Shoppers Say This ‘Needle-Less’ Smoothing Serum Is the Next Best Thing to Botox—And I Have To Agree

Last year, in an attempt to address the pesky 11 lines between my brows, I tried Botox—the buzzy injectable known for its ability to smooth out lines and wrinkles—for the first time. And as much as I loved the results, re-upping twice a year was a financial commitment that I wasn’t totally ready for. So if a topical serum claims to have a similarly smoothing effect on skin…there is a 100 percent chance I’ll be trying it.

Enter the Goldfaden MD Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate ($120), a skin-smoothing serum touted as a non-invasive solution to reducing the look of fine lines and increasing skin’s suppleness. No costly injections required. It’s a tall order, I know, but according to shoppers (and celebs like Katie Holmes, who love the brand), it *actually* works.

Goldfaden MD Needle-less Line Smoothing Concentrate — $120.00

Granted, the Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate doesn’t work exactly like Botox. “Botox works by preventing dynamic wrinkles by temporarily weakening the underlying muscle,” Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in New York City, previously told Well+Good—but it’s close.

How it works

The Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate uses skin-firming and plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and seaweed extract, to give skin a porcelain-smooth look. A celebrated hydrator, hyaluronic acid also helps plump up skin and diminish the appearance of fine lines as we age. “[Hyaluronic acid] is naturally occurring in our skin, but when you hit about 30, you start to lose [it], so replacing it is a big priority for me,” explained board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD in a previous episode of Dear Derm.

Acetyl-Hexapeptide 3, a powerful amino peptide, penetrates deep into the skin to help stimulate the production of collagen (which we also lose as we age—yay), boost firmness, and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles over time. According to Dr. Gohara, peptides even have some muscle-relaxing properties. “They inhibit the signal for muscle contraction so that the muscles in your face can be relaxed,” Dr. Gohara told W+G. Seaweed extract tops it off with more moisture replenishing benefits, which help keep skin looking supple and smooth.

Even more impressive than its plumped up ingredient list is the fact that the Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate lives up to its better-than-Botox promises. In a consumer study (commissioned by the brand, so definitely take it with a grain of salt!) with 82 participants, 89 percent said their skin felt firmer, and 80 percent said the serum helped smooth out fine lines, after only 28 days of consistent use, morning and night. What’s more, some shoppers say they noticed an improvement even sooner.

“After two weeks of using this on my forehead and neck there were visible changes in my fine lines,” says one Goldfaden MD shopper in a 5-star review. “I used this every couple of days for maybe two weeks and I noticed the lines in my forehead were barely there,” echoes another pleasantly surprised customer. “This stuff is amazing. I’m still baffled that it actually works.”

Plus, the Smoothing Concentrate’s tightening and hydrating effects are apparent right away. The thin, gel texture absorbs quickly without the tackiness of other hydrating serums, and leaves my face feeling (comfortably) taut, hydrated, and smooth. I found that it glazed over the enlarged pores on my T-zone and the dryness around my laugh lines without issue, making them less noticeable and creating a smooth base for makeup. “It tightens the skin and fills out my pores!” agrees another Goldfaden MD shopper in a 5-star review.

And while yes, $120 is a hefty price to pay for a face serum, it’s actually way more cost-efficient than Botox—which can cost as much as $2,000 depending on where you get it done and how many units you receive. A drop or two of the Needle-Less Smoothing Concentrate is all you need to coat your face and neck, giving you more bang for your buck. So if you want smoother, firmer-looking skin, the easy (injection-free) way—you’d be right to go Needle-Less. Shop the Needle-Less Line Smoothing Concentrate here.