Easy Botox Alternatives

Question: "Is there any alternative to Botox? I have some wrinkles, but don't want to go there."

Answer: There may be no need.

"The latest anti-aging creams make a noticeable difference in muscular lines, so they're perfect for anyone who isn't ready for Botox injections," says Fredric Brandt, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and Miami.

Look For: The plumping agent GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), a natural muscle relaxer found in the body but synthetically produced for these products. "You can use it around the eyes, the forehead, the mouth, anywhere there's a line," says Dr. Brandt. The effect is temporary (most creams last for 24 hours), but it can be reapplied right before a big night out for a quick lift.

Try: pH Advantage Rhydex-2, $75, sephora.com.

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, June 2006.