Absolutely terrible. Residue won't go away unless you remove all of the product. Instructions say to shake it before use but it comes in a tube and it would be as if you tried to shake toothpaste. Not possible. It dries to a white film and looks obvious. Following the instructions to a "T" didn't help. I'm taking it back and getting a refund.

There is so much information in prior reviews on this product, I am just going to give my basic "how I use it" and my brief opinion, period. I tested this for a couple of weeks and here are my comments:

1. I found the best way for me to use this is over serum or moisturizer and under primer or foundation (if you're wearing it). I then top it off with a good finishing powder. It works better with mineral powder foundation than liquid or cream due to the residue mentioned in every prior review (and below in my own). But with serious effort it can look great with liquid foundation (a lot of pre-blotting required).

2. It fills in fine lines REALLY well which is very impressive, but I am not seeing a "firming" effect, so I'd call it a serious line filler.

3. There is a funky, dry, cakey white residue you must dab off with water before applying makeup. This is not easy to do effectively or completely which is a BIG negative. However, IF you can successfully combat the residue, the reduction in lines IS spectacular and the "fill in" effect lasts for a long time (all day).

5. I will use this occasionally when I am getting dressed up or for a photo as it's WAY too much extra time and work to use everyday.

6. I got this as a gwp and I think the tube I have will last forever as you only need a tiny, tiny bit. The price ($48) isn't bad for 3.4 oz either. Seriously a lifetime supply!

I absolutely adore Peter Thomas Roth's products. I haven't found one I don't like...yet. Not sure about this one. I'm still on the fence about Instant FIRMx. I just don't get it. I want to understand the product. I really do. The idea behind it is wonderful. It's a "temporary tightener", oh yes it is. The instructions tell you this exactly:

"FOLLOW THESE 4 STEPS TO LOOK YEARS YOUNGER:
1. Shake well. Sparingly apply a thin layer to freshly cleansed, dry skin.
2. Remain expressionless. Product will dry within 3-7 minutes.
3. When face feels pulled and tight, look in the mirror. At this moment, you'll look years younger. Enjoy!
4. Use either damp cloth, cotton swab or fingertips to pat away any visible excess residue.
TIPS: Results of INSTANT FIRMx can depend on your skin type. Work with it, using these tips, to find what works best for you.
Apply a thick layer, let dry, splash away excess residue and pat dry.

Apply a thin layer and use a damp cloth, cotton swab or fingertips to pat away excess residue.

Mix INSTANT FIRMx with your favorite moisturizer or foundation.

Use as a firming treatment masque! Apply a generous layer, like a masque, and leave on for up to an hour. Splash off excess residue and experience dramatic firming results. For external use only."

Once applied, you cannot change your facial expression (you better look happy) because this product is going to firm and tighten your lines, wrinkles, crow's feet and whatever else plagues your skin. It does, it really does tighten your skin. It takes about ten minutes for a full dry to happen. Here's the catch, tho. Look in the mirror and your face is now pasty-white, because the FIRMx has dried to its lighter shade. Your skin feels wonderfully tight and firm, but it's now wearing this mask. Now the instructions tell you to use a cloth, a cotton swab or fingertips to remove the "excess" or "visible residue" so you can look human again. Good luck there. I have used all of the above plus facial sponges, muslin cloths, cotton balls and whatever else I could think of to remove it but there is always some still left. Just when I would think I removed all of it, I'd look in the mirror again, and I would see more. Then I tried using different moisturizers to blend the excess in. That wouldn't work, either. And once I started removing it, it would break up into little pieces instead of a layer, so it was no longer a smooth finish. So if I wanted to put foundation on top, the blending was very difficult because the little specks of it would cake off. I finally began using it as a mask, and since I do keep all of my products in my refrigerator, it goes on cold, which feels wonderful. I leave it on for an hour, then take it off with a facial sponge. My face does feel a tad bit more tightened, yes. Does it keep it tightened? I'd say for a few hours. Firmer? Again, a short time. It's a temporary product that gives me a lively lift when I'm in the mood or need for one. As a mask, it feels absolutely wonderful while it's on, and that's what I like about it. There are different types of masks for different needs out there on the market. This is a mask for older women who might need some firming and tightening. It's nice to use to wake up your face, if that makes sense to you. Without a doubt, you feel this mask, in a good way. I've also mixed a very small amount in with different moisturizers and applied it to different parts of my facial areas. It's tricky, but it can be done. A little actually goes a long way, and my tube of FIRMx is lasting me quite some time. Since it has Vitamins C, E, B5 and Vitamin A in it, I know the ingredients are good for my skin. Plus PTR is cruelty-free, which is also why I purchase their products. All in all, an interesting product that grows on you.

Update: 12/26/12
I've recently tried Instant FIRMx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener. Please see my review for this PTR product, as I've had much better success with this one and the formulation seemed different.

I was a bit disappointed in this. If only it would make your face STAY as it looks when it first dries. Of course that is impossible, and I suppose I shouldn't ding the product because it does not perform miracles. But there are a few other problems with it too. I have found it hard to remove by "splashing water" on my face as per directions. It leaves white spots and smears until you really remove it with a cloth, cotton ball, or wet fingers applied a few times. That white residue sometimes reappears later, when you think you've gotten it all off. It does indeed lift and firm your face, and though the dramatic effects disappear as soon as you've rinsed, overall you still look younger and more uplifted for several hours after, just not in a big way. I'd read in some reviews that some people leave it on and apply makeup over it. I did try this, both with and without moisturizer, and found that it still tends to get residue-y. Perhaps if I used it every day the effects would be longer lasting, but I rarely use it. It reminds me of when we were kids and would put Elmer's white glue all over our faces and then pull up our eyebrows or pull down our lips, and things would stay in place.
One other comment, don't be tempted to use this near your eyes for uplift or to disguise crow's feet. Since its action is to tighten and draw as it dries, it ends up pulling the skin under your eyes into a cluster of wrinkles. NOT pretty. To be fair, it did not have this on my younger sister, so maybe it is just that I have more baggy skin under my eyes than she does :-)
One more positive- I used this before a job interview last summer, and left a bit of it on, smoothing moisturizer over it to hide the white residue, and applied some very light creamy foundation. The people there thought I was in my late 30's, not my late 50's-- so for a temporary youthful disguise, go for it!

I'm going to be a dissenter here and say that I cannot live without this product!! It does take some playing with, and at my age it won't make me look 20 again. But I can definitely tell a difference on days that I don't use it! I tend to use it under my eyes, I use the regular FIRMx instead of the eye because you get more product. Since I only use a tiny bit each day the tube lasts FOREVER. I've had mine for at least a year and a half and I still have lots left. Here's my method:


Instant FIRMx under the eye following morning cleansing. Let dry 1 to 2 minutes while I apply my other serums and creams. Then apply a really rich moisturizer over the FIRMx - I like Weleda Skin Food. Apply concealer then powder (I don't use foundation). Then I dab a little Clarins Instant Smooth directly under the eye to mattify the area and keep the powder from settling into fine lines.


Again, nothing short of extreme measures is going to erase my crows feet. Not even Botox seems to be very effective in this area - that's why I refuse to add the eyes to my toxin regime! But PTR Instant FIRMx helps to take the edge off, and I will take all the help I can get!

I wanted to love it. I put it on and when it dries, it's like every line on the face is gone! Oh wait, but then you move a muscle to smile, frown, talk, eat, whatever... and the effect is totally gone. I tried with light amounts, more amounts, under moisturizer. It just doesn't have staying power and it leaves that residue on the skin.

I think overall the Peter Thomas Roth brand is pretty good. But this one is a dud. Try the nighttime retinol fusion he has! THAT is way better...

I had high hopes for this and the firm x eye cream but they were both bad. The eye x I put on lightly to one eye let it dry and after about 30 minutes I smiled and the crinkles under my eyes looked so much worse on the eye I used it on. They were pronounced where on my eye without product you couldn't see them. I wanted to love it but it makes you look worse then when you started.

had a couple free samples of this product laying around. I decided to give it a try today and I can't say that I liked it. Applied all of my skincare products first then put this on. Noticed that my face immediately looked ashen and very matte. I didn't let that bother me because I knew I was going to be removing some of the product with water in a few minutes. Waited the required time, misted my face with some water and patted dry, skin still looked dull and matte. More water, more patting, skin still looked dull and felt kind of weird to the touch. Noticed that I had white specks of the product stuck in my pores, bunch of tiny little dots that I couldn't get out. There probably was some firming but I just couldn't stand the feel of this stuff on my skin and I hated the dull matte look of my skin. After even more rinsing and patting dry I ended up completely washing it off and I definitely won't be purchasing it.

I tried this on in the store today and it really did produce a noticeable difference. I think the results would be more drastic on mature skin. This product needs to be applied lightly, or else it will leave a residue, but I was really happy with the results.

UPDATE [3 hours later]

I did start to look cakey under my eyes. There seems to be no way to touch up without just removing makeup. Hence, its back to Sephora for this product. I think that if a person did not wear makeup over it, it would be optimal, but alas, too dark of circles under my eyes to forgo concealer. I am downgrading my original rating to a 2. On the plus side, if this product works for you, the tube is so large, I can see it lasting years. If you think you might like it, ask for a sample, not much is needed. It may just be my technique, but I'm tired of fooling with it.

+++++++++++++++++++


To rate this, even the category it should be entered into is kind of iffy. I put it in as facial skincare, but its really not a treatment as much as a cosmetic effect.


I came so close to returning this! This product was not in the MUA data base, and the Sephora website had reviews that for the most part were either very positive, or very negative.


It seemed like the general consensus was to not necessarily follow the PTR instructions, but to play around with it. I agree.


This is the product description taken from PTR website:

"Temporarily tighten your skin and rewind the clock - instantly!
Revolutionary rinse-off formula means that the white residue is rinsed away, while active firming agents remain behind. These agents work beneath the skin’s surface to help tighten, firm & smooth the appearance of fine lines, deep wrinkles & pores. Instantly look younger while minimizing crow’s feet, under eye bags, nose-to- mouth lines, forehead creases, etc.

Follow these 6 steps to look years younger:
1. Shake well. Sparingly apply a thin (masque-like) layer onto freshly cleansed, dry skin.
2. Remain expressionless. Product will dry within 3-7 minutes.
3. When face feels pulled and tight, look in the mirror. At this moment, you’ll look years younger. Enjoy!
4. Pat skin with water until product is no longer visible. If any residue remains, use wet fingertips to gently remove.
5. Using a towel, gently pat skin dry but do not rub. As skin dries, you will feel a subtle firming that will last all day.
6. Continue with your usual skin care routine. Instant FIRMx™ can be used before treatments, moisturizers and makeup, or alone. "



So, I tried it. And yes, it did eliminate virtually EVERY wrinkle, sag, and pore on my face while it was in a mask stage. Once I splashed with water, I just did not see the lasting effect the company claims will remain. Then, after reading a ton of reviews on Sephora;s website, I tried mixing with moisturizer. But, I don't like using much moisturizer during the day under makeup, so I mixed it in with my Chanel Hydramax + Active Serum. Did not seem to work (to me). Next, I tried patting all of my skin care products over a thin layer of Firmx. It seemed like it was going to work, until I got to the foundation stage. (liquid, bb sponge application) THAT caused it to cake under my eyes.

I already had the receipt out, ready to return, when I gave it one last shot. I applied my skin care serum, Hydramax, eye cream, sunblock, and then lightly applied Firmx just to the areas I most wanted smoothed. That being, under eyes transitioning to cheeks, and a touch on my forehead where pores are larger. I was careful to not use so much that it left a white cast when dry. Really,the tiniest amount that still has an effect is best.

It seems drying, not as in it would cause excessive dryness, but, I can't imagine anyone wanting to use it under the eyes without a moisturizer.

Next (IMO crucial) as it is water soluble, its NOT a good thing to let liquid makeup come in contact. So, I used my Edward Bess stick undereye concealer first, patted with finger rather that brushing on, working slow enough for the warmth of my fingers to melt the concealer so no rubbing was needed. Then used my BB sponge and liquid foundation, keeping it off of under the eye. Using the sponge did not seem to cause a problem on my forehead. My earlier problems with application were mostly with caking under the eye.

The Sephora website had several reviewers who remarked that powder foundation worked best, and I can see how that would be true (but I don't have any). I do have some Boots #7 mousse, and may eventually experiment with that.

I've had it on for about 3 hours now, so far so good. The transition between under my eyes and cheeks continues to stay amazingly smooth. So, it definitely would work, for example, being photographed, or an evening out, etc. Whether, as the day wears on it will eventually cake or crease, I guess I'll find out. For me, it would be a bigger negative if it eventually messed up my makeup, rather than the effect just wearing off. I will update.

I said I would not repurchase, but that could change, if I come to love this, but, a tube would also last such a long time, I might never run out. I rated it a 3 just for the sake of getting this product into the data base. Under the right circumstances it could be way more than a 5, or, conversely, a big fat zero!

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