Why #NoTox might be the next big beauty trend

But what does it mean?

We’ve long been fixated on the idea of preserving youth, but if TikTok trends are anything to go by, Gen Z (and increasingly, Gen Alpha) are taking the obsession with anti-aging up a notch. 

Forget the secrecy we used to shroud cosmetic procedures in; injectibles have slipped into the everyday vernacular so smoothly that it’s now no more surprising than announcing a dentist appointment. 

In fact, you can kill two birds with one stone; dental practices across Australia offer cosmetic injectables in addition to their standard check-up and teeth cleaning. 

But with the rise of ‘clean’ beauty and skincare, it’s no surprise that consumers are looking for ways to take the nasties out of their cosmetic procedures as well. And according to Dr Abbie, an aesthetic acupuncturist practising in Melbourne, there are plenty of ways to get the botox effect without actually using injectables.

#NoTox isn’t a new phenomenon - it’s been around since the nineties - but the basic principle is all about reducing your ‘toxic load’ and trying to eliminate petrochemicals where you can. 

“What we advocate, rather than being extremists, is we like to reduce the load and introduce an alternative that doesn't have a huge amount of chemicals,” said Dr Abbie, speaking on Body+Soul’s Healthy-Ish podcast. 

Dr Abbie practices aesthetic or cosmetic acupuncture, using acupuncture alongside principles of traditional Chinese Medicine for a more holistic approach to skincare.

“I liken it to the soy milk of injectables It’s not going to make you look like a dolphin, but it will look smoother. It will tighten. And there's a glow that elicits from having had acupuncture.”

Using needles that are as “fine as hair”, a cosmetic acupuncturist will target points that tighten muscles and encourage muscle memory, as well as relax the recipient. 

“From a physiological level, you're creating a little bit of trauma, and a little bit of trauma encourages collagen production,” says Dr Abbie.

The basic principle is all about reducing your ‘toxic load’ and trying to eliminate petrochemicals where you can. Image: iStock

Aesthetic acupuncture isn’t the only option for those looking to step away from injectables; dermatologists have suggested that peptides might be the closest we can get to ‘injectables in a bottle’, while beauty influencers like Elle McNamara (AKA Bambi Does Beauty) have sung the praises of wrinkle patches and ultra-hydrating products for a ‘less is more’ approach to beauty.

But, the holistic approach behind this injectables alternative might be one that works for those looking for those looking to switch things up - or even just extend the effects of their existing cosmetic procedures. 

“We're only able to work with what's there… We can't do drastic ‘here’s a new nose job’,” Dr Abbie says. 

“But, I just think it's such a transformational medicine, that you can feel good and look good - you don't have to compromise.”

Originally published as Why #NoTox might be the next big beauty trend