Tweakments Skip the Appointment | Ginger Sparks No. 33
An eye drop, a topical, an ingestible: all providing non-surgical aesthetic innovations.
In April 2025, Vogue Business asked: “Are Tweakments Just Fast Fashion for Your Face?” If you’re asking yourself, what the heck is a tweakment, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Tweakments are usually minimally invasive (though ask anyone who’s gotten a strong laser or peel about the recovery), non-surgical procedures performed in the office. Think neurotoxins, derm fillers, lasers, peels, etc., solution-oriented refreshes rather than dramatic, more invasive options like a facelift. The term itself is a marriage of tweak and treatment, beauty click-bait that’s since gone mainstream. The Vogue Business piece is putting words to a phenomenon that’s been bubbling up: now that plastic surgery practices and medical spas are also borrowing from fashion-thinking, tweakments are bought and marketed the way we build out clothing collections: as routine maintenance, seasonal drops, micro-upgrades, not just a one-time transformation.
According to Allergan Aesthetics’ “The Future of Aesthetics” report, one of the leading providers of Botox, the number of non-surgical aesthetic procedures conducted worldwide grew by nearly two million between 2017 and 2020, and is expected to total 23 million dermal filler procedures and 14.6 million body procedures by the end of 2025. The same report found physicians are seeing more younger patients, a broader range of ethnic backgrounds, and more men than ever, a sign tweakments have moved well past a niche audience.
Non-surgical aesthetic procedures are expected to continue surging in popularity, as life expectancy is rising thanks to discoveries in longevity. The latest wave is skipping the appointment altogether: an eye drop, a topical, a gummy, all packaged as at-home, over-the-counter versions of treatments that used to require a provider. Gingergeist weighs in - with the receipts to add - on recent developments.
It’s All in the Eyes: Upneeq’s At-Home Eyelid Lift
The eyes may be known as the windows to the soul, but they are also often the first area of the face to show signs of aging. Why? The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body, making it especially vulnerable to changes over time. With the upper eyelids, extra skin can develop and begin to hang closer to the lash line.
On Jamie’s last visit to her ophthalmologist in February, she inquired about Upneeq, the first FDA-approved eye drops for adults with low-lying Eyelids. The ophthalmologist claimed to have never heard of it, but promised to look into it (never happened). Recently, on Gloss Angeles, Cindy Crawford talked about plastic surgery pressure and staying power. Cindy Crawford discussed turning 60, her pact with a friend not to get a facelift, and embracing a natural approach to aging with her husband Rande Gerber’s support. While Cindy noted she has tried minor non-surgical treatments like neurotoxins, lasers, and PRP, she noticed her eyelids were looking a little heavier in pictures. Her dermatologist recommended Upneeq, and when the Upneeq team reached out to her, she learned an ophthalmologist had developed it for his own mother, who didn’t want to undergo surgery for drooping eyelids. On the updated website, Cindy can be seen quoted as saying, “Connection has always been about presence and confidence for me, and so much of that is communicated through the eyes.” She likes that someone can choose to use Upneeq every day or just for special events.
Ginger Spark: Jamie decided to try the two-vial trial of Upneeq straight from the website, where one can upload a picture and obtain an Rx if qualified, for $30. For those with acquired ptosis, or low-lying eyelids, it offers a non-surgical option, in an easy-to-use once-daily eye drop. While Jamie’s first single-use vial resulted in one eye opening slightly more visibly than the other, the second time resulted in a refreshed, wide awake effect. Average lift in clinical trials was 1 mm, acting in as little as five minutes (although the suggested wait is 15 minutes to apply eye cream or makeup), and can last up to 8 hours. Check out more before-and-afters, along with the Upneeq community. While the website mentioned a one-time trial, Jamie was able to order again for $15 (minus the Rx :)
Lip Volumizing, On Demand: Dr. Diamond’s LipLift
In The Price Point Playbook, Gingergeist highlighted Dr. Jason Diamond’s $225 EyeLift bioserum. The celebrity facial plastic surgeon is at it again, introducing LipLift this month (teasing “JOIN THE WAITING ROOM”), as a $120 topical treatment, expanding the Contour Collection from Dr. Diamond’s Metacine. Designed to mimic non-surgical clinical results, the product targets lip aging, loss of volume, and fine lines. The announcement in Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) noted the purpose of volumizing lips, improving contours, and addressing signs of perioral aging.
Ginger Spark: With the use of Cindy for Upneeq and WWD to announce LipLift, tweakments are much like Vogue Business speculated, being treated more like a fashion launch. In addition to Dr. Diamond offering advice in a recent blog post on 4 Paths to Luscious Lips, it becomes clear that aesthetics, beauty, and fashion have never been so closely aligned (and blurred). We’re pondering whether this replaces in-office filler or simply complements and extends the appointment calendar. You know we already signed up.
A Lash & Brow Ingestible: IMARAÏS Beauty’s Gummies
In a recent Nutra Ingredients “Beauty From Within 2026” July Webinar, panelist Aaron Hefter discussed how orbital focus has been on eyelash extensions and hair growth beyond the scalp, and hinted at releasing an innovation to target lashes and brows. Other panelists asked, “a topical,” to which Hefter responded, “an ingestible.” Cue almost audible gasps! ( Jamie was once a devoted lash extension wearer; Michelle swears she’ll never leave) IMARAÏS Beauty released their Thrive Lash and Brow Care Gummies on March 10, 2026. Co-founded by Sommer Ray and Aaron Hefter, the plant-based ingestible product was introduced as an alternative to topical lash and brow serums.
IMARAÏS Beauty offers the plant-based, sugar-free ingestible gummy formulated to support and nourish eyelashes and eyebrows from within. Featuring the flavor of natural dragonfruit, with key ingredients including aloe vera, radish root, and rosemary, IMARAÏS Beauty is pinpointing follicle health. Radish root is purported to promote localized blood circulation around the eye area.
Ginger Spark: While IMARAÏS Beauty has had a broader rollout and business milestones (from Amazon to Target and Ulta, and now Nordstrom), along with international expansion, this specificity in solution-oriented beauty is worth watching. As long as lash lifts, nano brows, brow lamination techniques, and extensions are a thing, brands can think about innovations in their categories that can enhance challenging facial features.
Know someone who thinks a tweakment still means a trip to the office? Restack this.
Follow along: gingergeisty
Want to work with us? gingergeist@gmail.com
Not subscribed? Next one lands first in your inbox.
