I’ve always loved the saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul”. Until recently, anyway.

It’s not so much the soul-revealing that I’m worried about, it’s that my eyes have developed some really unimpressive habits since I stepped over the big 3-0 threshold. They lie. They exaggerate. They put my sins on blast like TMZ. And much like the nefarious celebrity tattler, they bend the truth more than a little.

An extra martini makes me look like I’ve been on a weeklong bender. Excess dietary salt shows up as swollen puffiness that all the cucumbers in Calcutta couldn’t vanquish. And while all-nighters used to give me that cute, 20-something “bedhead” look, it’s been replaced by a 30-something “Get your s%@# together” look.

So what do you do? Break out the concealer? Grab a couple of tea bags or frozen spoons and hope for the best? Hide? Each of these can work depending on the circumstances, but sometimes you need bigger guns. EES Instant Eye Tuck is the M-16 you never knew existed.

I first learned about Easy Eye Solutions’ Instant Eye Tuck and Dark Circle Treatment on the Essential Day Spa forum, where members are beyond passionate about tracking down the holiest of holy grails. I think of them as the MUA of skin care in a way, and when they give a new product more than passing glance, so do I.

What it is: Instant Eye Tuck and Dark Circle Treatment is a gel formula created by Easy Eye Solutions, a procurer of cosmeceuticals meant to target, you guessed it, the infamously persnickety eye area. The formula contains a smorgasbord of puff-banishing botanical extracts including Cucumber, Horse Chestnut Bark, Willow Bark, Green Tea and Calendula. I’ve seen some speculation on various boards as to what the “active” ingredient might be, but with an ingredient list this comprehensive, figuring it out could get expensive.

The gel itself is a clear, pale amber color and has a vaguely egg-white-like scent that disappears within a minute or two of application. The translucent bottle’s pump mechanism prevents product contamination, and, according to the product specs, one bottle can provide up to 300 applications. Since I use it outside of the eye area, I don’t get quite as much per-bottle mileage: One container lasts anywhere from a month and half to two months.

What it does: As the name suggests, this stuff is meant to perk up droopy lids, stubborn under eye bags and similar woes. It can be applied over makeup, although there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to getting it just right. I apply it after foundation and concealer but before liner and/or shadow.

How you use it: The formula can be applied with makeup or on a bare face. I’ve also had good results mixing it with concealer, and I sometimes apply them together and then blend. Using my ring-fingertips, I apply a drop or two of gel (one pump is plenty) very lightly across my lower lid. You don’t really work it in too much, just enough that it feels slightly tacky and is evenly spread. I sometimes use it on the upper lids as well, but not as frequently. (You really shouldn’t move the area you’ve applied it to for a good ten minutes if you want the finish to be perfect, and it’s rare that I can stop blinking long enough for this to occur.)

I’ve never wondered whether the actives were penetrating after I’ve applied it, and it has a very cooling, almost tingly sensation while it dries. I get the best results by taking an extra couple of minutes if I just sit back for a few minutes while it does its thing. (That’s ideally, mind you. I’ve been stuck applying it in the car and still had great results, it’s just trickier to get it absolutely perfect.)

The tightening effect becomes noticeable after about 10 minutes, and lasts until I wash my face in the evening. I’ve had problems with it flaking during the drier winter months, which I remedy with either a little water or Dermacia Breathable Moisture Spray (another must-have in my arsenal– it’s incredible).

I love…

• that it works! I’ve never purchased a treatment that made such an immediate, visible difference.
• the customer service. Beginning with my first order, I’ve received fantastic, personalized customer service. CEO Zach Merrill is an expert at what he does, and is very forthcoming about what his product can– and cannot– do. If you have any questions, the EES team can answer them.
• the “dab’ll do ya” factor. Not only does a little go a long way with this product, a light hand is vital to getting great results. The lightest layer is all you need to get a firm, flawless finish.

I’m less-than thrilled about…

• the cost At $74.50 a pop, it costs more than your run of the mill drugstore formula, but it’s worth every penny– at least for me. I’ve actually had relatives ask what I was doing differently, which is the ultimate test of a product’s efficacy, IMHO.
• serving size I would like to see this available in a larger container since I sometimes use it on other areas where I want a matte, ultra smooth effect. (I actually use it on my nose and consequently have no blackheads along with diminished pores in that area. It also sent the milia under my eyes a’ packing.)
• the dispenser The packaging is perfect… Almost. While it prevents contamination, allows you to see how much product is left, and is convenient to carry, the pump mechanism tends to develop a hardened bit of product between uses.

The Final Word: I’m on my fourth bottle of EES Eye Tuck Serum, which pretty much puts me in the fangirl zone. Despite the cost and other minor quandaries, the bottom line for me is that the stuff works. It does what it claims and then some, virtually reshaping an area that I thought was doomed to become puffy, baggy and tired well before the rest of me did. When applied correctly it creates an instantly taut, smooth look that I really didn’t think was possible without some type of corrective procedure.