It’s 2020 and youthful looking, plump skin is in. With many professional treatments available that target concerns like deep lines, volume loss, and wrinkles via injection— it seems we have a fountain of youth at our needle-tips.
Even though many Botox injections, and other fillers on the market have vegan formulas—most of which consist of plant derived hyaluronic acid—since they are classified as medical devices, they must be approved for safety and efficacy by the FDA.
Unfortunately, this can include animal testing. Although Allergan—the owner of Botox, Restylane, and Juvéderm—has taken huge steps to reduce animal testing by introducing a non-animal testing alternative that uses cells in 2011, they implied non-animal testing could take time, with a timeline that referenced 10-20 years.
Many medical professionals say these injections are safe as long as you’re receiving them from a licensed professional. However the FDA warns, “The safety of these products used repeatedly over a long period of time has not been evaluated in a controlled, clinical study” and in an interview with the, Sydney Morning Herald, the spokesperson for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Dan Kennedy explains, “As well as stretching of the skin, excessive use of fillers can result in longer term damage including wrinkling of the lip and disturbance of the attachment of the facial fat pads and some degree of irregularity and ageing of the skin,” and also expresses concerns of mental health issues associated with long term use of fillers.
With such a great focus on anti-aging and maintaining a youthful appearance through preventative skincare, injections and fillers can be administered to patients as young as 18-22 depending on the type. This is cause for potential concern because the long term effects and safety of these products are still unknown.
As mentioned earlier, most vegan filler formulas consist of plant derived hyaluronic acid.
Here are two products you can incorporate into your skincare routine to get plump lips and skin that feature hyaluronic acid, are completely vegan, aren’t tested on animals, and don’t have the potential to damage the soft and fatty tissues of the face over time—unlike their injectable alternatives.
The timeline to see results when using skincare products like these, in comparison to the instant results of fillers, may seem much longer, but rest assured, with consistent use following manufacturers instructions, you can see results worthy of a before and after photo.
Additionally please keep in mind that while both of these products are capable of giving you a more plump appearance, they are not capable of delivering the same degree of results as a medical grade treatment. As a general rule it’s good to have realistic expectations for your skincare products like how long they could take to show results or even the degree of results achievable.
The Lavender Moon Bedtime Lip Treatment from Pacifica is not what most people would immediately think of when talking about plump lips. Does it make your lips feel tingly? No. Is it even a lip plumper? No!
It’s a vegan lip treatment that can be used at bedtime or anytime, has a very subtle and light lavender rose scent, and is made with shea butter, jojoba oil, and of course—our all star ingredient, hyaluronic acid. This formula is moisturizing, hydrating—and capable of creating a more plump appearance in the lips. While its ingredients are incredibly nourishing, the feel of Lavender Moon Bedtime Lip Treatment is luxurious and moisturizing without feeling sticky or leaving any heavy or unpleasant residues. It lasts all night and stays where you apply it, so users wake up with lips that feel and are moisturized and hydrated, and not a sticky mess all over their face.
Retailing at $13, and available at https://www.pacificabeauty.com/products/lavender-moon-bedtime-lip-treatment ,this lip treatment is much more budget friendly than injections and fillers, which can range from about $500 to over $2000 per treatment.
to get plump skin, baby!
With that being said, the Vegan Collagen Booster Serum from Boscia has been my most recent skincare obsession. Retailing at $46, and available at https://www.boscia.com/shop/product_detail.php?products_id=354 , this tall sip of serum is formulated with a targeted tripeptide blend that’s derived from seaweed to boost collagen synthesis, fight wrinkles, and firm and plump; vegetable collagen to strengthen, offer elasticity, and moisturize; Amla extract for its potent antioxidant and adaptogenic properties to prevent the breakup of collagen and premature aging, and maintain moisture and skin integrity; and Boscia’s Signature Botanical Blend of jojoba and willowherb to prevent free radical damage, calm skin inflammation, reduce visible redness and irritation, and nourish the skin.
After adding the Vegan Collagen Booster Serum to my skincare routine, using twice daily as instructed, and seeing the results of my own forehead and nasiolabial folds after using regularly, I was very impressed. I got another for a pal of mine who had recently started getting Botox in her forehead for the wrinkles that bothered her—partially because it was the beginning of the pandemic and our state was on lockdown, we didn’t know how long it would last and how long people wouldn’t be able to get filler done, partially because I saw amazing results from it and wanted to see if others had the same results as I did, and I also because I was planning on getting her a gift anyway.
About four months after gifting my friend the Vegan Collagen Booster Serum from Boscia, I received a text with the following:
“Hey girl! *pic of Vegan Collagen Booster Serum from Boscia* Can you get me more of this or tell me where I can get it?? I love it and I’m almost out!”—she saw amazing results as well.
Vegan, cruelty-free skincare products are a wonderful way to get desired anti-aging results without the risks of damaging the soft tissues of your skin and other unknown effects that could from the long term use of fillers, or unknowingly harming animals in the process. Although there’s a time and place for everything, including fillers—which can be used for a variety of medical needs— for long term preventative and anti-aging skincare, focus on incorporating products with ingredients that support the skin’s health and function over time into your skincare routine.
Sources
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/plastic-and-cosmetic-surgery-for-vegans-information
https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-oct-10-la-he-animal-testing-20110718-story.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dermal-fillers-the-good-the-bad-and-the-dangerous-2019071517234
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