The facials that make a difference
Non-invasive but impactful treatments for glow that lasts as long as possible.
HYDRAFACIAL from £125, nationwide (60 minutes)
Red’s go-to for a guaranteed skin boost, no matter what ails it. Face and neck are resurfaced with glycolic and salicylic acids before pores are cleaned out with a suction pen. That same device then drives in a hydrating peptide and antioxidant solution, with additional ‘boosters’ from brands such as Omorovicza, Murad and Dr Dennis Gross (from June) also available, plus lymphatic drainage and LED. Skin looks calm, bright and happy; it’s a hard recommend from us. CELLCOSMET X LUCIE SWISS RELAXING ANTI-STRESS £195, London and the Cotswolds (60 minutes)
Smart beauty app Lucie has partnered with plant-powered, science-led skincare brand Cellcosmet to bring excellent lymphatic drainage facials to homes in London and the Cotswolds (including a Swiss Deluxe Procollagen version that has freshened famous faces during BAFTA week). It’s gorgeously relaxing and the results are startlingly good: skin looks brighter and contours are redefined.
MEDIK8 TOTAL SKIN RESET PEEL from £75, nationwide (45 minutes)
A three-step exfoliating facial from one of the most accessibly effective brands we know. Skin is physically buffed to remove dead cells and nudge blood flow, followed by an enzymatic solution that clears up any remaining debris. Next come glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids for deeper resurfacing. Expect mild peeling during the following five days, after which skin looks reborn. PAMELA MARSHALL AT MORTAR & MILK £500 (for consultation and first treatment), London (120 minutes)
Pam Marshall isn’t cheap, but return on investment is huge. A firm believer that less is more, she’ll give you a shortlist of products capable of transforming your skin, and can keep you on a train of steady improvement with three or four yearly appointments. Bespoke treatments usually include some laser and a light chemical peel (a more punchy Retinol Peel Facial was added to her menu late last year), though microneedling and mesotherapy are also available. The wisdom you’ll pick up? Priceless.
THE SKIN GEEK from £200, London and Falkirk (60 minutes)
Nicola Russell describes her house style as ‘holistic meets technology’, combining lymphatic drainage and muscle-lifting massage with dermaplaning (the exfoliation technique that uses a fine blade to remove an upper layer of dead skin). But for lasting results… well, this is where machines come in, she says, including laser, microcurrent, IPL and microneedling. See her for acne scarring, rosacea, fine lines and pigmentation – she’s brilliant. MY OSTEO BUCCAL MASSAGE WITH CHARLOTTE MERNIER £160, London (60 minutes)
Combining osteopathic techniques, lymphatic drainage and sculpting massage to stimulate collagen production for glowing skin, defined cheekbones and a sharper jawline, osteopath Charlotte’s unique protocol also releases tension, so it’s perfect for teeth grinders and jaw clenchers. It’s surprisingly relaxing, considering how deeply the muscles (including those accessed from inside the mouth) are manipulated. Results are seen and felt for a good week afterwards.