I am loving the range of high tech facials that are becoming more widely available. Tucked away in the spa space in Harvey Nichols in the Mailbox, there is the Beyond Medispa treatment rooms. Sharing the same reception area as the Natura Bissé treatment rooms, this is quite a contrast in offerings. From the extremely effectively facial massage, and skin friendly ingredients in their products Natura Bissé offers something that most facial lovers will recognise as as luxury facial. The Beyond Medispa treatment menu features more high tech kit, and feels like stepping into a spa that LA celebs would frequent.
The HydraFacial delivers advanced levels of cleansing, exfoliation, and extraction (yes, actual extractions), whilst also hydrating the skin, and using antioxidants to help protect the skin. So far, so good. This sounds like the kind of facial that I couldn’t do myself at home, so already I’m happy to trust my face over to the therapist.
My experience began with a rather in depth consultation about my skin, my skin care routine, and my beauty habits. Revealing just how many products I use on a daily basis was a little embarrassing, but my beauty routine makes me happy. After the consultation, I was asked to lie back on the bed, with my hair scraped off my face whilst the machine was prepared.
Then the interesting part could begin. Firstly my skin was deeply cleansed, and hydrated at the same time using the vacuum. This is a noisy, and intrusive facial that I am very aware of during the treatment. The suction was firm but not harsh (it’s difficult to explain the sensation). On different areas of my face, such as my chin, and forehead where the skin is more taut than say my cheeks, or nose area, the suction was less noticeable. Not to say that on my cheeks, and nose area the suction felt uncomfortable, or painful in any way, because that certainly wasn’t my experience. But the vacuum was able to gently lift my skin in those areas.
The therapist then used a different suction tool as the first of the exfoliation steps was taken. Two types of acids are used in the Hydra Facial, the first being an AHA in the form of glycolic acid. This helps to resurface the skin, leaving it smooth, and radiant. Once the glycolic acid had been applied, this was left to work on the skin, with a slight tingly sensation. I wasn’t in discomfort, but my skin is used to AHA treatments on a regular basis (though not at the strength used in this facial). My skin was wiped with water before the second acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) is applied in the form of salicylic acid. This step helps to loosen blackheads, and oil trapped in pores to deep cleanse the skin, and improve the appearance of pores.
It might sound scary to have two acids used on the skin during the same treatment, but there is a considerable difference in the way that AHAs and BHAs behave on the skin. AHAs work to ‘dissolve’ the glue that binds dead, dry skin cells to the surface of the skin thus removing the surface layer that we don’t want, leaving a smooth texture with fresh skin. On the other hand, BHAs penetrate pores as they are able to fully dissolve in oil, making them very effective at tackling blackheads, and for those with acne prone skin. AHAs do not penetrate through oil, or sebum so are ineffective at targeting blackheads. There are other differences between the two acids but this generally speaking the two kinds of acids can be used together in the same treatment, as they target different concerns, by working in different ways on the skin.
Once the BHA treatment has been given time to work on my skin, the therapist then changed the suction tool again to allow her to do extractions on my skin. This time the focus was on the areas where my blackheads are (on my nose, and the surrounding area on my cheeks, as well as between my brows). At the end of the Hydra Facial I was shown the liquid suctioned away from my skin that also included some rather satisfying blackheads extracted in all their glory.
My skin was rehydrated completely to saturation point with a solution containing hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. The therapist applies the solution all over the skin until it is no longer absorbed, and starts to run off the surface. With a quick application of red and blue light in specific areas of my face to help with breakouts, and to calm my skin, my HydraFacial was nearly complete. All that was needed was a quick application of moisturiser, though I’m not entirely sure that my skin really needed it after all the hydrating solutions that had been used throughout the facial.
Amazingly, my skin felt soft, smooth, plump, and despite 45 minutes of suction on various parts of my face, I experienced no redness (which usually I would do after extractions particularly). At a cost of £200 a treatment, this is an investment in good skin at about twice the price of a ‘regular/low tech’ facial. But before baulking at the idea of spending that much on treatments, I did some quick calculations on how much I spend on beauty products in a year, and soon it becomes clear that I already invest in my skin. Although this wouldn’t be a treatment that I book every month, the results would be worth the investment before a special occasion.
Plus the results were very good. Initially there was no redness, or indication that I’d had such an extensive treatment, I could go about my day without the need to explain the state of my skin! For the first week after the facial, I did experience some tightness, and mild peeling but nothing that a bit of Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate couldn’t handle. After that week, my skin looked amazing, and continued to improve in appearance over the following fortnight. I think that this is something of a red carpet treatment that I would certainly book a week or so before a big event as my skin really benefitted from it.
It is worth noting that due to the use of AHAs in this treatment, it is imperative that a high factor sunscreen is used on a daily basis following this treatment. This is to protect the fresh layer of skin that has been exposed from the use of the acid, from sun damage. And yes, that applies even in winter in the UK when it rains.
Beyond Medispa, Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox, Commercial Street, Birmingham. 0121 616 6014.
EXCLUSIVE READER OFFER: For readers of The Ting Thing, you can experience a HydraFacial yourself for £100, instead of the usual £200 at the Beyond Medispa in Harvey Nichols Birmingham. To access this offer, please quote ‘The Ting Thing’ when you book. Valid until 24-December-2015.
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