Brightening Facials

By Amala

Price: £110 for 90 minutes

Stockist: Being Content

USP: Facial acupuncture, which is apparently the natural alternative to Botox – Empresses in China relied on it for thousands of years to keep them looking youthful.  

What happens: My therapist went through my medical history and skin problems with me, had a good look at my tongue (it’s a technique used in Chinese medicine – apparently your tongue can tell a lot about your wellbeing); she then got me settled on the massage table. The hour and a half treatment isn’t all about needles – first of all she cleansed and exfoliated my skin using Amala products and gave me a face and head massage. Then she put needles into various points on my legs (to help get energy moving around my body) and face. It wasn’t painful – I felt barely a scratch as she put them in. Then I was left to relax for half an hour before she removed the needles and moisturised my face.

Pros: I loved it. It was incredibly relaxing - I even had a nap at one point. And it did make my skin glow – the girls in the office were convinced that I was wearing foundation the next morning when I was, in fact, make-up free.  
   
Cons:  Probably not the facial for you if you have a fear of needles. And to really notice the difference  you need to have a course of 6 to 12 treatments – but the results can apparently last for years.

Tested by Emma Sells, Online Fashion and New Editor

By Aveda

Price: £85 for 60 minutes

Stockist: Aveda

USP: Reduces appearance of hyper-pigmentation, improves skin clarity, evens skin tone and boosts luminosity.  

What happens: Prior to the treatment my feet are washed and scrubbed.  My skin is cleansed and my make-up removed before the skin specialist examines it under a light for dry areas, pigmentation and blocked pores – she tests my skins elasticity by gently pinching it (which she declares to be amazing).  A gritty scrub is applied to remove dead skin and the Enbrightenment Intensive Masque with vitamin C applied and massaged in to my skin.  With the masque left on to work its magic my feet are massaged.  The facial completes with an Asian inspired facial massage using rose oil which is anti-ageing – it targets the deeper muscles in the face to tighten up the contours. 

Pros: I loved this facial. Back home my pores are far less noticeable and the dry skin that had been plaguing my forehead is totally gone, my skin has vitality.  
   
Cons:  Because the massage bypasses the muscles on the surface and works the ones deeper down it can feel a little intense.  

Tested by Suzanne Scott, Acting Beauty Writer