To start things off, this question is probably the one I hear most often. And I can relate. I remember waking up hungover in the bed of a (now ex-) boyfriend, who looked over at me and started singing, “Tired eyes, they’re watching you …” to the tune of Hall & Oates’ “Private Eyes.” Emphasis on the ex. It was disturbing on many levels, but what sticks with me now is how quickly he zeroed in on the problem area. The truth is, when you’re tired, it shows up in your eyes first. Because of that, you’re probably thinking of putting on some eye cream literally right this second. But I’m convinced most eye creams are just expensive face creams in tiny jars. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I love a good face cream.
But if you want to look less tired, my guess is that you want to immediately — not 28 or so days from now, which is the amount of time it usually takes to see noticeable results from a new skin-care product. Sure, some topical ingredients have an immediate effect, like sodium silicate, found in TikTok viral products like Dr. Brandt No More Baggage Eye De-Puffing Gel ($42) and Park Perfection 2-in-1 Instant Eye Lift Serum ($90). The ingredient performs Skims-like magic on under-eye bags, but, says dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, if almost anything else comes in contact with the tightening latticework the sodium silicate creates, the effect is lost. “Less than ideal for someone who wants to wear makeup,” she points out.