This Viral Skincare Product Magically Erases Puffiness and Wrinkles in Minutes (and Lasts 6-8 Hours)
Every so often, I come across a beauty product that seems too good to be true — and it usually is. Lip glosses that promise to plump my lips leave a burning sensation. Facial peels that claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles only irritate my skin. So, when I heard about Instant FIRMx, I immediately assumed it was another gimmick.
What does Instant FIRMx do, exactly? Marketed as a temporary eye tightener by Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care (Buy from Amazon, $38), this lotion-like formula promises to instantly firm and tighten the skin beneath your eyes, lasting for six to eight hours.
At first, you may suspect this product is too expensive and too much of a gamble — but an unsponsored review by TikTok user Trinidad Sandoval may change your mind. Trinidad spreads the product over her whole face, then uses a hair dryer to quickly dry it. (The hair dryer isn’t necessary, but the use of it certainly speeds up the process!) The results are, well, pretty magical.
In another video, she tries it on just one puffy eye circle to show the dramatic difference it makes.
Naturally, Trinidad’s videos caused the product to sell out. So, we decided to find out for ourselves whether it was worth the money.
How Instant FIRMx Works
Peter Thomas Roth’s temporary face tightener contains a trademarked ingredient called Firm-A-Tite. The brand describes it as a blend of “three skin-tightening silicates and seaweed extract that provide an instant temporary tightening and firming effect.”
What are silicates? Silicates are molecules that contain silicon, which is the second most abundant element on Earth (behind oxygen). You can find it in water, plants, and animals — and in the human body, it helps us form collagen. Silicon supplements may improve your skin’s strength and elasticity.
In skincare, silicates help enhance the absorption of other ingredients, stabilize ingredients so that they don’t separate, and thicken products. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) notes that some silicates may be irritating, though they are safe to use in cosmetics.
It seems, therefore, that the silicates are designed to enhance the effects of the seaweed extract, which offers a wealth of benefits. According to Byrdie, the seaweed extract works as an exfoliant, antioxidant, hydrator, and brightener, all of which helps to reduce inflammation, fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and create a temporary tightening effect.
Instant FIRMx Review: What Our Reader Thought
To get a second opinion on FIRMx, we asked Woman’s World reader Eileen, 55, to review the product.
“When I saw Trinidad on TikTok, I was blown away and needed to try it … I love to try new things,” Eileen shares.
However, there were a few learning curves when she first applied the product. “If I use too much, I get a white film that makes my skin look dry,” she explains. “I tried mixing it with my foundation and applying it over my foundation. [For both techniques], it had a caked look and I didn’t like it at all.”
Now, Eileen moisturizes her skin, then uses just a dab of the product on her crows feet and under her eyes before she puts on makeup. The results last throughout the day. “I’ve got it down to a science and I love it,” she says. “When I use it and take my time and let it dry properly, it’s great! I apply my foundation over it by dabbing with a brush or foundation sponge. I thought it was expensive, but it goes a long way and I’m sold on it.”
Eileen also notes that FIRMx Eye Tightener doesn’t make a big difference in her forehead lines or her smile lines. (If you want a product that is designed for other areas of your face, try the Instant FIRMx Temporary Face Tightener — buy from Amazon, $48.) Still, the tightener gives her more confidence: “I [want] to grow old gracefully without having Botox or any surgical procedures, so I use this product just for a little boost in my appearance.”
Ready to try this product yourself? Make sure you do a patch test first, especially if you have sensitive skin. To do: Apply a dab of the product to the inside of your wrist, and watch the area for 15 minutes or as long as you like, checking for irritation. Hopefully, you’ll be irritation-free and ready to use Instant FIRMx for an easy confidence boost.
