Sophia Christie checks out the beauty scene, a market saturated in cleansers and creams, super serums and SPFs, Botox, fillers and potions with promises, all in the pursuit of looking good. Will she find it? We follow her facial journey over the coming months with her personal and honest experiences along the way. Here’s her story and journey….
Following a consultation with the Vanity Lab London, located in Beckenham Kent, I start my treatment with a series of bespoke facials, tailored to my requirements, each lasting around 75 minutes long. My facialist, Ann Marie, explains how she analyses and creates a personalised treatment. “Together, we create a personalised skincare regime that targets specific concerns and highlights any areas you wish to address. The goal is always to support you in achieving the best outcomes for your skin. We carried out a thorough facial assessment to really understand your skin on a cellular level. This included a hands-on examination and the use of the OBSERV skin camera, which captured detailed images to give both you and I a closer look at what’s going on beneath the surface. My goal is to make you feel comfortable and confident, and to help get your skin healthier and stronger.”
When the tingling wasn’t tickling, I reminded myself that this was all in the pursuit of radiant skin and this was the first part of my skin transformation journey. There were a number of stages involved in the facial but without needles or invasive procedures. Multiple technologies were used delivering a range of sensations, effective and not painful but slightly uncomfortable at times but Ann Marie explained each stage in full, the benefits and what to expect.
Cleansing
The ever-important deep cleanse stage is vital to rid the skin of the impurities sitting on the skin and ensuring the following procedures were effective.
Laser
Laser treatments boosts the fibroblast cells to produce collagen which we all lose as we age. There are a variety of lasers that are used for skin treatments, and while they all work in a similar way, they have different abilities. Lasers work by transferring a narrow beam of light to target molecules in the skin, known as chromophores. The skin absorbs this light and converts it into heat to generate a desired effect. This effect may be to reduce blood vessels (and the accompanying redness), fade pigmentation, remove unwanted hair or resurface the skin to reduce the appearance of acne scars or fine lines. But first, gel is applied to the skin in readiness for the Candela Norley Laser and, in my case, used to target broken capillaries, around the nose area and cheeks to even out the overall skin tone. It’s a process to stimulate and encourage new cells and growth.
Hydra facial
Next was the hydra part of the facial which felt more like a deep hoover, lifting debris, dry skin, pollution effects such as blackheads and excessive oil from the surface. It uses AHA and BHA which are exfoliants containing glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid.
Chemical Peel
With a clean and prepared surface, a bespoke chemical peel is painted on, which admittedly did sting indicating it was working but Ann Marie, was ready with a cooling fan to keep the activated process calm. Once removed, the skin was infused with peptides to drench it in hydration.
Chemical peel may sting a little but that’s when you know things are working. This is for a fresher skin, removing layers to work deeper. It usually takes around 2- 4 days to repair itself. Chemical peeling, or chemical exfoliation, involves applying a chemical substance to the skin, intentionally causing controlled epidermal damage. This controlled damage prompts skin regeneration and remodelling, to improve the overall appearance and texture. This method of skin resurfacing using a chemical peel can positively affect an aging face, neck, and hands while addressing any medical conditions such as acne scarring. Chemical peels are of various types, each with a unique pH level, application method, time requirement.
Massage
After the sting, came the best bit, a hands-on massage over the face to stimulate and help with lymphatic drainage, to sculpt and tone, bringing blood to the surface to remove toxins and drain them away. Ah…. bliss.
LED Light Therapy
And when I thought the facial was finished, out came a hydrating mask placed onto my face, a sort of Phantom of the Opera look. I was handed a pair of goggles to protect my eyes under LED lights (red) to boost the skin cells. LED light therapy is a skin treatment that doesn’t use ultraviolet light. It uses skin-safe, low-level light in different wavelengthsand colours. It has been available since the 1960s, but has now become a popular treatment for the skin. Different wavelengths enter the skin at different depths, making this therapy useful to treat a variety of skin conditions. It uses the power of light energy to stimulate the skin to renew cells, restore radiance, boost collagen production and repair.LED Light therapy is one of the most gentle and non-invasive treatments available with no downtime – a sort of get up and glow effect
The finale consisted of vitamin C serum which my skin lapped up and of course a good covering of SPF – I wasn’t allowed to leave the building without good coverage of SPF50.
This bespoke facial was a natural prescription, without injectables of fillers and Botox which is good news for those who are squeamish over needles! Other common concerns the facial addresses include acne, pigmentation, rosacea, dull skin, uneven skin, lines & wrinkles and skin rejuvenation. But there is no quick fix, it’s an ongoing investment, in tune with your own body and mindset, supported with scientific proven results and solutions. It’s the investment journey to feel better in your own skin, to be the best you can at your age.
Vanity Lab London provided a personalised, friendly and caring service. The damage to the credit card- £250 with £50 already invested in the first consultation.
Vanity Lab London specialises in medical aesthetics, wellness, and physiotherapy. It is owned and run by Lucy McGeough, a Registered Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber with over 18 years’ experience in aesthetics. Lucy trained at the SK:N Clinic on Harley Street in London, and she is now regarded as an expert in her field. In 2013, she launched Vanity Lab London and has built and trained a team of medical professionals to ensure they offer an extensive range of aesthetic treatments using cutting-edge technologies and advancements in regenerative medicine. Lucy says, “The advancements in products and techniques that can be used to make people feel more confident in their own skin are incredible. I spend a lot of my time at Aesthetics Conferences and on my own personal development and continued training to ensure we offer our patients the best range of treatments and incredible results. The impact it has on our patients’ confidence and lives is why we do it”.
Vanity Lab London, 257 Croydon Rd, Beckenham BR3 3PS.
Tel: 02086582984
https://www.vanitylablondon.co.uk
