Watching Bethenny Frankel walk around her local drugstore looking for Preparation H is the type of comedy I need more of in my life. Her witty candor and sense of humor make for incredibly entertaining beauty reviews, and her latest post today is no exception. The former Real Housewife and entrepreneur took to TikTok to compare the results of using Preparation H under one eye to smooth and firm, and the new IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under-Eye Bags under the other.
In the video, below, she applies both on top of her makeup, which she says she hardly wears these days, and waits about five minutes to see if there’s a visible difference between the two sides. If you’re new to the Preparation H under-eye bag hack, the reason influencers swear by it for reducing puffiness and the appearance of bags is because the formula (meant for treating hemorhoids) contains phenylephrine, which is a vasoconstrictor that can minimize swelling. However, experts warn against using this regularly under the eyes because it can thin the skin and also contribute to discoloration.
IT Cosmetics is calling its new cream “a temporary eyelift in a tube,” and though Frankel doesn’t use those exact words to describe it, she does see a “noticeable difference,” and she asks her fiancé, Paul Bernon, to join her on camera to confirm it. Like other temporary tightening creams for under-eye bags, this one is best used on clean, dry skin, but can also be layered over makeup like Frankel does here. They key to achieving the dramatic results you see on TikTok is to follow the directions closely (each formula may have a slightly different approach). For example, with this one, once it’s applied, you’re not supposed to “squint, smile or otherwise move your face for 15 minutes” as it sets and works its magic.
