Compiled by Maggie Wicks
If the summer sun has dulled your skin, fret not - it’s nothing a quick scrub, slather and buff won’t fix. Here’s our guide to the city’s top 10 facial treatments to get your skin looking peachy keen and ready to shine on.
The raw deal
Small but perfectly formed, London’s first raw face lift contains freshly blended ingredients that are good enough to eat
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Experience: The Raw Face Lift lived up to its billing as the ultimate in facial rejuvenation. My facialist, Danielle, used active “super food” ingredients: Manuka honey, acai berries, oats, green and white tea to nourish, lift and tone my skin. Each stage of the facial was a sensory delight, with mint sprays and deliciously scented scrubs and masks.
The end result was astounding. Not one line, it felt as smooth as soapstone and, despite being barefaced, my skin tone was even, with cheeks flushed a perfect pink as if I’d freshly applied my makeup. I have tried to replicate the facial by concocting some of the key ingredients in my kitchen. Unfortunately, all I succeeded in was making lot of mess. Cost: Being natural doesn’t come cheap; the Raw Face Lift facial will set you back a hefty £85. Location: 8 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JU (020 7752 0652; www.glowurbanspa.co.uk) Jo Giles Advertisement The hipster facial Gina Conway spa, Westbourne Grove Forget yummy mummies – this is a spa for young, hip, good-looking types – be they staff or customers. Experience: Gina Conway is a trendy spa and salon in the salubrious surroundings of Westbourne Grove, an area that’s overtaken neighbouring Notting Hill in the style stakes. Advertisement I had an Aveda Elemental Nature Facial with Botanical Skin Resurfacing, which lasted an hour and included a facial scrub, extraction (squeezing spots), face mask, facial massage and moisturiser at the end. The products were all organic Aveda products and smelt divine. At the end, my face was a little blotchy but my skin calmed down after a few hours and the next day my skin was soft and fresh. Cost: The Aveda Elemental Nature Facial costs £70 for one hour and £50 for 30 minutes. Location: Gina Conway, 62 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5SH; tel. 020 7229 6644; www.ginaconway.co.uk Ginny McGrath Advertisement Oxygen and chocolate brownies A blast of the triple oxygen facial at a spartan London day spa that serves wine and brownies with your treatment. Experience: To call the triple oxygen facial merely a facial is misleading. It starts with a cleanse and exfoliation, a peel and a couple of masks, which are accompanied by massages and finally the blast of oxygen across the face. Notions of claustrophobia were tested by the appliance of plastic over one of the face masks (with a hole over the mouth and nose), which was then covered with a warm damp towel. This was surprisingly relaxing and “opens the pores before extraction”, a delicate phrase for the squeezing of blackheads. The immediate results are not always that pleasing, due to red patches and blotchiness, but a day later my skin looked refreshed and felt smoother. I felt energised after the treatment and strangely relaxed, to the point of smiling at people on the Tube. Advertisement Cost: The 85-minute treatment costs £145 and includes cleansing, exfoliating, a fruit acid wash, wrap, extractions, face mask, face pack and oxygen spray, as well as some gentle massage during the wraps, peel and masks. Location: 60 Sloane Avenue, London, SW3 3DD (020 7584 3888; www.blisslondon.co.uk) Ginny McGrath The bargain Don’t expect fluffy white towelling robes and soothing music – you really do get what you pay for, which is an absolute bargain. Experience: It takes place in a corner of the Neal Street shop, which is cordoned off with a thin screen to provide a bit of privacy. It doesn’t shield against the hubbub of Covent Garden, particularly on a busy Saturday afternoon when the shop is rammed full of Origins regulars, but at least they can’t see you in all your vulnerable glory. Charity was our spy’s therapist for the afternoon, and she was fantastic. A true Origins advocate, she worked her magic, taking a brief skin history and then tailoring the facial to our spy’s needs. It’s a short treatment, so no extractions or technical gadgetry. Origins is simply confident that clients will fall in love with its products, which our spy did. Cost: A 45-minute facial for £15 Location: 42 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London WC2 (020-7836 9603, www.origins.co.uk) Sarah Vine The holistic experience Savana positions itself as more of a holistic health centre which caters to men as well as women. Experience: I chose an Eminence facial, and after cleansing with a lemon cleanser, which would help the brightening process, my therapist Jemma toned with a wild-plum product that helps to alleviate any puffiness. An almond and mineral mask was applied to boost the circulation and remove dead skin cells. It made my skin tingle but while it was on, Jemma turned her attention to my feet. This was one of the loveliest treatments I’ve ever had. Oil was massaged into my feet, which were then covered and left to soak up the yummy smelling mixture. Once the mask was cleaned away, she used a very hydrating moisturiser. My face had a great colour to it, and after a light dusting with mineral powder, I felt like I had completely new skin. Cost: £95 for the Eminence facial. Location: Savana Urban Spa, 45 Hereford Road, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5AH (0207 229 8300; www.savanaspa.com) Sam Lyster The hotel spa Peak Health Club and Spa, Cadogan Place and Knightsbridge A fancy facial at a popular hotel day spa in Knightsbridge with views over London Experience: Voted one of the Top Ten UK day spas 2008 by readers of Conde Nast Traveller, the spa is on the 9th floor and offers great views over London. I had a facial using Pevonia products derived from plants, fruits, vegetables and the ocean. My therapist, Francesca, started with a cleanser and then a hydrating toner before asking if I was claustrophopic, which I though was a bit strange until a mask hovered over my face spewing out steam - so she could “excavate” my skin. An enzyme powder mask, neck massage and eye gel followed that which had me drifting off before she finished with an age defying face balm - although you probably need more than one before the years drop off. Having said that my wife noticed the difference as soon as I got back to our room at the Jumeirah Lowndes hotel, just a few seconds walk around the corner. She said that my skin looked fresh and clean. Cost: Pevonia Plantomer Lift-Off Mask – from £75 for 75 minutes. Location: Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, London, SW1X 9PY (020 7858 7300; www.jumeirahcarltontower.com/health_club) Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel: 21 Lowndes Street, Knightsbridge, SW1X 9ES (Tel: 020 7823 1234 www.jumeirahlowndeshotel.com) Adam Fresco The natural micro-dermabrasion Aveda claims to offer treatments based on a holistic approach and using the five elements of nature. In need of some serious balance, both for mind and body, I booked myself in for a facial to see if the calm aura of the Institute could rub off on me. Experience: I was a guinea-pig for one of Aveda’s newest treatments, the Botanical Skin Resurfacing Facial, which is designed to be an alternative to micro-dermabrasion. The therapist asked a range of good questions and I felt like I was in the hands of someone who knew what she was doing, and when she promised that I could return to work after the facial without looking red and blotchy, I lay back and started to relax. The treatment was very gentle, soothing and the arm and shoulder massage, while a facemask was doing its thing, was bliss. True to her word, an hour later, my skin was feeling great - cleansed, soft, glowing and most startling of all – I was back at work within half an hour without any blotchiness. Cost: The one-hour facial cost £80-£85. Aveda’s products are all clearly on display, so unless you are very strong willed be prepared to add a few things to the bill. Location: The Aveda Institute, 174 High Holborn, London (0207 759 7355; www.aveda.co.uk) Anoushka Healy The man rub The Refinery, Bishopsgate Deep massage and a ‘cut throat’ shave - for men who need a bit of a polish. Experience: From the waiting room with comfortable leather sofas, large TV and DVD player to the friendliness of the reception staff, the Refinery gets you in the mood for relaxation from the moment you walk through the door. The strange, slightly whale–like noises pumped through to the massage room were vaguely hypnotic but the music selection could be changed at the flick of a switch. If you really want to pampered while listening to Guns ‘n’ Roses you can (although you will probably have to bring your own CD). The Refinery Shaving Experience is a cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising treatment, followed by a meticulous “cut throat” shave. There is a wide variety of treatments available and although the prices are a little on the steep side, this is the sort of venue where the customers probably don’t even notice, let alone complain. Cost: £55 and lasts 45 minutes. Location: 38 Bishopsgate, London EC2n 4AJ (020 7588 1066); 60 Brook Street, London W1K 5DU (020 7409 2001); Refinery at Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL (020 7893 8332) or visit www.the-refinery.com Andrew Ellson For harrassed city-goers Calmia Day Spa and Holistic Lifestyle Store, Marylebone High Street An after work treat for workers in need of relaxation, inner calm and re-balance. Experience: I chose the 90-minute Pure Skin Facial. Lana, the spa manager, used what she called a ‘Chinese mapping’ technique to tell me how I could improve my skin. The slightly painful part of the treatment was the extraction, where Lana spent a good 20 minutes squeezing what must have been dozens of black heads on my face (I wasn’t aware I had any at all), by which time I felt like my skin must be well and truly wrecked. Following a pressure point eye and facial massage the rest of the treatment became a blur as I felt myself drifting into a hypnotic state, largely thanks to the background chanting music. I noticed my skin looked slightly blotchy after the treatment, but the next day it felt great - and noticeably smoother. Cost: The 90-minute Pure Skin Facial will cost you £95, or £65 for 60 minutes. For £20 extra you can have an additional head or neck and shoulder massage. Location: 52-54 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HR (0845 009 2450; www.calmia.com) Karen McIntyre The local Destination spas are all very well, but they make two big assumptions. That you have the time to travel there and that you have the money to pay high prices. This is why, sometimes, local is the way to go. Experience: There might not be a plunge pool or a steam room, but scented candles, relaxing music and expert therapists abound.I had the de-luxe facial which was given expertly and with no fuss. The therapist knew what she was doing and with an assured touch applied the organic Living Nature products. It was not one of those facials when the therapist leaves you with your own thoughts for 20 minutes after applying the face mask, instead I was given a foot massage. The facial, which lasts an hour and 15 minutes, also includes a wonderful neck and back massage. And, for once in my life, a facial seemed to actually make me look better. When my husband returned from work he commented on how well I looked, twice! Cost: £55 - amazing value and I will definitely be returning. A 35-minute body polish is £36, an hour of reflexology is £47, and a three-hour absolute indulgence packet is £128. Location: 8 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, SE22 8QZ (0208 693 3773; www.hb-therapy.co.uk) Claire McDonald
