After a winter of heavy moisturisers and indoor heating, my skin isn't looking its best.
In fact, despite my daily cleansing and exfoliating ritual in front of the bathroom mirror, my face hasn't been its sparkly self in quite a while.
Which is why I practically skipped my way to the St John Wood's clinic room of Alex Karidis, skin guru to the stars, as he and his team promise, with the help of his Hydrafacial treatment, to overhaul the average complexion in just half an hour.
THE TREATMENT
The Hydrafacial is a non-invasive surgical treatment which uses a fancy-pants abrasion tip and a variety of serums to remove dead skin cells and polish, cleanse and moisturise the face. Less aggressive than a chemical peel but more intense than your run-of-the-mill exfoliators, the treatment is personalised to each patient's skin needs and is formulated to improve the appearance of your complexion immediately while working into the deeper layers for hours afterwards.
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
After filling out a slightly scary form where the treatment was explained in science-speak, I met my therapist and we talked through my skin needs and worries. I'm lucky in that I don't suffer from acne or have any specific problem areas on my face, but I was told that the intensive treatment would still work wonders on my normal skin with its occasional pimple or two.
My therapist explained that she would use the vacuum-based skin abrasion tip throughout the treatment, first to cleanse my skin from the usual grime and make-up, then to remove dead skin cells and finally to moisturise it. The 'magic wand' as it looked like to me, was connected to a machine in which the therapist selected serums appropriate for my skin, and she began to work it around my face. I wouldn't say the sensation was uncomfortable, but I was definitely aware of a tingling feeling and the tip being massaged into my skin. At first, I expected the tip to suck at the surface of my skin in order to remove dead cells, but the therapist explained that she actually applied exfoliating serums to the skin, which acted as a peel to extract impurities. But what was more surprising was the treatment actually replenished my skin throughout, by releasing active serums onto my skin which made it feel as if it was bathed in goodness.
Because I had a couple of spots on my chin - naughty me, not taking off my make-up before bed - my therapist used a red and blue light therapy lamp to calm the inflammation in this area and encourage the blemishes to disappear quick-sharp. Finally my skin was massaged with yet another hydrating mask, to ensure it was protected to let the serums continue to do their good work.
THE VERDICT
Once the treatment was finished, I was invited to check out my skin in the mirror. It looked slightly red in the areas where my therapist had specifically focused on (my T-zone and specific pimples) but the rest of my face looked and felt super-clean, radiant and plump. For a treatment that hadn't hurt, and could be completed in my lunch break, it sure did deliver. At prices starting from £120 per treatment the Hydrafacial isn't a cheap option, but given the cash I must spend on lotions and potions that I never end up using, perhaps my money would be better spent saving to visit Mr Karidis' team again?
THE INFO
I was treated to the Hydrafacial treatment at Mr Karidis' surgical practice at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in St John's Wood but it's now available at KARIDIS at Kallima, The Spa at London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and costs from £120. For further information and booking please visit http://www.karidis.co.uk or call 020 7432 8754.
By Victoria Joy
