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It’s not uncommon to see beauty products come with claims like “Botox in a bottle” or some overly promising equivalent. And while most of the time we’ve learned to temper our expectations when it comes to the skin care purchasable in a tube, one video on TikTok showing an over-the-counter eye treatment in action had me reconsidering what is possible.
In the un-doctored video, a woman with prominent under eye puffiness and visible sagging applied Peter Thomas Roth’s Instant Firmx Eye treatment to the area of concern. Almost instantly the nondescript cream appeared to lift, firm and visibly smooth her under eyes in a way that I could describe as nothing short of magic. Or at the very least, in-office-treatment-worthy. Per that video and a dermatologist I interviewed, the stuff really does work. Today, it’s 30% off in Amazon’s Black Friday sale if you’re fast enough to get the deal.
I sought the guidance of Dr. Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. He explained that the Firmx’s instantly tightening results are most likely due to sodium silicates, which are listed fairly high on the product’s list of ingredients.
“These ingredients form a film on the skin that contracts once it’s dried. It essentially pulls the skin tight once the product dries down, which only takes a few seconds,” Ibrahim said.
He said that throughout the day, as the skin naturally generates more oil, the film will start to wear off, losing the tightening and de-puffing effects.
With such bold claims you may be wondering how the product seems to have a fairly low rating and its fair share of less-than-positive reviews. It’s because, as one Sephora reviewer put it, there’s “a learning curve” to the application and wear process.
“You don’t just cake it on and demand perfection,” the reviewer wrote. “I like to take two small dots, about the size of a ladybug each and rub them until warm and silky. If you feel any white bits, remove them. Take the silky product, slightly heated from your rubbing, and blot it onto your skin in areas directly under and around the eye.”
According to this reviewer, and many others, this key procedure of applying a minimal amount of product, then letting it dry completely before moving the face or moving forward with makeup, will make all the difference in a seamless finish that doesn’t leave a white residue — a complaint that many reviewers had.
This also addresses a next concern that makeup wearers may have: can this be worn beneath concealers and foundations? Based on the experiences of some reviewers the answer is yes, just as long as you are conservative with the amount of eye treatment that you apply. It’s also important to note that some users didn’t experience as much success with their makeup application.
Ibrahim did remind us that in-office solutions like Botox, lasers and microneedling are truly the most effective and long-term solutions to concerns like fine lines and volume loss. We also understand that this isn’t always the most feasible option for everyone, which makes lower-risk alternatives like the Instant Firmx a possible solution.
You can grab a tube for yourself or read any of the enthusiastic reviews down below.
“I waited to review this to see if and how long it works. This is unbelievable stuff. I tend to have some bags under my eyes, especially in the morning. I used this and it truly works. A couple of things I read about it I would also confirm – do not use too much. And put a dab on the top of your hand and rub until it is warm and transparent. Dab just a little on the area you want firmed, in my case my eye “bags”. Try not to squint for a few minutes and you can almost see it work. You can apply makeup as usual. You will know when you use too much as you tend to see a little powder when it dries. I have been using it for 6 months now.” — Amazon Customer
″I have used this product for years and after trial and error I can apply it with ease and it completely removes my under eye bags and wrinkles. Apply your moisturizer to your face first then completely clean the entire area under your eyes. You may want to use a bit of soap and water on a cloth to ensure the area is clean. Completely pat dry the under eye area. Any residue or moisture will cause the product to leave a white residue on your skin. Make sure your fingertip and hands are clean and dry. Shake the tube vigorously and put a small dot of the product on the back of your hand. Using your fingertip dot a small amount of the product under each eye. It dries in minutes. If you see a white residue you either used too much product or your under eye area was not clean or was wet. Experiment with the product and you will soon figure out how much product to use. I still sometimes have to clean it off and start over because I used too much product and it left a white residue. It makes a big difference once you get the hang of it.” — Margaret Nichols
“I bought this specifically to deal with a deep forehead crease between my eyebrows. It works. I have found that I get the best results when I first swipe the area of my forehead with using cotton ball with a little bit of rubbing alcohol on it. Then, as another commenter suggested, I apply a very small amount of the product with a brush and remain expressionless for a few minutes until the product completely dries. I’m pleasantly surprised at how long it lasts. It seems to go all day (as long as I’m not sweating). I’m really happy with this.” — Camille
“I’ve tried plexiDerm before, and it was chalky and not as effective. This product is amazing. It does exactly what it says without Chalky texture.” — SunsetJohn