If you searched for Botox and landed here, nothing has gone wrong — you're in the right place. We just don't carry that particular brand, and it's worth two minutes to explain why.
This is the part most people have never been told, and it clears up almost everything: "Botox" is one company's product name, in the same way that Kleenex is one company's name for a tissue. The treatment itself is botulinum toxin type A, and several manufacturers make it.
Essence by Shine carries two of them — Xeomin, made by Merz, and Jeuveau, made by Evolus. Both are FDA-approved. Both contain the same active molecule as Botox. Both work by the same mechanism, on the same timeline, for about the same length of time.
So when someone says "I want Botox," what they almost always mean is "I want my expression lines softened." That's exactly what happens here. The name on the vial is different; the treatment you're asking for is the one you get.
It's worth being clear about this before getting to the differences, because the differences are real but small — and anyone telling you one brand is dramatically superior is overselling.
If you've had a good experience with Botox, you should expect a comparable experience here. The variable that changes your result most is not the brand — it's who is holding the syringe, how well they read your anatomy, and how conservatively they dose.
| Xeomin | Jeuveau | Botox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Merz Aesthetics | Evolus | Allergan / AbbVie |
| Active molecule | Botulinum toxin type A — the same in all three | ||
| Accessory proteins | None. Purified down to the active molecule alone | Present | Present |
| FDA approval (cosmetic) | 2011 | 2019 | 2002 |
| Approved for | Cosmetic and therapeutic uses | Cosmetic use — it was developed specifically for aesthetics | Cosmetic and therapeutic uses |
| Typical onset | 3–7 days | 2–3 days | 5–7 days |
| Peak effect | Around two weeks for all three | ||
| Typical duration | Around 3–4 months, varying by person, dose and area | ||
| Dosing vs. Botox | Roughly one-to-one | Roughly one-to-one | — |
| Carried here | Yes | Yes | No |
Look at the accessory proteins row, because it's the only line in that table that has a practical consequence.
Botulinum toxin products are made up of the active molecule plus, in most formulations, additional proteins that surround it. Those extra proteins don't do anything for your result. Xeomin is purified to remove them — the manufacturer describes it as the "naked" molecule.
Why that can matter: in a small number of people, repeated exposure to those accessory proteins can prompt the immune system to form neutralising antibodies, which can make treatment less effective over time. This is uncommon, and most people will never encounter it. But if you've been getting neurotoxin for years and have noticed it not working the way it once did, a formulation without those proteins is a reasonable thing to discuss.
An honest caveat: reduced response is far more often about dose, placement, or going too long between appointments than about antibodies. Switching formulations is worth a conversation — it isn't a guaranteed fix, and anyone promising that it is has got ahead of the evidence.
Carrying two products rather than one is deliberate. They aren't interchangeable in every situation, and having both means the choice can be made for your face rather than for the inventory.
The absence of accessory proteins makes it the sensible default for anyone planning to treat consistently for years, and the natural option to try for someone whose previous product has started feeling less reliable.
Jeuveau was developed specifically for cosmetic use rather than adapted from a therapeutic product. It has become a favourite for expression-line work in the upper face.
Neither of these is the market's most heavily marketed brand, and that shows up in what treatment costs you. You're paying for the molecule and the injector's judgement — not for a decade of television advertising. Pricing is quoted at your free consultation, since it depends entirely on how many units your areas actually need.
Most new clients here have had neurotoxin somewhere before. A few practical things:
And if you'd rather keep using Botox specifically, that's a completely reasonable preference — I'd simply be the wrong provider, and I'd rather say so plainly than talk you out of it.
No — we don't carry that brand. We use Xeomin and Jeuveau, which are the same type of treatment made by different manufacturers. If you came looking for wrinkle relaxers, you're in the right place.
All three contain botulinum toxin type A and work identically. The differences are in formulation: Xeomin contains no accessory proteins, and Jeuveau was developed specifically for aesthetic use and tends to take effect a day or two sooner. Duration is comparable — roughly three to four months.
Generally no — both dose roughly one-to-one with Botox, so your usual unit count is a useful starting point. Dosing is still assessed individually rather than copied across, since muscles and goals differ.
Yes, broadly — around three to four months for most people, the same range as Botox. Duration varies more with dose, muscle strength and treatment area than it does by brand.
Possibly, and it's worth discussing. Reduced response usually comes down to dosing, placement or timing between appointments. Less commonly, it can involve antibodies to the accessory proteins in some formulations — which is why Xeomin, which has none, sometimes gets considered here. That's a consultation conversation, not a promise.
We decide together at your consultation, based on the area, your history with neurotoxin, how fast you want onset, and your own preference. Both are kept in stock.
Xeomin is a registered trademark of Merz Pharma. Jeuveau is a registered trademark of Evolus, Inc. Botox is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc. Essence by Shine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies. Botox is referenced here solely to explain how the products we carry compare. Individual results vary; this page is general information and not medical advice.
Consultations are free and there's no obligation to treat on the day. If you want to talk through which product makes sense for you, or you're switching and want to compare notes on your last result, that's exactly what the consultation is for.