By Chrissy Iley
I remember about a decade ago that cosmetic surgeons in LA were offering the lunch hour facelift. A full facial procedure and then you could go back to work. My friend’s mother had one of these. It took her a week to leave the house. It cost $4,000 and the results lasted about 6 months. At around the same time I discovered the joys and horrors of the laser. I had laser procedures that left my face burning red for days and I thought there is no such things as a quick fix. However. Time, temperament, science has moved on and my recent session with Skin Laundry at Liberty showed me that lasers have moved on too. I had two lasers and it was a 15 minute procedure and although I still don’t love lasers, the effects were noticeable instantly and totally fantastic. It’s not that the old laser didn’t work – it did, but once the intense ping of pain was so intense I screamed and frightened patients in the waiting room so wasn’t allowed back anyway.
In fact, yes in those days they were called patients – these days they are called clients. You don’t need to see a doctor or surgeon. These are the days that the aestheticians rule. When you get clever hands and science together you get queens of the industry and in fact the world. Because as we begin 2017, we learn we are closer to the secret of youth than ever before and it really can be instant.
I have known Debbie Thomas, renowned celebrity facialist, for years and she’s been veering towards perfecting the kind of treatments that are super effective – no down time and straight from her clinic to red carpet if necessary. At the D Thomas Clinic, Debbie and her team specialise in performing bespoke DNA skin treatments that use cutting edge equipment melded exquisitely with holistic skin health techniques. She has devised illuminate treatments. These treatments have been specifically invented to boost skin illumination in just 20 minutes. There is a menu of 11 treatments, each of them specially tempered to avoid excessive irritation or down time.
All this is happening at the new beauty lounge in Harvey Nichols. A rather lovely ground floor space especially for express treatments that are also innovative. Imagine how easy it is before an event, party and you just pop in to the D Thomas Illuminate and your skin is given instant lustre. It’s a pretty good thing.
At the Aesthetics Awards 2016 the winner of awards for best new skin clinic was Askinology and the Aesthetics Awards predicts that express treatments of under 30 minutes will dominate in 2017.
Award winning Askinology was one of the first clinics to drive the trend for express treatments. They have an extensive menu of results driven 30 minute facials and also offer a make-up application after the facial so clients can return to work or go straight out after treatments.
More and more treatments these days promote the going straight out, putting the make up straight on. In the past I struggled applying my pale faced foundation to my burning red skin.
Another award winner is Sk:n Group. Their signature facial is called the Hydra Facial. Each facial is bespoke and incorporates specific skin conditions such as pigmentation. Pigmentation is notoriously difficult yet Sk:n are striving for results in the shortest amount of time.
I also love the way that some of the most cutting edge treatments are available in department stores. Debbie Thomas is in Harvey Nichols, Skin Laundry in Liberty and Face Gym has a branch in Selfridges. Face Gym, non-invasive facial workout is not just that. They offer freeze sessions which freeze five years off of your face. I’ve not had it done but the idea that I have a treatment and carry on playing with shoes is particularly enticing.