The search for the right facial can be a long, confusing and expensive process. If you’re not careful you can spend hundreds of pounds on a facial that does nothing more than simply hydrate your skin. Our advice? Ignore the price tag and look for recommendations and great reviews; it’s far more important to put your face in the right set of hands, with the right level of skill and experience. And as if by magic, here’s five of our most trusted, skilled and professional places to hit up for a game-changing facial in London.
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Organic Pharmacy - Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial, £80
Best for: the holistic girl
If you prefer a more natural approach to skincare, then this healing facial will be just up your street. It kicks off with a series of lavender-infused breathing exercises and a deep cleanse, followed by three (yes three!) luxurious masks designed to decongest, brighten and hydrate the skin. After a steam-prepped extraction and exfoliation to rid the pores of grime and make-up, you'll then be treated to an intensive hand, arms, feet and scalp massage to take the edge off those pesky extractions. As you float off into a massage induced coma the therapist will finish the treatment with a lifting and plumping rose crystal acupressure facial massage. You'll emerge glowing with radiance and feeling far calmer than when you went in.
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2 ESPA LIFE at Corinthia - Personalised Facial, £190
Best for: the skincare shy girl
If you're a complete skincare novice then send yourself to complexion bootcamp with a bespoke facial treatment. A Personalised Facial from Espa Life at the Corinthia will teach you all about your skin type and provide an edit of products that best suit your needs. Once you've been whizzed through a detailed consultation and in-depth skin analysis (wearing a fluffy robe and slippers mind you) the therapist will then expertly overhaul your complexion using a combination of treatment-specific massage, masks and products as you kick back and relax.
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3 Chelsee Lewis - Opulence Facial, £65
Best for: the age conscious girl
Give yourself a shot of youthful radiance with the Opulence Facial by Chelsee Lewis. With over 19 years in the business and a wealth of experience, Lewis knows how to handle all types and ages of complexions. Having worked with some of the best product houses in the industry she’s fine-tuned this quick, yet effective treatment to tone and lift the skin. Her secret is a combination of botanical brighteners and super concentrated Vitamin C to brighten and balance – great for women that complain about sun damage or lack-lustre complexion. The effects are gratifyingly instant but you'll see a huge improvement in luminosity and skin texture for weeks to come.
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4 Decleor (at House of Fraser) - Moisture Quench Facial, £75
Best for: the sensitive girl
Let’s face it, cold weather can wreak havoc on the skin no matter how old (or young) you are. The Moisture Quench Facial from Decleor acts like a tall glass of water for the complexion by pumping much-needed moisture back into dull, dry skin. It’s ideal for all skin types, including super sensitive skin, making it a foolproof facial to treat yourself to. The focus is firmly on soothing, hydrating and de-sensitizing. Nutrient rich neroli is used throughout to calm and nourish, we especially love the neroli oil serum mask which drenches skin in much-needed moisture.
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5 Dr. Murad - Resurgence Renewal Facial, £56
Best for: the skin-savvy girl
If you're all about the glow you can’t go wrong with the Resurgence Renewal Facial from Dr. Murad. Perfect for restoring luminosity to the skin, this multi-active facial is the ideal antidote to a combination of problems such as dry skin, fine lines or loss of elasticity. Advanced collagen building technology boosts elasticity and resilience to reduce the appearance of wrinkles while gentle exfoliators clear skin of dullness and stimulate cellular turn-over. Luxurious and long lasting, you'll also enjoy a relaxing shoulder and arm massage while the multi active ingredients work their magic! And it’s not just all about getting rid of wrinkles or looking younger, it’s about boosting the moisture levels in the skin, resulting in a noticeably healthier glow regardless of your age.