Fine lines and wrinkles: loss of elastin and thinning of the top layer
3. Dark/age spots: hyperpigmentation is the result of your skin over producing melanin, the main pigment in the skin when it’s been exposed to too much sun with too little of SPF it builds up melanin resulting in age spots.  
4. Loss of elasticity 
5. Loss of firmness
6. Dropping lids
7. Dark circles
8. Crows feet 
9. Laugh lines
10. Dull skin 

Why botox? Botox freezes the muscles and limits movement, therefore, preventing wrinkles caused by facial movement.  Start it in your 30’s.. 20’s might be too early.  Skin is thick enough in ’20s that it is not necessary. It is a commitment because you get used to how you look with Botox.  I look nicer, less stressed when I have Botox.

Special Thank You To:

Cat Mackin, RN, BSN

Everything You Asthetics

Subscribe to the Freshen Your Life Podcast: