Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment Takes Wrinkles Up, Up, And Away
By now, serum-infused sheet masks have soared in popularity, with beauty lovers like myself extolling their virtues — their convenience, their portability, their mess-free quality (no rinsing necessary!), and their effectiveness. Now, we’re seeing a sub-trend of sorts, as more companies are releasing targeted treatments that specifically address areas like the orbital region, the center of the forehead, the contours of the mouth, or even the lips themselves. Many of these are gel-like masks or sheet-like pads designed to accommodate the contours of the specific facial region. The Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment ($68 at Sephora.com) fits within this booming category of intense and targeted facial care treatments, but it’s not a sheet mask — in fact, while the product comes with 40 eye pads, these are not pre-soaked as is the case with most area-specific therapies. Its main objective: to provide long-term anti-aging benefits, while also offering some visible improvements in the short-term such as less hollow-looking skin and shallower, less noticeable wrinkles.
So how does this treatment work, you ask? Well, the Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment is designed for use 2-3 times per week, a similar regimen to what you’d follow with a face mask or glycolic peel. It consists of an ultra-concentrated, serum-like treatment meant to be applied to the area below the eyes. Users are advised to apply the product generously along the under-eye area and then place the pads atop the slightly stick serum, pressing down gently to ensure they stay in place. Once users have applied the treatment along the desired areas and affixed the eye pads, they can simply lay back and wait for the treatment to work its magic. Once 10-15 minutes have elapsed, they can remove the eye pads, lifting them off gently, and pat any excess product onto the skin.
The treatment is formulated with hyaluronic acid spheres, which are known to hold more than 1,000 times their weight in water, and which draw moisture from the air and bind it to the skin, thereby creating a filler-like effect and making skin appear plumper and smoother. Other ingredients include: oat kernel extract, which contains avenanthramides or oat beta glucans that stimulate fibroblasts and collagen production, thereby making the skin appear more taut; myrtle extract, which contracts and tightens the skin; vitamin E, which protects skin from free radical damage and helps to soften and condition the skin; Sodium PCA, a naturally occurring amino acid that binds moisture to the skin; zinc gluconate (a combination of zinc with a form of sugar), which reduces inflammation and also acts as a humectant; arginine, an amino acid which is said to boost collagen production and, moreover, to stimulate blood flow, thereby reducing puffiness; lysine, an amino acid that plays a vital role in tissue repair and also encourages collagen and elastin production; and betaine, another amino acid that is known to temporarily decrease wrinkle depth, seemingly “smoothing out” these fine lines.
This treatment is near-miraculous. After a 15-minute treatment, you’ll notice your eyes look more awake, that any fine lines do seem to vanish (or at least fade into near-oblivion), that droopy skin appears a bit more lifted, and that puffiness is reduced. It doesn’t necessarily do much for dark under-eye circles, but that’s a whole other proposition. The goal here is to lift and tighten, and the treatment accomplishes these with style and aplomb.
The eye pads are perhaps my only gripe about this treatment, which is ironic, given that I initially thought they’d be my favorite aspect of the overall experience. It’s not that the eye pads are uncomfortable in any way — they’re made of a very soft and gentle cotton — but rather that they come loose pretty easily. When I first started testing out the product, I applied what I believed to be a generous amount of product under each eye (about 3 pumps) and then placed the eye pads over the area as indicated. But, within five minutes, the pads were falling off my face! I then started to place a few more drops of serum below each eye before affixing the eye pads and that increased the amount of time during which they remained somewhat firmly in place to about 7-8 minutes. That said, I had to lay or sit with my head tilted backwards ever so slightly so that they wouldn’t fall off during those last few minutes. I have managed to make it to 15 minutes without the eye pads falling off, but that’s largely been the result of me actively fighting gravity, sitting with my legs outstretched and my head tilted backwards as if controlling a nose bleed. Each time, I tried a different approach: adding a bit more serum, expanding the surface area to which the serum was applied, pressing the pads down a bit more firmly, applying them to the surface area more expediently, etc. But no matter what I tried, by the 8-minute mark, those little soldiers were ready to desert their posts on my face. Since they seemed so eager to leave my face, I decided to try the treatment without the pads on two separate occasions and, to my surprise, I noticed that, while the product was still effective, it wasn’t quite as powerful as with the pads. So, while they may not feel particularly secure on your face and while you may question the need to use them, in my experience, they do in fact help to boost the performance.
What I do love about the pads is that it makes each treatment feel more special, more like a relaxing, spa-like experience. And, of course, I love removing them for a grand reveal, as if unwrapping a present (the gift: smoother, tighter, younger-looking eyes).
As for the serum-like formula, it feels refreshing the moment you apply it and, while you may experience a slight tingling, it’s a pleasant sensation that only compounds your excitement since it’s indicative of those active ingredients penetrating the skin. Also, it’s not overly creamy or fluid, but strikes a perfect balance on the density and viscosity fronts. Another plus: once you remove the eye pads, any residue is promptly absorbed by the skin without there being any stickiness or greasiness.
I love using this product at night, as I’m unwinding, but I also think I’ll be using the treatment in the mornings when I have TV appearances and the call time is close to ungodly since the treatment will surely make my eyes look more awake at the wee hours of dawn. It’s also a great product to add to your travel bag since you can apply it on the airplane and step out of your terminal looking stunning. A lifting treatment after lift-off? Sounds good!
