For years, whenever I’d rant about my puffy eyes, a good friend would rave about Preparation H: “The stuff turns Bassett Hounds into supermodels!” The theory? Phenylephrine HCl, which is used to constrict blood vessels south of the border, also reduces eye-area swelling. Still, when I finally dabbed the gel on my undereye baggage (c’mon, you know you’ve all done it), the hemorrhoid-shrinking product was a major letdown. I might’ve seen a slight improvement…maybe, I think…but nothing detectable without a magnifying mirror. Also, I wasn’t exactly inspired with confidence when I later learned that Prep’s manufacturer, Whitehall-Robins, had warned against using the product around the eyes. And when I found out that the ingredients that may’ve been most effective in banishing bags, live yeast cell derivative (bio-dyne) and shark liver oil, had been removed from the product years ago, I swore off the stuff for good, opting instead for a simple but minimally effective regimen of chilled cucumber slices.

So when I heard about Benefit’s new De-Puffing Action Eye Gel ($24; benefitcosmetics.com)—a cooling product that promises to deliver “younger-, fresher-, and firmer-looking eyes”—I was immediately reminded of the Prep H debacle. Sure, the vintage-style packaging was adorable (I’d expect nothing less from the Sisters Ford), but could it banish my bags? I was doubtful. Nevertheless, after scanning the ingredient list, I found that the gel contained none of Prep’s ingredients, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. As I dabbed and blended it under my eyes, I hoped for the best and expected the worst. I found that the cooling effects were immediate (you can’t miss ’em), and a minute later, when I looked in the mirror (an actual standard-size bathroom one)—could it be, really?—I saw a real reduction in puffiness. I know the placebo effect can be powerful, so I even asked my husband (who detests beauty products) to serve as a witness. And he concurred: My bags looked smoother, shrunken, and less noticeable—everything I’d expected from Prep H, but in a decidedly more appealing, eye-friendly product.

According to the company, the firming effect is the result of hydrolyzed soy flour and raspberry and chamomile extracts, but whatever the secret weapons, they really do deliver. However, it should be noted that the effects don’t last forever. About five hours after application, my swelling seemed to be resurfacing—not as badly as before I’d used the gel, but enough that I dabbed on another coat and, once again, the swelling subsided. (I can’t gauge whether the product has any cumulative effects yet, but I’ll be sure to report back in a few weeks.) Also, right after you apply the gel (it's thin in consistency), it does create a mildly sticky surface that, after a few minutes, becomes less tacky. It didn’t look sticky so I was basically unfazed, but I worried that it might interfere with concealer application, so I brushed on a coat of M.A.C. Studio Finish and was pleasantly surprised—no caking, chunking, or streaking. To be on the safe side though, I would hold off on the concealer until a few minutes after application. Or maybe you’ll discover something even more surprising—that the De-Puffing Action Eye Gel is so effective, you can send your concealer packing, too! —Jennifer Riley