CLEAR run

New treatments offer options for clearer, brighter skin and we try some therapies with holistic elements

Cutera Aviclear

Aviclear is the first FDA-cleared laser treatment for long-term inflammatory acne and is designed to clear acne in three 30-minute sessions. Following its rollout in the US and Canada, Cutera has announced a limited commercial release of Aviclear for the UK and Ireland. It is a doctor-supervised procedure so can be performed by doctors or by beauty therapists under supervision of a doctor. It uses laser light to selectively target and suppress sebaceous glands, tackling acne at the source. The device features trademarked Avicool skin cooling and sensory controls to help maintain the skin’s temperature during treatment for comfort. Clinical trials have shown that current and future breakout episodes are shorter, less intense, and less frequent following Aviclear treatment and that acne clearance results continue to improve over time.

Cutera recommends that clinics set their own prices for treatments. 0118 327 2640 / cutera.co.uk

Tried and tested... Ishga Back, Face and Scalp Sound Treatment

The lowdown: This treatment is designed to take clients on a journey to the Scottish Hebrides – the home of organic skincare brand Ishga. It incorporates sound treatment techniques to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, a stimulating back exfoliation, personalised back, neck, shoulder and scalp massage, and a lifting facial.

The experience: I visited the Dorchester Spa in London for a treatment with Denise Doe, who began with a sensory test to select which oil to use. I went for the Invigorating oil which features essential oils of lavender, rose geranium, juniper and lemongrass to aid in relaxation while also providing a feeling of renewed energy.

Doe asked me to lie face down before getting me to inhale the oil for three breaths. She then carried out a foot cleanse using hot mitts, followed by a back exfoliation using Ishga’s Hebridean Sea Salt Scrub, which contains pure sea salt, known for its rich mineral content. After removing the scrub, Doe carried out a back massage with hot stones – I struggle with tension in my shoulders so she paid particular attention to this area, and the use of hot stones made such a difference. She then asked me to turn over to start the facial, placing hot stones at my root, solar plexus and heart chakras to help balance my energy. She cleansed my face using the buttery Marine Cleansing Balm before applying Hebridean Marine Toner, which contains Scottish seawater, Hebridean spring water, seaweed extract and aloe vera to brighten and soothe.

Doe then applied the Rejuvenating Eye Balm and carried out a facial and scalp massage using the Nourishing Face Oil. She finished by applying Marine Cream, which contains shea butter, extract of macadamia, vitamin E and calming bergamot. The treatment worked in harmony with the music throughout, helping to capture the calming essence of the ocean.

The verdict: I really appreciate when therapists do sensory tests to choose products at the start of treatments – it makes me feel involved and affirms that I’ll receive the kind of treatment I’m looking for. The treatment was very in-depth and tackled a lot of my concerns. The products definitely helped with the transportive aspect – they do smell very slightly of the sea but not in a stinky-wetseaweed kind of way. I certainly noticed a hydrated glow in my skin and I’ve been using the Hydra+ Marine Cream as my night-time moisturiser since having the treatment.

Business benefits: Seaweed skincare has a whole range of benefits including supporting collagen, aiding in hydration and acting as an antioxidant. The seaweed used by Ishga also ticks the sustainability box for more environmentally minded businesses; the Ishga team harvests it by hand in the Hebrides and rotates harvesting locations to allow for natural regeneration and biodiversity.

Tried by Ellen Cummings

Ishga recommends charging from £300 for the 90-minute treatment. 01851 703 278 / ishga.com

Skeyndor Probiome Peel

Skeyndor has launched a range of five chemical peels designed to accelerate skin cell regeneration while restoring the skin microbiome.

The treatment has four phases: prepping the skin with the Pre-Peel Solution and Pre-Peel Balm; the personalised peel; post-peel neutralising with Post-Peel Mask Solution and the Skin Revitalizing Booster multivitamin treatment; and finally the care and protection step using Multibiotic Restoring Complex for restoring the skin microbiome, plus Skincare Make Up DD Cream Age Defense SPF50.

The five personalised peel options are: Hydra Soothing, with a high concentration of polyhydroxy acids designed to moisturise and not alter the skin barrier; Ultra Illuminating, with polyacids and derivative ascorbic acid to provide a high antioxidant content; Advanced Lightening, with a combination of acids formulated to smooth the appearance of blemishes and unify skin tone; Pore Polishing with sebum-soluble acids to reduce the appearance of open pores; and Age Smoothing with AHAs and acids that have an antioxidant effect.

Skeyndor recommends charging £125 for a peel. enquiries@skeyndor.uk / skeyndor.uk

Tried and tested… Hollywood at Sugaring London

The lowdown: A new branch of Sugaring London has opened up in Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross and I was invited to try a Hollywood Sugaring treatment. An allnatural treatment, the product is made of simply sugar, lemon juice and water.

Sugaring is said to provide smoother and longer-lasting results by removing hair right from the root and is also said to provide a physical exfoliation, removing lifeless surface cells to reveal baby-soft skin.

The experience: I had six sessions of laser hair removal in 2023, but I still had quite a bit of hair on my bikini area that I would rather be gone before my next holiday. I had been shaving for the past few months, so some of the problems that had started to go away with laser hair removal had returned, including ingrown hairs, dry skin and pigmentation.

I was greeted at reception by the lovely sugaring therapist Valeria Krivecki, who led me down the pink corridor and into door number four where an intimate wipe was waiting for me, which was a great touch.

Krivecki was a bit worried that we wouldn’t be able to proceed with treatment because my hair was short, but after cleansing the area, adding powder and giving it a go, the hair was coming up easily, so she felt confident I would have a great result.

Krivecki was incredibly passionate about sugaring and I learned a huge amount from her and was really impressed with how comfortable she made me feel.

She explained how sugaring has a much lower temperature than waxing and it was fascinating to see her work. The same ball of sugar stayed sticky and effective for ages. Despite pulling in the same direction of the hair, I was amazed to see that the root of every hair was removed.

The verdict: Krivecki managed to get every hair off – front and back. The attention to detail was off the charts and I have honestly never felt this smooth and hairless in my life. My skin also feels incredibly soft, thanks to the exfoliation. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t painful but no more so than waxing, and it was definitely manageable.

Business benefits: Sugaring is a great treatment to specialise in and the control that sugar allows means that you can achieve great results for your clients that will keep them coming back. Being all-natural and vegan, it is a great treatment for the growing number of clients who prioritise these kinds of products.

Tried by Kezia Parkins

Roseline Academy recommends charging £75 for a one-hour treatment. roseline.training@gmail.com / roselineacademy.com

Before

After

Tried and tested… Brows by Karen Betts / K.B Pro training

The lowdown: Eyebrows should be sisters not twins, they say. But what if they’re more like distant cousins? That’s how I felt about my brows. While I like the fullness and shape of both, the right one stopped short before the inner corner of my eye, making my face feel off balance. I’d been considering microblading but was put off by powder brows imagery on social media. While these are great for some people, my penchant for brushed up brows and visible strokes meant they weren’t for me. However, I had started to see more semi-permanent make-up (SPMU) artists replicating this look, so when I was offered a treatment with Karen Betts, the SPMU fairy godmother herself, who was I to refuse?

The experience: I sat in Betts’s Harley Street waiting room with numbing cream on my brows while Betts’s colleague took me through a consultation. Betts explained that because one part of my brow was so sparse, she would use two techniques – manual to create strokes and machine to add thickness to the start of the brows.

After the treatment, I was thrilled with my brows. I was given aftercare instructions and cream and asked to return for a top-up in a month. It wasn’t until I woke up the next day that I went into brow shock. When I looked in the mirror, all I could see was brows. I thought I looked unrecognisable. Luckily, a friend had recently trained in microblading and assured me that this was normal. Plus, Betts’s team are very hands on and called to check in, so they reassured me further.

Within a week, I was used to my brows and a few weeks later they had faded quite a bit, which I was told is normal – the ink fades after a few weeks before coming back stronger as it rises to the surface.

On my next session, Betts was in her stunning new space on Dover Street, opposite The Ritz. This time, I was more confident about what to expect. Betts and I agreed that the hairstrokes at the start of each brow needed going over.

The verdict: This treatment has actually been life changing. I no longer spend ages trying to replicate fine hairs with brow pens. I love my new brows, which feel like me while adding structure to my face and helping it look lifted.

Business benefits: When SPMU artists first start out, they charge around £295 for a microblading treatment, Betts explained, while some of her elite team are now charging £895, showing the possibility to make it a lucrative career. Plus, there are so many clients who can benefit, from cancer patients who have lost hair through chemo, menopausal women with thinning brows or those like me who just want better symmetry.

Tried by Kezia Parkins

Contact K.B Pro at 01977 655642 / kbpro.com

Tried and tested… Emerald Laser with Body Ballancer

The lowdown: As part of my quest to find non-invasive therapies for my lipoedema, I was invited to try a combination of two technologies at Remedi London.

The experience: I’ve previously written about my struggle with lipoedema and the physical and mental issues it causes, and Dr Nima Mahmoodi, co-owner of Remedi, thought a combination of Emerald Laser and Body Ballancer, a compressive body suit for lymphatic drainage, could help with some of the pain and swelling, as well as fat reduction in my calves.

Emerald Laser is an FDA-approved full-body fat-loss treatment that targets areas of stubborn fat, cellulite and overall circumference. Popular areas are the arms, abdomen, thighs and back. It can also treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

In one of Remedi’s gorgeous treatment rooms, after a consultation with Dr Mahmoodi, Diana Bennett, the clinic’s aesthetician, came to do my measurements.

I lay under the device, which emits a series of green lasers that dance around the surface of the skin – it looked so cool, like a scene from The Matrix. This enables fat to be released from the targeted cells, making it easier for the body to dispose of it through the lymphatic system. After 15 minutes on my back, Bennett came in to reposition me on my front to treat the backs of my calves for 15 minutes.

Then, I was taken up the winding staircase to another room to experience Body Ballancer for 20 minutes. The lymphatic system plays a huge role in removing unwanted fat from the body and Body Ballancer stimulates the process so lymph is increased.

The verdict: I went back to Remedi for 10 sessions, aiming to go every week, but there were a few weeks I had to reschedule. While I only lost an inch in both calves, the main benefit was reduced pain, as the previous summer I’d experienced far more discomfort and heaviness. I’m not surprised I didn’t lose more, as lipoedema fat is extremely hard to get rid of. Also, the wellness benefits cannot be ignored.

Business benefits: Both Emerald Laser and Body Ballancer allow the client to be left on their own, so you can treat multiple clients at a time, or offer multiple treatments in one session, maximising time and profit.

Tried by Kezia Parkins

Remedi charges £2,000 for 10 sessions with Emerald Laser, including cryotherapy if suitable, and £395 for 10 Body Ballancer sessions erchonia.com / bodyballancer.co.uk