Professional treatments
Anti Ageing Treatments: Botox and Xeomin Compared
By Samantha Miller, Clinical Skin Therapist & Founder of The Naked Chemist | Updated: 30th April 2026
When people ask me about anti-ageing treatments, the conversation almost always comes down to the same two names:
Botox and Xeomin. They’re the questions I’m asked most — usually with a slightly guilty look, because people assume a barrier-first skincare founder will disapprove.
I don’t. My philosophy is natural, skin-identical care, but after thirty years in clinic, I know plenty of you weigh up in-clinic anti-ageing treatments too.
So here’s an honest look at where these two sit in the wider landscape — and a lovely irony I can’t resist, since one of them is literally nicknamed the “naked” toxin. Let’s break it down.
Anti-ageing treatments range from topical care and microneedling to injectables like Botox and Xeomin. Both injectables use botulinum toxin type A to relax muscles and soften lines; the key difference is that Xeomin is “naked” — stripped of accessory proteins — which may lower the risk of resistance over time. Neither is universally “better,” and no treatment replaces daily barrier care.
In This Article
Key Takeaways
- Anti-ageing treatments span topicals, microneedling, peels, lasers and injectables — Botox and Xeomin are two of the most asked-about.
- Both contain the same active ingredient: botulinum toxin type A.
- Xeomin is “naked” — no accessory proteins — which may lower the risk of resistance with repeat use.
- Botox has the longer track record (cosmetic FDA approval 2002 vs Xeomin 2010) and broader medical approvals.
- Both typically last 3–4 months; Xeomin may act slightly faster for some.
- No anti-ageing treatment replaces daily barrier care — it’s the foundation under all of them.
The Anti-Ageing Treatment Landscape
Non-surgical anti-ageing treatments work in a few different ways: relaxing muscles (injectables like Botox and Xeomin), restoring volume (dermal fillers), boosting collagen (microneedling, lasers), and improving skin quality (peels, retinoids and barrier-supporting topicals).
It helps to see the whole map before zooming in. Most non-surgical anti-ageing treatments fall into a handful of groups:
- Muscle-relaxing injectables — Botox, Xeomin (the focus of this guide).
- Volume restoration — dermal fillers.
- Collagen stimulation — microneedling, radiofrequency, laser resurfacing.
- Skin-quality care — chemical peels, retinoids, and daily barrier-supporting skincare.
The two most-asked-about anti-ageing treatments, by a wide margin, are Botox and Xeomin — so let’s compare them properly.
Botox and Xeomin: What They Share
Both Botox and Xeomin are made from botulinum toxin type A, derived from Clostridium botulinum. They work the same way — temporarily blocking the nerve signals that tell muscles to contract, which softens the dynamic lines made by repeated expressions.
Beyond their use as anti-ageing treatments, botulinum toxin has genuine medical applications too — from muscle spasms and cervical dystonia to migraine prevention and excessive sweating.
So at their core, these two are more alike than different. The interesting part is what’s been taken out of one of them.
What Makes Xeomin the “Naked” Toxin
Xeomin is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A with the accessory proteins stripped away — just the active neurotoxin, nothing else. That’s why it’s nicknamed the “naked” toxin, and why it may carry a lower risk of the body building resistance over time.
Naturally, I have a soft spot for the name. But the science behind it is real: those extra complexing proteins in other formulas can, in some people, prompt the immune system to form antibodies that gradually make treatment less effective. Strip the proteins, and you reduce that risk.
What that means in practice:
- A pure formulation — active neurotoxin only, no accessory proteins.
- A potentially lower risk of resistance or fading results with repeated use.
- Simpler storage — no refrigeration required before reconstitution.
- Often suggested for people who’ve used botulinum toxin before, or noticed it working less well over time.
Why Botox Remains a Staple
Botox has the advantage of history. With cosmetic FDA approval since 2002 — nearly a decade ahead of Xeomin — it has the longest track record among these anti-ageing treatments, the broadest medical approvals, and the widest familiarity among injectors.
That depth of use matters. It means more research, more practitioner experience, and strong, predictable performance — including on deeper, more set-in lines.
- Extensive FDA approval across both cosmetic and medical uses (including migraine and overactive bladder).
- Decades of safety and efficacy data.
- Widely stocked and familiar to most injectors.
- Reliable on deeper or more stubborn wrinkles.
Side-by-Side: Onset, Longevity and Cost
Both anti-ageing injectables last around 3–4 months and reach full effect at about two weeks. Xeomin may show early results slightly sooner; cost per unit can be lower for Xeomin, though total treatment cost is often similar.
| Xeomin | Botox | |
|---|---|---|
| Formulation | “Naked” — no accessory proteins | Contains accessory proteins |
| Onset | ~2–5 days (often slightly faster) | ~3–7 days |
| Full effect | ~2 weeks | ~2 weeks |
| Duration | 3–4 months | 3–4 months (sometimes longer in high-movement areas) |
| Resistance risk | Lower (no proteins) | Slightly higher over repeat use |
| Cost | Often cheaper per unit | Widely stocked; total cost often similar |
| Track record | FDA cosmetic approval 2010 | FDA cosmetic approval 2002 |
Note: studies and patient reports differ on exact onset and longevity, so treat these as general ranges, not guarantees.
Common Treatment Areas
As anti-ageing treatments, both are used for dynamic wrinkles from repeated expression — crow’s feet, frown lines between the brows (glabellar lines), and horizontal forehead lines — as well as medical concerns like migraines, excessive sweating and cervical dystonia.
Choosing — and the Foundation Beneath All Anti-Ageing Treatments
A proper clinical assessment should always guide the decision. A qualified injector will weigh your medical history and allergies, previous experience with injectables, whether your goal is cosmetic or therapeutic, your resistance risk with repeat use, and the muscle strength and movement in the areas you want treated.
Here’s the part most comparisons of anti-ageing treatments won’t tell you, and it’s the bit I care about most: no injectable looks after your skin. It relaxes a muscle. It does nothing for your barrier, hydration, texture or long-term skin health — the things that actually determine whether skin looks well, lit-from-within and resilient between treatments.
Founder Insight
Samantha Miller — Clinical Skin Therapist & Founder of The Naked Chemist
“In thirty years I’ve seen beautiful injectable results sitting on top of tired, depleted skin — and the skin always tells the truth eventually. I’ll never tell you what to do in a clinic; that’s your choice and your injector’s expertise. But whatever anti-ageing treatment you choose, the daily, unglamorous work of supporting your barrier is what keeps skin genuinely healthy. A treatment softens a line. Barrier care changes the skin itself.”
Whichever anti-ageing treatments you consider — Botox, Xeomin, or staying completely natural — the foundation is the same: skin that’s hydrated, calm and barrier-strong responds better to everything, and ages more gracefully on its own terms.
That’s the whole of what I formulate for: skin-identical ingredients that rebuild and support the barrier, working with your skin rather than forcing it.
If you’d like to support your skin daily — alongside any in-clinic choice, or instead of one — that’s exactly where The Naked Chemist begins.
Common Questions
What are the main types of anti-ageing treatments?
Non-surgical anti-ageing treatments include muscle-relaxing injectables (Botox, Xeomin), volume-restoring dermal fillers, collagen-stimulating microneedling and lasers, and skin-quality care like peels, retinoids and daily barrier support.
Does Xeomin work faster than Botox?
Some people notice Xeomin working a little sooner, often within 2–5 days, while Botox can take up to a week. Both usually reach full effect by around two weeks.
Which anti-ageing injectable lasts longer?
On average both Botox and Xeomin last around 3–4 months. Some patients report slightly longer from one or the other, but results vary with metabolism, muscle activity and treatment area.
Can I switch from Botox to Xeomin?
Yes. Many people move to Xeomin after noticing reduced results from Botox. Because Xeomin is protein-free, it can be a useful option for those who may have built up resistance — discuss it with your injector.
Do anti-ageing treatments replace good skincare?
No. Injectables and in-clinic procedures address specific signs of ageing, but they don’t support the skin barrier. Daily barrier-first skincare is the foundation that keeps skin healthy and resilient between any treatments.
To Conclude. The Naked Truth
Among anti-ageing treatments, Botox and Xeomin are the two most asked about — and neither is universally “better.” Choose Xeomin for its pure, additive-free formulation and lower risk of resistance; choose Botox for its decades of research and broad, proven use. There’s no wrong answer, only an informed one made with a qualified professional. And remember: whatever anti-ageing treatment you choose, supporting your skin’s barrier every day matters just as much.