Perimenopause has a way of sneaking up on your face. First, it disrupts sleep. Then it quietly settles into the under-eyes with an alliance between persistent puffiness and deepening dark circles, which result in a permanently tired look, even on days when you’re actually feeling fine. My eyes, in particular, seem to be holding on to months of broken sleep and hormonal upheaval. I’ve tried the creams that promise miracles, layered on eye serums, rotated masks—everything from cooling gels to caffeine patches and collagen sheets. Some helped briefly, most didn’t last beyond a few hours.
Eventually, the all-knowing algorithm brought me to a reel featuring Vibhuti Arora—founder of House of Beauty and yoga master—trying something called an ‘eyecial’, and it stopped my scroll. Something about that made me want to try it immediately. When I finally booked my own ‘eyecial’ at House of Beauty, I was very aware that it wasn’t going to be like the before-and-after pictures you see cosmetic surgeons promoting on their pages. I just wanted my face to reflect how I wished I felt—rested, restored, and a little less betrayed by my hormones.
What happens in an eyecial
What I didn’t expect was how far from my eyes the eyecial would begin. Before anything touched my under-eyes, the therapist slowed things down with guided breathing, her hands resting on pressure points across my chest and face, easing me out of whatever state I’d walked in with. My neck was gently stretched and released, undoing days of unconscious tension. Once relaxed, the focus moved upward. After the routine cleansing, a nourishing under-eye cream was worked in through massage, softening the skin and easing the area into the treatment. The pace was grounding—nothing was rushed, nothing abrupt.
As the massage deepened, eye cupping was introduced. The sensation was subtle but effective, gently lifting and encouraging fluid to move instead of sitting stubbornly under the eyes. At this point, the puffiness began to visibly soften, and I started to feel how congested the area was to begin with. Arora later explained that this focus on lymphatic drainage is key; when fluid stagnates, fatigue settles in.
Next came the collagen roller, which was slid methodically along the orbital bone to activate collagen production and improve elasticity beneath the eyes. No, the fine lines didn’t vanish, but the area felt tauter. The treatment then transitioned into an LED massage, which works at a cellular level—calming inflammation, easing eye strain, and addressing the fatigue that comes from screens, stress, and constant stimulation.
What stood out most was the attention given to the muscles and fascia around the eyes. Controlled movements with their in-house massager worked into these often-ignored areas, gently lifting and stimulating muscles that spend most of their time tense and overworked. “The eye area is in constant motion,” Arora explained. “When muscles and fascia lose mobility, circulation slows, and that’s when puffiness and dullness appear.”
Once the area felt fully activated, hydrogel eye patches were applied for hydration. These were layered with a jade eye mask, which cools instantly, calming both the skin and the frayed nerves. The contrast between earlier stimulation and this moment of stillness was striking—it’s where everything seemed to settle.
The treatment was finished with ice globes rolled slowly over the under-eye area. The cooling constricts blood vessels, reduces any remaining puffiness, and leaves the eyes looking visibly lifted and refreshed. By the end, I was so relaxed I almost fell asleep—something no eye cream, mask, or quick fix has managed to do.
The mirror moment
Immediately after, my eyes looked more open. Puffiness had eased, shadows softened, and the skin felt smoother and deeply hydrated. There was no irritation, no redness (for someone with sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, this was a relief)—just a rested look. “Most people are surprised by how immediate the shift feels,” Arora said, “There’s a lightness that comes from releasing tension and improving flow.”
The 24-hour reality check
The real proof showed up the next day. Concealer required less product, blended faster, and creased far less—even after another night of interrupted sleep. The under-eye area simply behaved better. “When circulation and drainage improve, everything works more efficiently,” Arora explained. “Skincare absorbs better and makeup sits differently.”
Just to note, this isn’t a one-time treatment. I would put this under monthly maintenance; you’re likely to see best results over multiple sessions.
If you’re anything like me—perimenopausal, sleep-starved, over-stimulated, and carrying fatigue that doesn’t disappear after a good night—this could be a go-to. Especially if, like me, you want visible change without needles, downtime, or doing anything extreme. And when your eyes have been carrying more than their share, this is exactly enough.
Cost: ₹1,699 for a 20-minute session
Address: Ground floor, New Green Fields Society, Co-operative Housing Society Limited, 2A/B, West, opposite Almeida Park, Bandra West, Mumbai
