My mission as I get older is to improve the texture of my skin, minimise fine lines without the use of Botox and lighten my pigmentation – and facials are the answer. I know that a good at-home beauty regime is crucial but I also know that results-driven treatments can go a long way in creating a firmer, tighter and more luminous visage.
Us girls spend so much money on beauty. In fact, it was reported that more than 20 billion was spent on skincare alone last year! And I know that that’s where a big chunk of my wages goes. I think you’ll agree that you can’t really put a price on looking and feeling good. So that’s how I justified booking three very different facials at the slightly higher end of the scale recently.
Facial #1
Firstly I met Marie Reynolds (mariereynolds.com) to try her Master Lift Facial for skin rejuvenation. This involves micro needling, which enables transdermal absorption. The process basically creates tiny channels to allow a special cocktail of active ingredients to absorb deeper into the skin. The products used are by Osmosis and help to accelerate the healing process and create dermal repair from fine lines and wrinkles and pigmentation. After the needling – which only lasts around 15 to 20 minutes and doesn’t hurt at all – a hydrating mask is applied and LED light is used. Straight after the treatment my skin looked really fresh. For the next few days it was amazing – very clear, refreshed and certainly glowing. A course is recommended to really help with any issues. I will continue to visit Marie, who has a gorgeous healing energy and is so knowledgeable on all things skin-related.
Facial #2
Next I went to see Nichola Joss (nicholajoss.com)) who has a brilliant reputation in the beauty world. Her facials are one of a kind and very hands on, quite literally! I’ll explain. Nichola’s Bespoke Sculpting Inner Facial concentrates on addressing sagging muscles and is designed to help lift the muscles and the structure of the face. It involves lots of yummy products being massaged onto your skin and a delicious but very firm eye massage.
Following this, Nichola then sets to work on the inner facial massage. Yes that’s right, she actually puts her fingers inside your mouth! Working up into the cheekbones, lifting and pulling them and encouraging the muscles to sit higher and more sculpted. Her treatments create volume and definition in the face. Our faces and jaw lines hold so much tension and with that tension the muscles become set and drag our faces down. It really is the most intense but amazingly effective experience – I honestly felt like my whole face had been ironed from the inside afterwards! All tension had completely gone and I’m definitely converted!
Facial #3
Lastly I visited the Devonshire club to see the brand new 111MEDISPA set up by Dr Yannis. It is designed for busy people around the city who want to be able to pop in for a quick treatment. With a selection of seven different 30 to 60 minute facials on the menu, I opted for a 30-minute 111CYRO Regenerative Facial.
For those of you who read my column you’ll remember that I have tried the CYRO chamber before for the whole body and loved it, but this treatment just focuses on the face and neck with the therapist using a special device. Yes, it does feel cold with temperatures of -30°C but I saw it as being refreshingly so. The idea of this facial is to stimulate cell renewal. It energises the complexion and perk up and rejuvenate dull, tired-looking skin. The cold air felt extremely revitalising, especially around my eyes, and did work to relieve my puffiness.
At the end of the treatment a mask was applied to my face, neck and décolletage too. Delivering powerful ingredients into my skin, leaving me glowing and feeling thoroughly invigorated.
So, if you’re looking to try something new and give yourself a treat, I highly recommend all three of these!
