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For years, dermatologists have been telling me that the delicate skin around the eyes is some of the first to show the signs of aging.

And boy, have I learned that the hard way.

What was once tight, smooth, and lifted has begun to look tired, droopy, and lined. I've tried eye creams -- so many eye creams -- and while some of them have worked well, it can take weeks to months to see a difference. I'm a patient person, but at this rate, I'll be looking like Droopy the basset hound by spring. Not happening.

So, when NuFACE, the beauty tech brand behind the bestselling -- and Women's Health-approved Trinity microcurrent device -- launched a solution that promises noticeable results in just five minutes -- their Ionplex Hydra-Gel Power Patches -- I was intrigued, hopeful, and slightly manic to get my hands on it. Five minutes? It couldn't possibly work that fast, could it?

I was determined to find out. I've come to appreciate the blue/gray color of irises, which tend to lean green whenever I wear that color, but I could do without the dark circles and fine lines. I do get Botox injections, but I avoid the area around my eyes, instead focusing on my forehead, because I'm nervous about looking too frozen there. I don't need the squinty laugh lines to fully disappear, but I would like to downgrade them from a guffaw to a chuckle. If the folks at NuFACE say they can help, what did I have to lose?

So, what's the deal with this miracle-working solution? These biodegradable gel patches promise to "brighten, tighten, and hydrate" under the eyes, and are formulated with a cocktail of ingredients to achieve these lofty goals. They're not cheap -- $55 to be exact -- but my results were great, and I'm hopeful that with continued use, they'll get even better.

The Power Patches are infused with magnesium (to brighten), amino acids (to tighten), and electrolytes to moisturize. For the best possible results, NuFACE recommends pairing the patches with the brand's FIX Line Smoothing Device, a more targeted version of its classic microcurrent tool. The miniaturized spherical tips can deliver the microcurrent energy to smaller areas, such as the undereye area and around the lips. And lest you forget: Microcurrent refers to low-level electrical currents that stimulate facial muscles to look more toned and lifted and has been around since the 1980s.

At an additional $165 (for the device and the conductor serum), pairing your Power Patches with the FIX is a significant investment that will run you more than $200. But I'm a rule follower -- and I wanted the best bang for my buck -- so I chose to use the two together. Here's how it went down.

NuFACE recommends applying the patches to clean skin and leaving them on for five minutes so they can do their thing. Then, you'll power on your FIX and getly glide it over the patches (the pre-set treatment time is three minutes). Maybe it was me, but I found that difficult to do. When I moved the FIX over the area, the steel tips caused the patches to bunch up and fall off.

Instead, I used the patches as directed for five minutes -- they're easy to apply and felt cooling and hydrating on skin -- and then did a three-minute treatment with my FIX device afterward under each eye (a generous dose of the serum helped the device over the area with no pulling or tugging). The experience was pleasant -- a gentle vibration that was quite relaxing.

In terms of the results, I was impressed. I noticed instantly that my undereye area was brighter and that some of the fine lines were much less pronounced that they were before. A coworker even commented at how great my results were. The combination of the Power Patches the FIX serum was super hydrating so I felt like my entire undereye area was plump and dewy (which also helped to reflect light and minimize the appearance of my darkness). And yes, I experienced these results after just one treatment.

All in, you're spending a lot, but I'm convinced that the improvement in my eye area was worth the splurge -- and I'm excited to see some of the cumulative effects after I continue to use the product, which I plan on doing at least twice per week. For me, this was a win.