What’s The Deal With Those Viral Botox Sticks?

If something sounds too good to be true, more often than not, it is. Recently, Korean “Botox sticks” have been infiltrating TikTok feeds and Instagram algorithms, and being touted as delivering everything from fine line eradication to smoother texture and brighter tone – no needles in sight.

“It stops your skin from sagging, even if you have no lines,” says one user, while slathering the balm stick across her cheekbones. Another claims it helps tighten her forehead and plump up the hollowness under her eyes – something the brand says is down to the “needle-free volume” the stick creates. It’s a seductive prospect: all the benefits of Botox without actually having to get Botox. The question is, though, does it actually work?

Can these sticks help with loose skin?

Some “Botox sticks” contain temporary tightening ingredients like bee venom, matrikines (small peptides) and film-forming polymers. They work by creating mild inflammation that causes temporary tightness in the local muscle, as well as slight skin contraction, explains Dr Maryam Zamani, an oculoplastic surgeon, founder of the Clinic and a facial aesthetic expert. “The effects are superficial, acting on the epidermal-dermal interface (the boundary between the outer layer and inner layer of skin) – not on the underlying muscle.”

Similar to lip plumpers of yore – though possibly without the associated burning sensation – Botox sticks that claim to tighten and firm rely on ingredients that cause a short-term reaction in the skin. They do not – cannot – create lasting change. “The effects typically last from a few minutes to a few hours after application, with a reduction in effect as the ingredient dissipates or is removed,” Zamani caveats.

So, no, they cannot affect loose or sagging skin for long periods of time.

How Botox differs from temporary tighteners

“Injectable botulinum toxin works by blocking the nerve signal to the muscle, which reduces muscle contraction and softens expression lines. Skincare products only work topically and cannot reach or affect the underlying muscle or nerve,” says Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, a GP, an aesthetic doctor and the owner of the Aesthetics Doctor.

Botox, unlike topically applied products, is injected intramuscularly (into the muscle layer) or into the subdermal layer (just beneath the skin). The depth is determined by the injector and will vary depending on where in the face or neck the Botox is being injected.

“Botox works by selectively relaxing targeted facial muscles that are responsible for creating dynamic lines [in the skin],” consultant dermatologist Dr Ophelia Veraitch explains. “By reducing repetitive muscle movement, it allows the overlying skin to smooth out and helps prevent lines from becoming permanently etched over time.”

What can Botox sticks do?

Besides creating a temporary tightening effect, some Botox sticks can have an effect on the appearance of the skin thanks to the ingredients they contain. Some balms are formulated with retinol or retinoids, which can improve skin tone and texture (think brighter and more even), vitamin C for radiance or niacinamide for smoothness. These skincare ingredients can contribute to the sorts of skin changes that fans on TikTok and Instagram describe.