Allergan Aesthetics Invests in Women Business Owners Through Renewed Grant Initiative

Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 cohort of “The Confidence Collective: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs”, an ongoing initiative from BOTOX Cosmetic designed to support women business owners through funding, mentorship, and community. Applications will be accepted through April 29, 2026.¹

Program Overview

The Confidence Collective is structured to select 250 women entrepreneurs who will receive access to business coaching, skill-building resources, networking opportunities, and a peer community. Of those 250 participants, 20 will be awarded $20,000 grants intended to support business development and growth. The 250 selected participants will be announced in the coming months, with grant recipients named in fall 2026.

Addressing Barriers

The initiative is designed around data reflecting persistent challenges faced by women in entrepreneurship. According to figures cited by Allergan Aesthetics, 74% of women entrepreneurs identify financial literacy as their primary business challenge, 53% report limited access to capital networks, and 40% have never had a formal mentor. The program aims to directly address these gaps through structured mentorship, financial education, and network access.

Program Impact

Past participants have reported meaningful outcomes from the program. Saria Hawkins-Banda, a 2025 participant and grant recipient, noted that the experience supported both professional skill development and confidence-building, and described the funding as a catalyst for business growth. Allergan Aesthetics reports that prior cohorts have used program resources to expand operations and accelerate growth.

Relevance for Aesthetic Clinicians

For clinicians in the aesthetics space, initiatives such as this demonstrate the broader brand values tied to BOTOX Cosmetic, particularly as the product positions itself around themes of confidence and women's empowerment. Many aesthetic practice owners and injectors are themselves entrepreneurs, and programs of this nature may be of interest to team members, patients, or colleagues who operate small businesses. Clinicians may wish to communicate this opportunity to patients or staff who qualify.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants are encouraged to visit www.botoxcosmetic.com/realimpact prior to the April 29, 2026, deadline (11:59 p.m. PT). Applicants must agree to the official program rules.

Allergan in the News

At the recent 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, Allergan Aesthetics presented new data across two posters—one evaluating the investigational neurotoxin trenibotulinumtoxinE (TrenibotE), and another examining aesthetic trends among patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists.

Kaufman et al reported findings from an 18-week, open-label phase 3 study assessing the safety and efficacy of up to 3 repeat treatments of TrenibotE 700 U for glabellar lines.² The trial enrolled 992 adult participants with moderate to severe glabellar lines at maximum frown, as assessed by both investigators and patients using the Facial Wrinkle Scale (FWS). Participants received initial treatment followed by up to 2 retreatments at approximately 6-week intervals, contingent on return to baseline severity.

TrenibotE demonstrated a rapid onset of action, with clinical improvements observed as early as 48 hours after administration, consistent with its distinct pharmacologic profile as an investigational first-in-class botulinum neurotoxin serotype E. Across all the treatment cycles, efficacy was maintained, with a substantial proportion of patients achieving ≥1- and ≥2-grade improvements in FWS scores. Importantly, these improvements were consistent across repeated administrations, suggesting no attenuation of response over time.

Safety outcomes were favorable and remained consistent across treatment cycles. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) decreased slightly with subsequent treatments (22.0% in cycle 1, 19.1% in cycle 2, and 14.7% in cycle 3), and most events were mild in severity. The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events included headache, injection site pain, and bruising. Serious adverse events were rare (≤0.5%), and no events leading to discontinuation were considered related to the therapy.

In another poster, Burgess et al examined the characteristics and concerns of patients receiving GLP-1 agonists for weight loss who subsequently seek aesthetic treatments.³ This analysis was based on a large electronic survey of 406 US health care providers across dermatology, plastic surgery, and other aesthetic specialties, each with substantial experience treating GLP-1–associated aesthetic concerns.

Researchers highlighted the rapid emergence of this patient population, driven by widespread adoption of GLP-1 therapies. Providers reported a marked increase in GLP-1-treated patients between 2023 and 2024, with an estimated 137% growth across specialties. These patients were predominantly female (70%), white (64%), and aged 30 to 49 years (56%), although representation across genders, age groups, and racial/ethnic backgrounds was noted.

A key observation was that approximately 52% of GLP-1-treated patients expressed concern about their facial appearance, commonly related to volume loss and skin laxity—features often described as “GLP-1 face.” These concerns are increasingly prompting patients to seek aesthetic interventions, with 32% reported as new to aesthetic practices.

References

1. BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) empowers women entrepreneurs through "The Confidence Collective" for fourth year. News release. AbbVie. April 8, 2026. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://news.abbvie.com/2026-04-08-BOTOX-R-Cosmetic-onabotulinumtoxinA-Empowers-Women-Entrepreneurs-Through-The-Confidence-Collective-for-Fourth-Year
2. Kaufman J, Coleman W, Gold M, et al. Safety and efficacy of trenibotulinumtoxinE following repeat treatments for glabellar lines: findings from an open-label phase 3 study. Poster presented at: 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 27-31, 2026; Denver, CO.
3. Burgess C, Sadeghpour M, Hooper D, et al. Population trends in facial aesthetic concerns among patients receiving GLP-1 agonists for weight loss. Poster presented at: 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 27-31, 2026; Denver, CO.