I’m 58 but look 30 thanks to my cheap ‘natural Botox’ hack… cruel trolls say I’m deluded

A middle aged man has claimed he is often mistaken for someone half his age thanks to his controversial rejuvenation methods.

Edson Brandao, a longevity influencer from Teresina in Brazil, has repeatedly claimed he hasn’t gone under the knife to achieve his youthful looks. 

Instead, the 58-year-old has credited his age-defying appearance to a strict workout routine, low sugar diet, positive mindset and red light therapy. 

Now, sharing his advice on how others can achieve the same look, he uses his Instagram profile to promote ‘natural botox’ hacks including frozen cucumbers and tomatoes for ‘youthful’ and ‘radiant’ skin. 

But social media users have frequently accused him of lying about the work he has had done, arguing he has either had plastic surgery, his Instagram account is heavily filtered, or he uses AI. 

In one video watched more than 1.5million times, he takes half a tomato, sprinkles a teaspoon of sugar on it before proceeding to massage the tomato into the skin for five minutes.

After leaving the juice to sit on the skin for half an hour, he then washes it off for ‘younger skin’. 

Some research has suggested tomatoes could both provide anti-ageing benefits given they are rich in antioxidants and could even protect the skin from UV damage from sunburn.

However, further studies are first needed to prove such claims.  

In another video, which boasts more than 1.4million views, Mr Brandao also suggested rubbing frozen cucumber on the skin will leave it ‘radiant’. 

Placing cucumber slices on the eyes is an old trick to reduce puffiness, but many wellness influencers also claim frozen cucumbers could brighten skin. 

He told Instagram: ‘Cut the cucumber in half, let it soak a little and put it in the freezer for a few hours. 

‘Use it on your face with gentle massages for five minutes and let your skin absorb it. After 20 minutes, wash your face.

‘It reduces dark circles, eliminates wrinkles, prevents acne, do it every three days for five minutes. You will have radiant skin.’ 

Skin experts have repeatedly said frozen cucumbers may offer some temporary skin benefits like reducing puffiness and inflammation due to its cooling effect.

But, it should not be relied upon as a long-term skincare solution, as the benefits are likely to be minimal and potentially irritating for some skin types. 

In another post, he even detailed exactly what he claimed he does ‘every single day’ to ‘look 28 at 58’. 

He wrote: ‘Red light therapy every morning for collagen and cell energy. Clean, anti-inflammatory eating, no sugar, no processed junk.

‘Hydration with minerals, not just plain water. Six to eight hours of quality sleep, optimized for recovery.

‘Weight training three times per week to boost growth hormone and posture and daily mindset work because stress ages you faster than time.

‘I’m not against skincare products but they’re just the surface. The glow has to come from within.’

Red light therapy uses infrared rays to penetrate deep into tissues and joints. 

Advocates say light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can repair damaged tissue, calm the body’s response to injury and reduce inflammation. 

Experts have previously recommended a five-minute session before workouts to help prevent injuries, and then a further one of up to 20 minutes afterwards to aid muscle recovery.

Unlike UV light, which is associated with skin cancer and premature and accelerated aging, LED light is the visible spectrum of light. 

Generally, red light therapy uses wavelengths of visible red light between about 630 to 700 nanometers, which penetrate the skin where cells can absorb it and stimulated energy production. 

The treatment has also been used to treat pattern hair loss and alopecia and to reduce body fat.

However, while the evidence for exercise is promising, but not conclusive. 

Overuse of devices could result in undesirable adverse events such as redness lasting longer than one day, blistering, burns, decrease in collagen, increase in wrinkles, experts have also previously warned. 

Mr Brandao claimed that although he has had an interest in fitness and health for most of his life, his dedication to it was very ‘up and down’.

It was only after he turned 40 that he realised the importance of taking his health seriously. 

Inspired by exercise, nutrition and mental health routines he’s picked up via social media, he’s since focused on trying to age as little as possible.

He has also admitted he has repeatedly been trolled by social media users who don’t believe he is 58, with one even labelling him ‘more plastic than Ken’. 

While he is adamant he has never had surgery, he hasn’t denied Botox or filler. 

In 2020 he told the Daily Mail: ‘They ask if I’ve had plastic surgery, Botox or use filters, but I’ve never had any surgery.

‘I want to find natural ways to look young. Some people say I am afraid of being old, but I am not.

‘That is a natural process we can’t avoid but I will do my best to keep young.

‘I create content to inspire people that anything is possible, no matter your age.’

Last year, research suggested life expectancy across the world will rise by almost five years by 2050, with the average man forecasted to live to 76 and woman, past 80.

The oldest living person in the world is now believed to be Ethel Caterham, from Surrey, who was born on August 21, 1909 and is 115 years old. 

The title of the oldest person to have ever lived belongs to French woman Jeanne Louise Calment whose life spanned 122 years and 164 days. 

Ms Caterham, who died in 1997, attributed her longevity to ‘never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like’.

Experts who have studied centenarians agree.

Physical activity, faith, love, companionship, and a sense of purpose make up the backbone of so-called ‘Blue Zones,’ or areas of the world where people typically live to 100 and beyond.

Maintaining an active lifestyle, even simply walking around town every day, has been shown to improve longevity.

Companionship has been shown to have a similarly positive effect on a person’s lifespan, with studies consistently showing loneliness is toxic.