Facial is star treatment

THE hydra-dermabrasion facial is no ordinary skin treatment. The idea of having a machine suck impurities from your pores is an odd one to get your head around, but since this treatment is the secret behind the dewy complexions of stars such as Beyoncé, Kate Winslet and, err, Matthew McConaughey, you know it must be worth a go.

Perhaps its popularity is due to the fact that this hour-long facial is results-driven and tailor-made to your needs, aiming to change your skin for the better, as well as pampering it.

This is now the most popular treatment at The Orchard Rooms in Duke Street, and trained nurse Hannah Orchard explained why.

“It works immediately,” she said. “It’s quick gratification, and you can see the difference after one treament. On the day of your treatment you will look fresh and clean, but a couple of days after your skin will start to look very refreshed and clear.”

As the facial has a medical background, I was first required to fill in a medical history form as well as sign a consent form. Hannah also asked questions about my skin type and what I wanted to achieve from the facial. As someone with combination skin who suffers with spots as well as dry patches, I was keen to improve congestion and calm my skin, something Hannah assured me she would be able to do before 60 minutes was up.

After moving to a dentist-like chair, my hair was scraped back into a hair net and my skin was prepped with an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory cleanser to remove all traces of make-up. Hannah then used a computer-guided handpiece to deposit glycolic and salicylic acids on my face. The word “acid” may sound a little scary, but Hannah reassured me that the products used in the procedure are naturally occurring and harmless; salicylic acid, for example, is derived from the willow tree. She then swapped the handpiece for a softly abrading tip which vacuumed away dead skin cells, excess oil and blackheads.

It’s a tingly, unusual sensation but not unpleasant and it felt quite satisfying to know prospective blemishes were being stopped in their tracks.

Next, she applied a stronger solution of glycolic and salicylic acids to ease congestion and stimulate the skin. This was massaged into my pores for about three minutes before a slightly rougher suction tip was used to remove further blackheads and dead skin cells.

Some of the impurities in my pores were so deep that Hannah manually removed them using something which looked a bit like tweezers. This made my eyes water a little but it was not too uncomfortable.

As you might expect, the pamper half of the treatment was more relaxing. A soothing Vitamin C-infused, hyaluronic acid and aloe solution was left to sink into my skin for about 10 minutes, to brighten the complexion and stimulate collagen renewal.

By the time the 10 minutes was up, my skin had absorbed most of the mask. A sweet orange cleanser from SkinCeuticals was then added to remove the remainder, which really felt like it was replenishing my skin. Soft pads soaked in warm water were used to clean the skin before Hannah returned to the machine in order to deposit anti-oxidants, hyaluronic acids and peptides to aid hydration.

A final layer of beta-glucose skin-repairing serum was then applied to my face. It would also be added to the neck on older skins to target fine lines and wrinkles.

After the treatment, my skin immediately felt fresher and cleaner but the full effects weren’t visible until a few days later when my skin looked noticeably clearer with smaller pores and less congestion. One particularly nasty spot on the side of my face was almost totally removed, without leaving a scar or other blemish, which I was really pleased about.

As the facial is tailored to skin-type and skin goals, Hannah recommended a course of four weekly facials in order to reduce pores and make my skin smoother, clearer and better hydrated. People with clearer skin may be more suited to a facial every six to eight weeks.

Hannah also gave me lots of useful skincare tips, including the importance of taking the time to spend a couple of minutes massaging cleanser into your face.

She also noted that make-up had sunk deep into my pores and so recommended I switched from a liquid foundation to a mineral-based one which would be more easily removed — something I would have been unlikely to have considered without her guidance.

The hydra-dermabrasion treatment isn’t your average girly pamper spa day facial but if you want to improve your skin then this is the treatment for you.

lA one-hour hydra-dermabrasion facial costs £95. Contact The Orchard Rooms on (01491) 598287 or go to www.theorchardrooms.com