IN THE mix

New face and body treatments blend tech and touch for a bespoke mix and impactful experience

Dermalogica x HydraFacial Treatment

Dermalogica and HydraFacial have joined forces to create a skin treatment designed to offer both instant and long-term skin health results. The non-invasive, multi-step treatment features hydradermabrasion, a chemical peel, LED light therapy, extractions and delivery of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and peptides. To customise the facial, it can also include lymphatic drainage to improve detoxification or a personalised booster to improve skin hydration and ageing.

Having already introduced Pro Nanoneedling and Pro Microneedling to its portfolio of advanced treatments this year, Dermalogica’s new collaboration with aesthetic specialist HydraFacial is part of a move to reach a wider audience of clients seeking advanced technology-based facials.

The brands recommend charging £120 for a 45-minute treatment or £300 for a course of four. 0800 917 7147 dermalogica.co.uk / 01788 572 007 hydrafacial.co.uk

Tried and tested… MG Skincare bespoke facial

The lowdown: MG Skincare was founded by skin therapist Manuel Guerra, who has over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Having worked for some of the country’s leading skincare brands, Guerra decided to train in ingredient chemistry and create his own brand. He offers bespoke facials which use the MG Skincare range in addition to non-invasive technology and massage techniques to revitalise and support healthy skin.

The experience: I visited Guerra at the MG Skincare Clinic near Tower Bridge, London. After a consultation where we discussed my skin concerns and goals, and my current routine, he began the facial by cleansing my skin with the Facial Oil Cleanser, followed by a second cleanse with Radiance Clays – athree-in-one cleanser, clay mask and exfoliator. Throughout these stages, Guerra used a steaming machine to keep my skin hydrated.

After cleansing, he applied an acid exfoliant with his Recovering Oil Serum, which is designed to relieve redness and calm skin. This was massaged into my face and left on before Guerra carried out extractions.

He then applied an oatmeal face mask to encourage my skin to heal and recover – both from the exfoliation as well as some breakouts I’d recently had. To complement this, the mask was left on while my skin was exposed to blue LED light for 20 minutes to target acne-causing bacteria, regulate sebum production and help to prevent future breakouts.

After removing the mask, Guerra applied his Radiance Skin Toner to condition and hydrate, followed by the leave-on Lactic Acid Serum Gel, Vita C Serum and Radiance Serum. To finish the treatment, MG Skincare’s Medium Face Cream and Tinted SPF50 Primer were applied.

The verdict: The personal and human touches in this treatment, including the tailored use of technology and the incorporation of massage, made it feel like a truly bespoke facial suited to me. The MG Skincare products felt wonderful and left my skin feeling brightened, hydrated and refreshed.

Business benefits: The MG Skincare product range is available to purchase wholesale, offering businesses the opportunity to expand both their treatment and retail offering. Guerra also offers training for the bespoke facials which helps therapists to develop a better understanding of the skin and how to tailor treatments to clients.

Tried by Ellen Cummings

MG Skincare recommends charging from £75 to £100 per bespoke facial. 07814 663798 / mgskincare.co.uk

Grown Alchemist treatments

The cult skincare brand has launched its first ever professional spa treatments. Owned by L’Occitane, which also owns Elemis, Grown Alchemist is now being headed up in the UK by ex-Elemis general manager Harrison Gregory, launching its first treatments in the spas of Nobu Hotel, London, and The Lowry, Manchester, with plans for additional partnerships across the UK.

Treatments include three facials, two shorter precision facials, a barbering ritual and five body treatments. The three longer facials are Defence, for city-dwellers, using an anti-pollution range; Regenerator – asignature facial that features cupping, cryo orbs and a sculpting massage; and Detox for deep cleansing. The 25-minute Precision Definition facials focus on facial massage with a choice of cheek and eye or neck and cheek.

For body, the offering includes Rejuvenating Body Massage, focused on lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, foot reflexology and abdomen massage for gut health; Renewal Body Polish for full-body exfoliation; and Urban Destress, a back, lower leg and foot massage with cryo orbs to finish. There are also foot and hand massage protocols that can be done as a short treatment or add on.

Grown Alchemist has partnered with Reviv to offer IV vitamin drips, delivered alongside any facial treatment by a doctor or nurse practitioner, with Reviv also creating an exclusive vitamin C and glutathione-rich blend for the brand.

Recommended treatment prices will vary by location but Nobu London is charging from £85 for a weekday Precision Facial to £255 for a weekend Rejuvenating Body Massage grownalchemist.com

Tried and tested… 111Skin bespoke facial

The lowdown: Luxury doctor-led skincare brand 111 Skin, founded by Dr Yannis Alexandrides, offers bespoke treatments using its product range combined with the latest in beauty technology.

The experience: Aesthetician Violeta Grigoriu began my treatment at 111 Skin’s treatment space at 1 Devonshire Place, London, with an in-depth consultation. We identified hormonal breakouts and dark circles under my eyes as my main concerns, and Grigoriu planned a customised treatment, featuring laser, a chemical peel and undereye masks for maximum results.

As someone who had never experienced a peel before, I was worried about downtime – especially as I had an event three days later, but Grigoriu reassured me she would adapt the time the products were left on my skin to ensure only minimal flaking that I could easily remedy at home with manual exfoliation.

The treatment began with a cleanse, which Grigoriu followed with a laser treatment using Alma Harmony technology to work to remove acne and impurities from within. The laser, which uses advanced fluorescence technology, had a warm feel and glided across my skin.

Next up was the peel, with Grigoriu degreasing the skin with a prep wipe before applying a 40% mandelic acid peel, which she explained helps to accelerate cell turnover and reduce blemishes and dark patches, with 20% targeting the skin’s surface and 20% working beneath. While the peel was working, she applied 111Skin’s Illuminating Eye Mask to work on my dark circles. To minimise after-effects, Grigoriu neutralised the peel after just five minutes, allowing the ingredients to take effect without excessive shedding.

For the final touches, Grigoriu targeted my undereye area with the 111Skin Eye Contour Gel and applied the brand’s Y Theorem Day Cream to boost antioxidant protection and hydration, finishing with SPF.

The verdict: Immediately after the treatment I could see an improvement in the blemishes I wanted to target – which kept getting better as the days went on. The flaking was significantly less intense than I had imagined, and super easy to manage at home with hydrating products and gentle exfoliation.

Business benefits: While it’s a premium treatment, the facial is great for clients who want to see results quickly and the combination of laser and peels makes you feel as though you’re getting more for your money.

Tried by Lollie Hancock

111Skin recommends charging £465 for a customised treatment like this one. 111skin.co.uk