Facials for Christmas party season :: Beauty treatments

The best facials for perfect party skin - beauty treatments - fashion & beauty - allaboutyou.com

Chantecaille Rose de Mai Facial

What is it?
Luxury skincare brand Chantecaille has developed a super indulgent facial surrounding its best selling product La Crème a la Rose de Mai, which is rich in vitamin C and other wrinkle-fighting properties. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for winter dry skin.

What is involved?
Once the face is cleansed with a creamy cleanser, it’s exfoliated with a glycolic mask which contains fruit and flower acids to help remove dead skin and regenerate collagen, then moisturised with a rich hydrating cream. This holistic treatment also includes a mood boosting mixture of lymph draining and acupressure massage for the face, neck and shoulders, hands and arms. The final mask application is the real power product – a lifting, brightening and skin firming treat containing a cocktail of anti-wrinkle and skin-tightening agents.

What’s the verdict?
With products combining the latest technological skincare advances with the purest of natural botanical ingredients, the Rose de Mai Facial reflects Chantecaille’s synergistic philosophy of treating looks and wellbeing as one. Skin is left glowing and soft; mood is lifted and ready to party!

What’s the cost?
The Chantecaille Rose de Mai treatment costs £85 and is available at Fenwick Bond Street and Harrods in London. Call Fenwick on 07409 9870 for more details.

Dermalogica BioSurface Peel Treatment

What is it?
Dermalogica recognise the need for effective exfoliation treatments to treat problems like hyperpigmentation and acne, as well as improve skin texture and brighten the complexion, but without the down time associated with medical chemical peels. Its BioSurface Peel Facial delivers results and is a less harsh and less costly alternative to chemical peels.

What’s involved?
A cleansing lotion containing salicylic acid is massaged into the skin to degrease and slough away dead cells which enables maximum penetration of the facial ingredients. Next, the BioSurface Peel called Enzyme Active is wiped onto skin with cotton wool. Jam packed with gentle, skin boosting botanical ingredients including papain, protease and pumpkin enzymes, it’s designed to pep up a sluggish complexion. After a little tingling, which subsides after a few minutes, another layer of peel is applied. This is called Acid Active solution which delivers lactic acid as a further round of exfoliation to aid skin cell turnover. Skin feels warm and a bit itchy but that’s just the ingredients getting to work.

Next the therapist applies a Decelerator product to halt the peel and inject a huge boost of moisture with skin-cooling and calming ingredients like soothing cucumber, Japanese green tea, oat leaf and saponaria leaf extracts. Once the treatment is over, the therapist applies a layer of SPF30 to keep skin protected from the elements.

What’s the verdict?
The peel is gentle but effective enough to give the complexion real pep! Texture is evened out, moisture levels amped up and lines look softer. Our tester said the beautifying effects lasted beyond three days.

How much does it cost?
The Dermalogica BioSurface Peel is recommended as a series of 3 to 6 treatments but a one off treatment is perfect for special occasions. A one-hour treatment costs £80 (prices vary nationwide) and a mini aftercare pack is included. For salon details, call 0800 591818 or visit www.dermalogica.co.uk

CACI ULTRA

What is it?
The popular CACI system has been upgraded to treat a myriad of skin concerns, so now it can target acne, discolouration and wrinkles as well as carrying out its original purpose, which is to tone muscles using an electrical microcurrent. CACI treatments are the go-to non-invasive cosmetic treatments of choice for many celebrities and beauty editors who are looking for a face lift without the knife.

What’s involved?
After cleansing, the therapist gently scrapes the ultrasonic peel attachment across the skin. Its ceramic/quartz heads are stimulated by an electrical current and vibrate up to 27,000 times per second, pushing impurities to the surface to dislodge dead cells and debris.

Next is the muscle toning section of the treatment where the therapist uses two four-pronged metal attachments to slowly lift and draw up the muscles, working from the chin up to the cheekbones. The microcurrent delivered through the prongs stimulates the muscles to give them a good workout. There’s a sensation of twitching muscles which can feel strange but isn’t painful. Then blemishes and broken veins are targeted via a small hand-held blue LED light which hovers an inch away from the face, concentrated on areas that need healing. The LED light therapy enhances cell growth and specific wavelengths of light help improve the production of new collagen. Finally, a cooling silicone gel mask infused with moisturising ingredients is applied to the face and the ingredients are driven deeper into the skin by the therapist massaging on top of the mask with small microcurrent charged metal rollers.

What’s the verdict?
Our tester declared a definite lifting around the jowl area and the whole face looked and felt brighter. No wonder this new four-in-one CACI treatment is a favourite with celebrities like Lisa Snowden, Jennifer Lopez and Carol McGiffin.

How much does it cost?
Single treatments cost from £65 (but vary nationwide). Contact www.caci-international.co.uk for further information or call 020 8731 5678 for nearest clinic.

Harmony ClearLift Laser

What is it?
The Harmony ClearLift pixilated laser divides light into multiple fractions that penetrate deep into the skin, bypassing the top layer (epidermis) and transforming into acoustic soundwaves, which heat up and stimulate collagen production by causing a controlled dermal wound. As the lower layer of skin repairs itself, the complexion is revived - lines are plumped and skin toned giving a tighter, more lifted appearance. Unlike many ablative lasers which can be uncomfortable and leave skin looking red, the ClearLift works to give skin a boost without signs of tampering, so there’s no down time while you wait for skin to recover.

What’s involved?
After a thorough cleanse to remove makeup and oils on the skin, dark glasses are donned to protect the eyes from the glare as the therapist moves the hand held laser across the neck and the face. The laser concentrates on small areas of skin at a time, resting a few seconds before moving on. Even though the laser heats up on the skin, it isn’t uncomfortable but there are little clicking sounds every now and then as the laser singes facial hair. This is followed by a slight ‘fireworks’ smell which, although slightly disconcerting, is totally normal and doesn’t cause any damage. A rich moisturiser is then applied and an SPF30 finishes off the treatment.

What’s the verdict?
The Harmony ClearLift laser is gentle enough to use around the delicate eye and lip area, and our tester reported that it was those areas that looked fresher and more rejuvenated. Glowing skin was evident after one treatment and results were at their best after 3-5 days.

What’s the cost?
A single treatment costs from £125 and although a course of 3-6 treatments offers longer and more lasting results, a single treatment is enough to tighten and revitalise the complexion. For more information contact Courthouse Clinics on 0845 555 5050 or www.courthouseclinics.com.

How to maintain that post-facial glow: 5 top tips

Investing in a recommended salon facial like those we’ve mentioned can work wonders as a one-off treatment, while results may last longer and improve further if you’re able to book a course. But don’t worry if that’s not an option, keep in mind the tips below and you’ll find that gorgeous glow goes on and on.

● It goes without saying that you need a good, results-driven skincare routine, including a cleanser and moisturiser that are suited to your skin type and the season. Make a salon facial the kick-start you need to look at your skincare routine and make changes if needs be. Investing in your skin is imperative to keep it as healthy as it can be.
● Over-40s should add a rich serum or night cream to their routine. Apply it just before bed so those ingredients can get to work while your skin repairs itself overnight.
● We know Christmas is the time you’re most likely to skip proper cleansing for a quick clean with a cleansing wipe. Try not to but if you do – don’t make it a habit!
● Your skin always needs protecting. Do this by using an SPF30 every day whatever the weather - it can make a real difference in the long term.
● Alcohol and rich foods aren’t exactly the enemy of good, clear skin but they won’t help! So if you are indugling at Christmas, keep skin hydrated with lots of water and nutrient-rich foods like satsumas, walnuts and spinach.