This Firming Serum Helps Me Go Longer Between Botox Appointments

Ageing is such an interesting process. On one hand, I know that it’s a privilege and want to embrace my natural appearance, but I also find myself obsessing over newly formed wrinkles and slightly sagging skin. At 32, I think I’ve found a happy medium — I rely on a few units of Botox and a couple of vials of dermal filler per year to keep deep-set wrinkles at bay, along with treatments like laser resurfacing and microneedling to maintain skin texture and tone.

Beyond that, it all comes down to day-to-day maintenance, and I’m all for products that help me prolong the time between dermatologist visits. So, when Rodan + Fields offered to let me try the new Instant Targeted Firming Gel ($145) before it hits shelves on June 2, I was intrigued.

This formula is all about instant gratification — within just five minutes of applying it to crow’s feet, frown lines, and smile lines, you can visibly see the smoothing and tightening results. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, look to the proprietary RF Firming Complex: a potent combination of red microalgae, polysaccharides, seawater, and hydrolyzed silk.

The clinically tested gel was created by leading scientists at the Rodan + Fields Berkeley Innovation Center. After several years of research, they found that this combination of ingredients would provide both immediate and long-term results. The red microalgae, polysaccharides, and seawater firm and tighten the skin by forming a lightweight, invisible film on the surface that smooths the skin; hydrolyzed silk is a skin conditioning agent that visibly improves elasticity over time; hydrating polymer softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by providing a fine, translucent layer that mattifies and flattens wrinkles and reduces under-eye puffiness; and sea chamomile plumps the skin to minimize the appearance of expression lines and wrinkles over time.

As far as the actual application of the product, a little goes a long way. One pump should cover all the fine lines on your face, and a second could be used for the neck — you want to dab it on gently like you do an eye cream. Make sure your skin is cleansed, toned, and fully dry when you apply so that the product can fully absorb, and then wait a few minutes before applying any other products or makeup.

The gel itself is pretty lightweight and has some light-reflecting particles to illuminate your skin even more. It absorbed pretty quickly and without any stickiness, and it didn’t pull at my skin like many other instant-firming products do. Overall, after I used it once, my skin felt nice and smooth, and with continued use, I can see the Targeted Firming Gel helping me postpone Botox appointments just a tad longer.