Before I review, let's backtrack a bit. To say I was skeptical about this line is an understatement. Given the claims--"a facelift without the surgery," "Botox without the needles"--I was expecting the usual anti-aging fluff: all hype, no action. However, after only one use, I found that Hydroxatone was different. The four-step system includes the Gentle Milk Cleanser, a mild face wash; the Balancing Toner, a nondrying elixir; and the Anti-Wrinkle Treatment, a creamy day and night soufflé. But the real (or at least the most immediate) anti-aging action lies in the last step: the Instant Facelift Pads.

The pads are ultrathin cooling strips soaked in the Hydroxatone10 Complex--a mix of Matrixyl 3000, a European anti-aging compound; Argireline, a peptide containing the tension-relaxing Acetyl-Hexapeptide; and Hyaluronic Acid, a wonder-hydrator that keeps skin from drying out. When applied to forehead lines and nasolabial folds (the annoying crevices that run from nose to mouth) and left to sit for 20 minutes, the pads immediately "filled" the lines (making the product more akin to collagen than Botox in my mind), and the effect lasted for a full six hours. The compresses remain firmly in place (you don't have to lie still to use this one) and had a similar smoothing effect on my undereye/crow's-feet area. That said, I wouldn't suggest using these when you're wearing even a stitch of makeup or apply them too close to your eyes (as pictured here), since the formula is superpotent and will make them tear like crazy. Instead, apply the pads just a bit lower to freshly cleansed skin.

Not surprisingly, Hydroxatone doesn't come cheap (the complete set retails for $200), but the company does offer a 60-day supply for $99 on its website, as well as a risk-free trial (if you like the system, you'll be charged $99; if you don't, you can return it and will be charged only $9.95 for shipping and handling). The verdict? For temporary, needle-free filling--especially for anxiety-inducing big events--the system should be standard issue in every woman's medicine cabinet (just as "Lovely but Lethal" should be a staple in every beauty addict's DVD collection). --Tara Mattarazzo