Thanks to Hollywood, everyone has heard of Botox. But now, there’s a new frontrunner injectable called Xeomin and it’s got backing from the likes of Gwenyth Platrow. Earlier this month, I headed to premier beauty salon Platinum by April to try it out. Here’s what happened:

CONSULTATION

Walking into the salon, based in Hawker ACT, I was greeted with comfy seating, warm tea on arrival, lots of pink decor and the lovely April who was ready to make us feel beautiful. My bestie, Emma, tagged along (because cosmetic injectables are always more fun with a friend!) who was also keen to dabble in anti-wrinkle injectables. April set us down, discussed our concerns and Face-timed a doctor (just to make sure we are right to go ahead with the treatments).  If you’re not quite sure what you want, the consultation is the perfect time to discuss all your options. With years of experience, April will happily recommend the best treatment for you and provide you with a quote before you proceed with any treatment.

Not quite ready to have the full anti-wrinkle treatment yet (I’ve only ever dabbled in fillers before!) I wanted to try something subtle around my eyes to see if I liked the results. It’s also been more than four years since I last had lip filler. And, having been recently pregnant, I noticed a drastic change in the plumpness of my lips. I told April I was keen to have a bit of a pout back, but not necessarily the entire lip filler look.

After hearing me out, April suggested to try a Brow Lift and a Lip Flip. Both procedures using Xeomin – a more purified form of anti-wrinkle, with no additives.

WHAT IS XEOMIN?

Xeomin is a form of botulism toxin that is injected into the face and used to block muscle movement in areas that contribute to wrinkles. Unlike other neuromodulators, Xeomin does not have extra added proteins around the botulinum toxin molecule. That means there is a lesser chance to have an allergic reaction to Xeomin than to other toxins, such as Botox.

WHAT IS A BROW LIFT?

A brow lift is truly Hollywoods best kept secret. It helps you open up your eyes by lifting your eyebrows and creating a more defined brow arch. The injections work by relaxing underlying muscles to smooth your skin on the outside and relaxing the muscles between the brows. This allows the forehead muscles to pull up the now-relaxed muscles between the brows, thereby elevating the brows and opening up the eyes.

WHAT IS A LIP FLIP?

While lip fillers might be the most popular way to puff up your pout, many people (including myself) don’t realise there are other options. A lip flip is a super easy treatment where a few units of Xeomin (or other botulism toxins like Botox) are injected into the upper lip. This causes the upper lip to relax and “flip” outward, so it appears more full. The result is a much more natural pout which lasts about 3 months.

THE PROCEDURES

After watching my best friend not even flinch during her anti-wrinkle treatments, I was relaxed and ready to start my Brow Lift. I sat back on the bed and April asked me to perform a few facial expressions to see where my muscles sat. Then, I felt a slight pinch on a few sites at the bottom of both of my eyebrows. And this was it. Done! I couldn’t believe how quick and painless it was.

The lip flip was just as quick and painless with a couple of needles injected into my top lip. I will admit this hurt slightly more than the brows (the area around your top lip is very sensitive) however it’s still only a mild sting that lasts a few seconds.

Best of all, there is absolutely no swelling, pain or hint of getting any cosmetic injectables after the procedure. You’re free to go about your day as normal – you just need to avoid makeup for at-least 24-48 hours to minimise the risk of infection at the injection site.

RESULTS

With Xeomin, results start to show at about day three with full effect at two weeks. It lasts about 3 months but this depends on your metabolism and lifestyle. Personally, I am pretty obsessed with how it all turned out. My eyebrows have raised just enough to make me look a bit more refreshed and awake by slightly opening up the eyelids and pulling up the arch of my brows. In the before and after, you can see my eyelids much more and the brows have raised slightly for a youthful look. It’s such an incredible treatment to ensure you look refreshed (even if you had little sleep!). As for the lips, I think I’ve found my new substitute for lip filler! It is the perfect way to achieve a pouty look without accidentally going over the top. Just look at my upper lip, the results honestly speak for themselves!

Both treatments start at $150 at Platinum by April however this differs depending on your desired look. If you’re interested, make sure you book an appointment for a consultation so you can get professional advice about the treatments right for you.

Thank you to the team at Platinum by April.

The blog was written for review purposes and all opinions are my own.

Natalia