Surely This Trending Skincare Ingredient Can't Actually Replace Botox? I've Asked the Experts

If you're looking for a less invasive alternative to aesthetic tweakments, there's a good chance that during your research, you'll have come across argireline, a skincare ingredient often touted as 'Botox in a bottle'. Most commonly found in serums, the ingredient may not yet be as popular as the likes of vitamin C and retinoids, but it's certainly becoming a skincare secret for those looking for effective but non-invasive anti-ageing products.

In fact, as an esthetician, one of the topics I discuss most frequently with my clients is how to address key signs of ageing, like fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin, without the need for needles. I find that most people are open to the idea of trying Botox and fillers eventually, but want to see what they can achieve with their at-home skincare routine first. If that sounds like you, then a peptide like argireline can be a great addition to your routine. What's more, if you've previously found that ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids have caused irritation to your skin, peptides are often more easily tolerated by those with skin sensitivity.

Of course there's a lot of hype in the skincare world and not everything lives up to its lofty promises, so it's easy to become cynical when faced with claims like 'miracle cream' and 'Botox in a bottle'. We tapped the expertise of dermatologist Sonia Khorana to find out everything there is to know about argireline. From exactly what it is, to its benefits and side effects, keep reading for everything you need to know about the ingredient.

What is argireline?

"Argireline is a peptide (also known as acetyl hexapeptide-8) that has wrinkle-fighting and anti-aging properties," explains Khorana. "It is important to bear in mind that argireline is a brand name and there’s only one lab in Spain that has the patent on the peptide," she adds. "So various brands can use it and combine it with other anti-aging ingredients."

How does argireline benefit skin?

"Argireline is often used in skincare formulas to help fight wrinkles," says Khorana. "It also helps stimulate collagen production and helps the skin to retain moisture."

Argireline has been compared to Botox in its ability to relax facial muscles, but according to Khorana, it is not the same. "Botox is a neurotoxin (called botulinum toxin type A) injected into muscles to temporarily relax them," she explains. "Botox works by blocking the signals that are sent from the nerves to the muscles, which prevents them from contracting. As a result, the skin appears smoother and more youthful-looking."

While serums containing argireline can help to target the same concerns as Botox, Khorana explains that they cannot offer the same results. "You won't get the same results out of a bottle as you do with injections as [topically applied products] do not inhibit muscle contraction in the same way—a serum cannot penetrate so deep into the muscle. Plus, the results are also not long lasting as they are with Botox."

What are the side effects of using argireline?

According to Khorana, there are no known side effects to using argireline, however, since it's often combined with other ingredients, it's important to remember that how effective it will be will be down to the formulation of the product.

Shop the best argireline skincare products:

1. The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

2. Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP

3. 111 Skin Eye Lift Gel Nac Y²™

4. Jordan Samuel Skin The Performance Cream

5. Goldfaden MD Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate

6. Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream

7. Estée Lauder Futurist Peptide-Power Serum Primer

9. Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1

10. Aveda Tulasāra Firm Concentrate

11. Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum

12. Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Serum