LET'S GO HOLISTIC
Looking for something more from your beauty treatments? Want glowing spirits as well as face and body? Need a reboot of mojo, but your muscles ache too? MELANIE MORRIS
might have the solution…
Holistic beauty is having a moment. From jade face rollers to the rejuvenating power of acupuncture needles, it’s becoming more and more usual to find conventional beauty treatments being powered up by crystals, reiki and other complementary forms of beauty. As the seasons change, maybe it’s time to dial-up your regular routine and try a shot of something spiritual. Or best of all, combine science and something holistic to see the benefits both can bring in tandem. Here are a few tried and tested winners…
ANTI-SURGERY FACIAL
WHAT IS IT? The no-injectables line eraser facial. WHO’S IT FOR? If you are pregnant, between Botox appointments, or simply want to resist the needle, but still fancy a smoother complexion, this facial by Lorraine Morris has to be experienced to be believed. WHAT’S INVOLVED? A one-hour facial using Juliette Armand’s advanced Anti-Surgery System, this focuses on boosting natural collagen synthesis and skin hydration for an immediately more youthful look. Also contained is a self-named ingredient called Effectox to slow down muscle contraction and prevent further lines forming. The facial is blissful – relaxing with plenty of massage and a mask. Lorraine works in an intuitive way, creating a bespoke treatment for each client on each visit and, for me, she started with a glycolic peel to really freshen up my face. She can also incorporate an eye-lift and/or microneedling into the package. ANYTHING ELSE? Funny you ask, yes! Lorraine is also a reiki master and usually includes a little bit of hands-on healing in the session. So, if you have this facial in the evening, you’ll leave feeling ultrazen and drift off to sleep like a baby. THE RESULTS I took before and after photos to eliminate any guesswork and after one one-hour facial, there was a marked difference to my appearance. I would honestly say a 30 per cent reduction in lines and line depth; what’s more, I felt incredibly grounded and relaxed, thanks to Lorraine’s healing reiki. PRICE From €60 for a one-hour treatment. CONTACT Lorraine Morris, 087 689 6639, @bespokeaestheticsdublin.
AESTHETIC ACUPUNCTURE SYNERGY FACIAL
WHAT IS IT? The perfect marriage of holistic and high-tech therapies for one gamechanger experience. WHO’S IT FOR? Brides, mothers of brides, red-carpet walkers, or anyone with
a big day or night out ahead who wants seriously great skin. WHAT’S INVOLVED? This multi-step facial starts with a hyaluronic serum before fine-gauge 1.3mm acupuncture needles are inserted around the face. Then, science takes over for a while, as goggles go on and a 20-minute session under an LED light starts; the aim is to boost blood circulation and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin’s cells. Once light and needles are removed, a sheet mask is applied to the face, with additional microcurrent stimulation to really repair skin, drive active ingredients deep into the dermis, and re-educate the muscles, working them against gravity. Finally, a session of facial cupping, and Gua Sha (a smooth jade tool) to drain away excess fluid and lymph from the face, and firm up contours. THE RESULTS Quite astonishing. My complexion was completely clear, vital, and the cupping made my face look much slimmer and nicely angular. ANYTHING ELSE?
There are a lot of acupuncturists who now offer aesthetic facials, but Una Cashin is a notch above most. She trained with Dr Travall Croom, the renowned don of aesthetic acupuncture, and has developed this very unique combination of elements in one treatment that really does turn back the clock. PRICE €150 for a 75-minute treatment. CONTACT Una Cashin, Ardee House, River Road, Blanchardstown, 086 205 3653, unacashinacupuncture.com.
“Reiki is a bit of a Marie Kondo
for the body, clearing out bad energy, boosting
the chakras, and helping the body detoxify.”