Calm & care

New treatments cater to people living with cancer and we try out advanced wellness programmes and multi-tech facials

Guinot Cancer Care facial

Cancer Care by Guinot is a programme to help therapists to safely and confidently treat clients living with and beyond cancer. Guinot has partnered with the Made For Life Foundation to create a course with input from oncologists, endorsed by Habia, and SATCC (Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care). Therapists are taught two half-days of theory, covering cancer development, types and treatments, plus one day of practical. Students will learn Guinot’s Serenity Hydra Summum Treatment plus the Touch Therapy Technique, using gentle, rhythmic touch to induce deep relaxation and adapt treatments as needed.

The Cancer Care treatment, based on the existing Hydra Summum Treatment, lasts 60 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes recommended for the initial consultation and 15 minutes for subsequent visits. This adapted treatment retains its core phases of exfoliation, Hydra Summum Concentrate, massage and mask for intense hydration and plumping, while accommodating sensitive skin by adjusting the exfoliation phase if necessary.

Guinot recommends charging £80 for the treatment. guinot.co.uk

Tried and tested… Crystal Clear Skinstorm facial

The lowdown: Skinstorm layers six elements to cleanse, rejuvenate, repair, resurface and attack congestion. Meanwhile, patented dissolvable oxygen infusion kills bacteria, and drone technology helps active ingredients travel to where they are needed to firm. 

The experience: I tried the facial with Emily Farrell at Lamure Aesthetic Clinic in London. The first element is the Hurricane Oxy Ice Cleanse using a niacinamide and vitamin C cleanser to dislodge debris in the pores. A suction treatment then applies dissolved pure oxygen and chills skin to just above freezing while the vacuum lifts out impurities.

Infusing dissolvable oxygen allows it to be driven deeper into skin cells to restore radiance.

Next was the Resurface and Heal step, which modernises microdermabrasion by incorporating red light to help with collagen and elastin and blue light for its antibacterial and healing properties. Third came the Oxy Ice Peel and Anti-Acne Bacterialisation Peel, which contains five acids including glycolic, citric and lactic to help resurface. It was a little tingly as the treatment head infused the peel into my skin.

Then, Farrell went in with Tri Fusion Light Therapy, which again used blue and red light but under a hood to maximise the benefits for the whole face, before going into the microneedling step using a 0.5 needle and FGF10 serum containing plant stem cells, hyalauronic acid and vitamin C. The chilled roller creates microscopic channels, promoting collagen production, while the patented Hylo-Filler drone serum is driven into the channels created to repair and hydrate.

Then it was back under the light to calm, before oxygen therapy to create an instant lift, still using the FGF10 serum while a treatment head pumped oxygen and the serum into those microchannels. Farrell also used it to contour my face and the difference was immediately noticeable.

The Cryogen Rebalancing Mask containing seaweed was the final step, and my favourite. The longer it’s left on, the cooler and more refreshing it gets, making it great for reactive skin. It felt so soothing after all the technologies my skin had experienced, and the peel-off in one go was as satisfying as I expected. 

The verdict: This was a high-tech facial but still gentle enough to have zero downtime. The combination of technologies allowed for instant results, with continued results over time, and is a great option for all skin types. My skin looked and felt amazing – clear, with reduced texture and a radiant glow.

Business benefits: The Skinstorm facial can be used on all ages and skin types with instantly noticable results. Plus, the tech and the peel-off mask make it highly Instagrammable.

Tried by Kezia Parkins

Crystal Clear recommends charging around £300 for a treatment. 0151 709 7227 / crystalclear.co.uk

Mavex Phyto Collagen facial

Created to address signs of ageing, the new Phyto Collagen facial helps to moisturise, remodel, add volume and smooth wrinkles. It begins with a cleanse using Phyto Collagen Cleansing Milk, massaged into the face, neck and décolleté.

Next comes Exfoliating Scrub, which uses natural organic rice micro granules and is suitable for even very sensitive skin. After exfoliation, Professional Lifting Mask is left on for 15 minutes to help illuminate. This is followed by the Eye Cream, massaged in to reduce swelling, thanks to an anti-oedema and lipolysisstimulating action. Filler Lifting Serum then Intense Filler Cream are then applied to the face, both massaged in. The final step is illuminating massage. A few drops of Bakuchiol Face Oil are added to Intensive Filler Cream, to create an emulsion to leave skin moisturised without a greasy feeling and with a satin glow. A course of eight 40–60-minute treatments is recommended.

Mavex recommends salons set their own pricing. Kit price for all products used is £252.50. 07854 237 903 / mavex.uk

Tried and tested… Microblading with Nez Hasan

The lowdown: Microblading is a form of semi-permanent makeup (SPMU) that uses hair-like strokes to enhance the shape and fullness of eyebrows. It’s more suitable for clients with lighter skin tones, non-oily skin types and clients who still have a reasonable amount of brow hair.

The experience: My eyebrows have always been a problem for me; when I was younger I naturally had very full brows, which I hated, so when I reached my teens my mum and I got a bit overzealous with the tweezers and I was left with weirdly shaped, mismatched brows. I’d become very adept at disguising my brows’ shortcomings with gels and pencils, but it was something that would take up a lot of time in my makeup routine and I’d always be worried about them looking uneven or smudging.

I’d been considering getting my brows microbladed for a while but was too scared to take the plunge until I came across Nez Hasan – an SPMU artist renowned for creating natural-looking results. While she started off as a microblading artist in 2016, Hasan now offers a range of treatments including powder brows, pigment wiper, areola tattoos, lash liner and lip blush, as well as her Hairgredients treatments.

I visited Hasan at her salon in Kensington, where she assessed which brow treatment would be most suitable for me. We settled on microblading, and Hasan explained the whole process including the need for retouching to keep the SPMU in good condition. Hasan started the treatment by carrying out a series of measurements to work out where to draw my brows so that they were level and equally full – although her aim is always for brows to look natural, rather than perfectly symmetrical and blocky. After checking I was happy with the outline, Hasan used a disposable U-blade with 18 microneedles to place the pigment (Brown 2 from Phibrows) in soft strokes, completing two passes and leaving some on my skin for a pigment bath for a few minutes. Hasan finished off by giving me aftercare instructions and a wipe to use on my brows later on.

I visited Hasan again a few weeks later to top up the pigment; luckily my skin takes pigment really well, so she only had to go over a few areas. As with any SPMU treatment, I will need further touch-ups later down the line – most likely in 12 to 18 months.

The verdict: I’ve had a lot of different beauty and aesthetics treatments but microblading has to be one of my absolute favourites. Thanks to Hasan’s expert hands, the end result is so natural looking that most people can’t even tell my brows have been microbladed. I get loads of compliments on my brows and having them microbladed saves me so much time in the morning – I used to draw on brows before leaving the house as my bare minimum makeup look, but now I don’t need to!

Business benefits: Microblading is a brilliant earner for your business, with top microblading artists being able to charge hundreds of pounds for a treatment. Clients are trusting you with a very important feature so it’s understandable that you might be a bit nervous about microblading – this is why Hasan offers a workshop with advice on how to perfect your microblading technique and shows you how to create the perfect brows whilst boosting your confidence in the process.

Tried by Ellen Cummings

Nez Hasan charges £700 for a microblading treatment and £2,500 for a one-to-one Microblading Perfection & Confidence workshop. nezhasan.com

Tried and tested… Vidavii Circuit with Art of Cryo

The lowdown: Vidavii is a tech-based wellbeing circuit created using equipment from Art of Cryo. On a first appointment, clients have a 4D body scan to determine body composition before completing the “breathe, squeeze, freeze” circuit, which consists of Art of Cryo’s Multi Cryo-Hacking System (MCS), Flow System, and Vaultz Cryotherapy Chamber. They then return to do the circuit additional times, with the number and frequency dictated by the results of their initial scan and the goals they want to achieve.

The experience: I visited the Vidavii clinic in central London where Vidavii co-founder Michal Cohen-Sagi talked me through the circuit. First was the 4D Body Scan, which measures your body fat percentage, lean mass percentage, height, weight and every other measurement you can think of, creating a 4D avatar. It’s weird to see yourself represented in this form but so interesting to get accurate measurements.

As my first visit was in the late afternoon, Cohen-Sagi advised that my circuit wouldn’t finish with the cryo chamber because it’s too stimulating, so my order was breathe, freeze, squeeze. Before all of that, though, I was settled on to the relaxing Wellsystem for a dry water massage. The bed, created by JK Group, uses water jets below the surface for a firm but relaxing massage.

Next up was the calming “breathe” step, in Art of Cryo’s Multi Cryo-Hacking System (MCS), a booth that incorporates three different types of LED light therapy (blue, green and red), plus ionised oxygen, aromatherapy and longwave heat therapy, to offer more than 120 treatment options of between eight and 15 minutes each.

After that came the cryo chamber, set at a chilly -85ºC to help reduce pain, inflammation and anxiety, which can aid sports recovery, weight loss, insomnia and more. Your body scan dictates how long you stay in, from around two to five minutes – my session was three minutes and 40 seconds. I was very nervous as I’d imagined an experience similar to a cold plunge pool in a spa (which I always avoid!) but as cryo chambers use a dry cold, it doesn’t feel at all shocking to the body as you enter.

Wearing underwear, plus a hat, face mask, socks, shoes and gloves to protect the extremities, and headphones with pumping music to distract the mind, I stepped into the chamber. The cold sensation does escalate during the session, but your body goes into protection mode and pumps blood to the organs, which keeps your torso warm, meaning you only really feel it in your arms and legs.

I completed the circuit in the Squeeze room, where Cohen-Sagi wrapped two tight velcro belts around my waist then helped me into the Flow System, a large metal tube. She positioned it so the top was in line with my waist then spun it to secure me in before setting the programme. The device squeezed me at regular intervals during an eight-minute session. The squeeze helps with lymphatic drainage, and circulation and supports regeneration of skin and connective tissue.

Once my circuit was complete, Cohen-Sagi advised me that for best results I should come back twice more that week then twice the following week as a course.

The verdict: The day after my first circuit, I slept well and felt really energised. Before I tried it, I never thought I’d be happily getting into a -85ºC cryo chamber five times in two weeks but it’s quite addictive. Most of my sessions were early in the day, meaning I finished with cryo and felt enerigised for the day ahead. I also noticed the circuit as a whole really helped with sore muscle recovery after I’d exercised. After five sessions, the team did another 4D body scan, which showed a noticeably flatter stomach and smoothed thighs, no doubt helped by the lymphatic drainage of the Squeeze and inflammation reduction overall.

Business benefits: Spas can take on each device individually or the full set for a circuit. Each piece is designed for regular use, boosting repeat business. While an attendant is needed to help clients into the Flow System and be on-hand to help them use the cryo chamber safely, the circuit is generally hands-free, allowing staff to look after several clients at once. The technologies work well for fitness clients post workout and those looking to address anxiety, sleep, weight loss, inflammation and injury, giving them broad appeal.

Tried by Eve Oxberry

Vidavii charges £180 in central London for the circuit. vidavii.com / artofcryo.com