Latest news with #Gratch
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 'miraculous' $38 eye-tightening gel my 40+ friends can't stop talking about
"Holy sh*t!," the message from my friend began,"that eye firm stuff you recommended is MIRACULOUS! Thank you!"This was not the first expletive-filled text I'd received about Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Temporary Eye Tightener. Since writing about eye-tightening creams last month (and testing the PTR version myself), I've shared this new-to-me wonder product with every woman over 40 I know — and some men too — in every social group I belong to. The response, particularly from my tired, middle-aged mom friends, has been universal: This stuff works. Peter Thomas Roth's Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener first launched in 2011, but, 10 years later, a single viral TikTok video truly put the product on the map. In this now-famous clip, a middle-aged woman (going by the handle @trinidad1967), stares into the camera bare-faced, heavy eye wrinkles and under-eye bags evident and on display. Then, with a swoosh of Instant FirmX, and within literal seconds, the entire area appears smooth and lifted, as if the skin there had aged backward by 10 years. The results were so dramatic — almost a bit like magic — the video rapidly racked up tens of millions of views. A cult-favorite beauty product was born. The hero ingredient in PTR's Instant FirmX is something called sodium silicate, which works by absorbing water and actually pulling together tiny particles in the skin, reducing the look of puffiness and rapidly smoothing fine lines and even deeper wrinkles. The ophthalmologist-tested formula — which is free from parabens, formaldehyde and phthalates — also contains skin-nourishing peptides, retinyl palmitate and vitamins B and C. This formidable mix starts absorbing water and pulling the skin upon contact, which means the dramatic effects of FirmX are near immediate, though (caveat emptor!) like Cinderella's pumpkin coach, the transformation here is fleeting and this particular glow up will not last the night. As New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Noah Gratch told me last month: "Tightening eye creams help make the under-eye area appear firmer, but the effects are short-term, typically lasting from a few hours to up to 12 hours." To combat this, Gratch suggests using tightening creams in tandem with a longer-term hydrating or firming eye cream, which can improve skin tone and texture for lengthier periods (for more, check out our list of the best eye creams of 2025). "Instant tightening creams provide temporary results that last for a few hours, while hydration creams can keep the skin moisturized for several hours. Firming creams require regular use over time to see long-term results," says Gratch. FirmX is a gel that easily glides onto your skin and absorbs quickly. However, to achieve the desired result, you have to follow the six-step instructions carefully, applying said gel carefully under and on the side of your eyes and, should you wish, below and above the brows, though you want to avoid what the brand calls 'the moveable part of the eyelid.' When I first tested FirmX on my 52-year-old skin, I found the application to be a bit exacting and hard to get right. What I learned is it's best to use a makeup brush or cotton swab and apply an ultra-thin layer; if not, you'll wind up with a crusty mess. However, once I got the application and the amount right, the proprietary skin-tightening mix delivered truly incredible results. Though I found the effect difficult to photograph on my own sunken, hooded eyes (reader, I tried!), my under-eye area had not looked this smooth in 20 years. If you're not loving your under-eye area but don't want to invest in surgery and need an instant (if temporary) tightening fix with dramatic results, this is the product for you. In under three minutes, this insanely effective gel not only tightens under-eye bags but smooths, depuffs and firms the skin in the entire eye area, blurring fine lines, crow's feet and even deep wrinkles for at least a few hours. Though not a long-term anti-aging skin care solution, this product is an ideal quick fix. I have friends buying it for big events like upcoming summer weddings, high school reunions and even job interviews. I myself am keeping it on hand for those days I look more haggard than I feel, when I'm over my aging face and could use a quick confidence boost. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dermatologists Reveal Why You May Want To Switch To A Foaming Oil Cleanser
Those with dry, sensitive skin know all too well that tight and squeaky feeling that often happens post-cleanse. This is especially the case when using a foaming facial wash most likely containing surfactants that, although effective at thoroughly removing impurities, tend to strip skin of natural oils and good bacteria. Dr. Noah Gratch, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City, said that the innovation of foaming oil cleansers — which are washes that start off as an oil then work up into a rich foaming lather — can offer both a deep clean and a dose of moisture. 'A foaming oil cleanser can provide a deeper clean than traditional cleansers, while keeping the skin hydrated,' Gratch said. 'The oil in these formulations can break down oil-based residues from makeup and help balance the skin's oil levels.' This is due to the 'like dissolves like' theory, a general rule of thumb previously explained to us by a dermatologist. Typically, compounds will dissolve in like compounds. In this case, oil is highly successful at breaking down excess oil, sunscreens, makeup and other debris on the skin. If you've already looked into foaming oil cleansers, you may have noticed they're slightly challenging to find. This is because, according to a previous interview with cosmetic chemist Javon Ford, they can be difficult to formulate. Fortunately, now more than ever, there are a few oil-to-foam cleansers available on the market, which you can shop for yourself down below. HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted. Amazon More than likely, you've seen (or even used for yourself) the original CeraVe's hydrating cleanser, a creamy and non-foaming formulation that's been one of the most dermatologist-recommended facial washes for those with dry and sensitive skin. The brand recently launched this foaming oil version, which like all of CeraVe's products, contains three ceramides that are essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. This also contains hyaluronic acid for drawing moisture into the skin and squalane oil, a nourishing ingredient that board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp suggested looking for in foaming oil cleansers. $18 at Amazon $16+ at Target $13 at Ulta Amazon The adored French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay formulates this cleanser that has a luscious oil-to-foam texture, a deeply hydrating shea butter base and prebiotic thermal spring water, a brand-signature inclusion that's rich in antioxidants. It also contains niacinamide, a popular ingredient that's good for everything from brightening dull skin to managing excess oil production. $15 at Amazon $15 at Ulta $22 at Target Sephora Using a barrier-repairing lipid complex, a plumping blend of seaweed hyaluronate and moisture-locking aloe leaf juice, this hydrating and milky foaming oil cleanser by SkinFix can eliminate impurities without stripping the skin. In fact, this soothing formula claims to visibly reduce redness and blotchiness, increase softness and skin hydration as well as target irregular skin texture. $30 at Amazon $30 at Sephora Sephora Also by SkinFix is this foaming oil cleanser for the face and body, made specifically for eczema-prone and hyper sensitive skin. It features a prebiotic formula that promises to deliver lasting support to the skin's moisture barrier, along with glycerin, a highly effective humectant that draws moisture into the skin, and colloidal oatmeal, a trusted ingredient for relieving itchiness and redness associated with eczema. $30 at Sephora Amazon Dermalogica's clinical-grade cleanser starts off as a unique gel-oil texture before lathering in a dense foam that melts away pollutants, greasy sunscreen and stubborn makeup. It contains a plant-derived prebiotic that attracts moisture to the skin, sodium cocoyl glutamate, a mild cleansing agent, and sea buckthorn oil, an oil that's rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, which can help ward off environmental stressors that potentially cause premature skin aging. $56 at Amazon $44+ at Sephora $56 at Ulta Amazon This Korean-formulated cleanser contains three different oils — notably jojoba oil, an anti-inflammatory rich in vitamin E that can also draw moisture into the skin. The rich foam also has alpha hydroxy acids for mild exfoliation and skin refining, as well as fermented extracts that can help moisturize skin. $23 at Amazon $14 at Stylevana Peach & Lily Peach & Lily, the K-beauty brand that helped make "glass skin" the one of most coveted skin care trends of the last few years, makes this oil to foam cleanser that has the unique inclusion of micro-bubbles to help deep clean pores. It uses coconut fruit extract to dissolve impurities, calming aloe vera and a variety of flower extracts that claim to offer anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to the skin. $34 at Peach & Lily Amazon Another Korean oil-to-foam cleanser is this option, which has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon and comes in seven different formulations. Choose from a brightening rose vitamin complex, a calming blue tansy for irritated skin, an imperial caviar formula, which claims to boost collagen production, a cica biome oil foam that contains centella asiatica oil for soothing and reducing redness and several more. $24 at Amazon The Best All-Purpose Facial Cleansers Experts Recommend For Every Skin Type I Regret To Inform You The Elemis Cleansing Balm Is Worth Every Penny 9 Gentle Face Washes And Cleansing Products That Won't Dry Out Your Skin
