Plumped lips. Tight skin. High cheekbones. These beauty trends and more seem to heavily influence our culture and self-esteem. The instant gratification of such cosmetic procedures put “aging gracefully” in the back seat, leaving us with no choice but to think botox and fillers are the answer if we want to appear more youthful and dare I say - beautiful. 

But what most don’t consider when getting fillers is the future of their skin. Overtime, fillers can actually stretch out the tissue under the skin, thus creating a bigger pocket to fill with each appointment. Enter “filler fatigue” - a phenomenon associated with the repeated use of fillers overtime. With this comes the possibility of sagging skin, distorted features and a life-long cycle of filling to fill. In some cases, you might even need plastic surgery to fix the negative effects of fillers with long term use. Granted, there are plenty of great medical spas with knowledgeable and skillful injectors, who educate, inform and have a conservative touch when administering injections, but ultimately it’s in your hands on what you do to your face, how often and how much. 

Everyone is entitled to age their own way, but it’s good to be informed before receiving any sort of cosmetic injection or procedure, so you know what you’re signing up for in the long run. While there are plenty of instant gratifying treatments at the medical spa to consider when thinking about enhancing your features and turning back time, there are also a lot of natural, non-invasive treatments and tools that don’t involve a needle, potentially toxic ingredients or lifelong appointments to the dermatologist or plastic surgeon. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Microcurrent Therapy

I was introduced to NuFace earlier last year by celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo via Instagram and have been a believer since. NuFace is a microcurrent sculpting tool that mimics the body’s natural current and can provide both instant and long-term anti-aging results. Microcurrent works by stimulating the facial tissue all the way down to the muscle. It is known to stimulate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production which drives the creation of key proteins like collagen - a household name in the anti-aging world - which builds and repairs the skin overtime. Most people refer to NuFace as the “5 Minute Face Lift” and the reviews are amazing. 

A hefty price tag, but worth every penny and the best part is, it takes five minutes and you don’t have to leave your home. If you are curious about the benefits of microcurrent, but don’t want to invest in the tool, Etiquette Beauty in the Crossroads incorporates the use of microcurrent in their Vibrant Aging Lifting Facial.

Facial Scraping

If you are well-versed in the wellness world, you may have heard of a gua-sha tool. Generally made of jade or rose quartz stone, the gua-sha is used to scrape the skin to promote circulation and has been a staple in Chinese Medicine for thousands of years to heal the body. The stone tool works with the energetic lines in the face to relieve congestion, move lymphatic fluids, reduce acne, discharge toxins, relieve headaches, lift and tighten skin. The benefits are simply amazing and with daily use, you can achieve instant and cumulative anti-aging results. Available at Hand and Land. 

Vitamin C + Retinol

If you’re looking for something a little more accessible with less fuss, the effective and synergistic duo of vitamin C serum and retinol is the answer. Vitamin C helps your body repair and rebuild collagen, protect against free radicals and even skin tone. The Ursa Major “Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum” contains a highly-stable and potent form of vitamin C, edelweiss and rosehip. Edelweiss isn’t a name we hear a lot of in the skincare world, but it’s a hardy flower with incredible anti-aging capabilities that come from it’s robust antioxidant complex. Rosehip is also high in vitamin C and delivers hydration while reducing the appearance of dark spots, scars and fine lines. 

Retinol, a Vitamin A derivative, also helps build collagen, turn over skin cells and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. My pick is the MARA Algae Retinol Face Oil. It contains powerful algae extracts, 1.2% of clean retinol and natural sources of vitamin A. The proprietary algae blend “stimulates natural hyaluronic acid synthesis and is loaded with phytonutrients and omegas 3, 6 & 9 to plump, firm and smooth.” Cacay, the highest natural source of vitamin A, boosts natural collagen production and delivers extreme moisture to the skin. 

Incorporating both vitamin C and vitamin A into your regimen proves extraordinary age-delaying capabilities and the two have become a staple in my regular skincare routine. 

We can all agree that the decisions of today determine tomorrow and this goes for the decisions we make about our bodies, too. Don’t let the trends of today alter your face in the future. Stay informed, educated and aware of the potential risks and possibilities when considering any cosmetic injection, and as always, don’t underestimate the power of mother nature and other non-toxic alternatives when thinking about aging your own way and taking care of your skin.