You know you want to do something for your skin. You’re just not quite sure what.
Maybe you’ve started noticing lines around your eyes or forehead. Maybe your skin doesn’t feel as bright or smooth as it once did. Or maybe you’ve found yourself scrolling through treatment options wondering whether you need Botox, better skincare, a facial treatment—or all of the above.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
One of the most common things I hear is:
“I know I want to do something. I just don’t know where to start.”
The good news? You don’t need to know.
You don’t have to walk into a consultation knowing exactly which treatment you need. In fact, I’d rather you tell me what you’re noticing and what you’d like to improve than come in feeling like you have to request a specific treatment.
Because Botox and skincare don’t do the same thing—and sometimes, the best plan includes a little of both.
First, What Are You Trying to Change?
Before deciding on a treatment, start with the concern.
Are you noticing forehead lines when you raise your eyebrows? Fine lines around your eyes when you smile? Uneven texture? Dullness? Dryness? Dark spots? Changes in your skin that seem to have appeared almost overnight?
Different concerns have different causes, which means they require different solutions.
That’s why personalized aesthetic care should never begin with, “Which treatment do you want?”
It should begin with, “What are you hoping to improve?”
From there, we can talk about the options that actually make sense for you.
When Botox May Be the Right Place to Start
Botox is a brand of botulinum toxin, or neuromodulator. These treatments work by temporarily reducing activity in specific muscles.
That makes them particularly useful for dynamic wrinkles—the lines created by repeated facial movements.
Raise your eyebrows
Frown or concentrate
Squint
Smile
For the right patient, neuromodulator treatment can soften the appearance of certain expression lines while maintaining a natural look.
And that last part is important.
The goal isn’t necessarily to make your face completely motionless. My approach is to evaluate your facial anatomy, movement and goals so treatment can be tailored to you.
I want you to look refreshed—not like a different person.
When Skincare May Be the Better Answer
Here’s something that surprises some patients:
Botox cannot fix everything.
If your primary concerns are skin texture, dryness, pigmentation, sun damage, breakouts or overall dullness, your skincare routine may deserve our attention first.
A well-designed skincare routine can support healthier-looking skin and address concerns that injectable treatments simply aren’t designed to treat.
But more products aren’t necessarily better.
You may already have a bathroom cabinet full of products and still feel like your skin isn’t changing. Often, the problem isn’t that you aren't doing enough. It’s that the products you’re using may not be the right ones for your skin, your concerns or your goals.
This is where professional guidance can make a major difference.
Instead of chasing the latest product you saw online, we can simplify the process and build a routine around ingredients and products that have a purpose.
What If Skincare Isn't Quite Enough?
Sometimes home skincare is an important part of the plan—but it isn't the entire plan.
Concerns such as uneven texture, the appearance of fine lines, pigmentation or lackluster skin may also benefit from professional treatments.
Depending on your skin and goals, that could mean treatments such as:
Microneedling to support collagen production and improve the appearance of texture and certain fine lines.
Chemical peels to exfoliate the skin and address concerns such as tone, texture and pigmentation.
Dermaplaning to remove dead surface skin cells and fine facial hair, leaving the skin looking smoother and more refreshed.
The right treatment depends on what we're trying to accomplish.
Again, we come back to the same question:
What does your skin actually need?
So…Can You Combine Botox and Skincare?
Absolutely—and for many patients, that can make sense.
Think of it this way:
A neuromodulator can address certain lines caused by muscle movement.
Skincare supports the skin itself.
Professional skin treatments can address additional concerns and complement your at-home routine.
They each have a different job.
Rather than expecting one treatment to solve every concern, we can build a plan in which different pieces work together.
That also doesn't mean doing everything at once.
A thoughtful aesthetic plan can happen gradually, based on your goals, timeline, comfort level and budget.
You Don't Have to Keep Up With Every Trend
Aesthetic medicine moves quickly.
There is always a new product, treatment, technique or viral recommendation promising to be the next thing you need.
But you don't need every treatment.
And just because something worked beautifully for your friend—or someone you follow online—doesn't automatically make it the right choice for you.
Your face is different.
Your skin is different.
Your goals are different.
Your treatment plan should reflect that.
Start With a Conversation, Not a Treatment
If you take one thing away from this article, let it be this:
You don't need to figure out your treatment plan before your appointment.
Come in and tell me what you're seeing.
Tell me what bothers you. Tell me what you love and don't want to change. Tell me if you want to start small. Tell me what you're nervous about.
Then we can talk through your options together.
Sometimes the answer may be Botox. Sometimes it may be skincare. Sometimes it may be another treatment entirely.
And sometimes?
It may be a combination.
The goal is never to do the most.
It's to choose what makes sense for you.
Ready to Find Your Starting Point?
If you've been thinking, “I want to do something, but I don't know what I need,” that's exactly what a consultation is for.
Schedule a consultation with Isabelle to talk through your concerns and create a personalized plan designed around you.
