Beauty editor Laura Mulley has put Skinceuticals’ latest ‘Botox in a bottle’ serum to the test to see if compares to her go-to Medik8 serum

With more beauty buffs than ever seemingly on the hunt for need-free ways to achieve smoother, fresher-looking skin, it comes at no surprise that the term ‘Botox in a bottle’ is having its viral moment in the skincare world. Really, it’s just a catchy marketing phrase as no topical skincare product can freeze line-forming muscles like Botox does, there are a whole host of great new products on the market that can help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

One such product is the P-Tiox Neuro-Peptide Serum from SkinCeuticals, a brand loved by dermatologists, skincare experts and beauty editors alike for cult products such as C E Ferulic. This smart new serum contains a multi-peptide complex as well as PHA, niacinamide and laminaria extract to target nine different types of wrinkles, SkinCeuticals claims, from crow’s feet to forehead lines.

Coming in at £130, it’s not cheap, although new customers can save 10% via the SkinCeuticals website. Beauty editor Laura Mulley has been putting it to the test to see how it compares to her favourite wrinkle-reducing serum, Medik8’s Liquid Peptides Advanced MP.

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Pros

• Skin looks immediately smoother, brighter and healthier
• Lines appear slightly lessened
• A real one-and-done serum – no need to layer other serums or moisturisers
• Absorbs quickly but still feels hydrating
• Trustworthy, derm-approved brand

Cons

• Expensive
• Some report that it pills a little under make-up (I haven’t found this to be the case)
• May be a bit strong on very sensitive or broken skin

I’ve tried and loved plenty of SkinCeuticals products in the past, and it’s a brand that I trust because of its clinical trials and how much it’s recommended by experts, so I had high hopes with using this serum. And it was love at first swipe, reports the Mirror.

P-Tiox such an elegant formula: lightweight and runny yet rich, it sinks straight in yet feels nicely hydrating (hydrating enough to have me skipping moisturiser and moving straight on to SPF in the mornings), and layers well with all my other skincare and make-up.

I’ve only been using this for a week so far but the instant and short-term results are so good that I know I’m already going to be sad when it runs out. It makes my skin look immediately fresher, plumper and brighter – we’re talking ‘glass skin’ here. I’m overdue a Botox top-up and I do think that this serum makes the fine lines on my forehead appear less noticeable, perhaps due to the instant brightening and smoothing effects.

I’d previously been using the much-hyped Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP, which I love (you can read my full review here), but find that it’s a little drying, and I need to use additional skincare products; SkinCeuticals’, though, is gorgeously hydrating, and a real ‘one-and-done’ anti-ageing serum.

It’s hard to find a negative with this brilliant all-in-one anti-ageing serum but if I had to pull one out, I’d say that it might be a bit too strong for very sensitive skin (I had a bit of flaky skin from an old blemish and it stung for a couple of seconds).

Of course, it’s also expensive, although new customers to the SkinCeuticals website can save 10% when they sign up, and you may also be able to find some other offers on it on Lookfantastic. You’re paying for some really top-quality skincare here though.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, Naturium Multi-Peptide Advance Serum comes highly rated by beauty editors. It’s currently reduced down from £27 to £21.60