As a beauty editor, I could road-test a facial almost daily if I wished. However, over the past few decades, I have declined all but a handful of offers. My reluctance stems from early experiences that left me with permanent blemishes, burst capillaries, and sensitised skin due to vigorous suction, overenthusiastic extraction, and abrasive exfoliation.
A Shift in Approach
While I admire elite facialists like Vaishaly, Sarah Chapman, Nichola Joss, Anastasia Achilleos, and Katharine Mackenzie Paterson, many brands and spas have struggled with quality control. A one-size-fits-all approach meant every customer received the same treatment regardless of skin type. Additionally, my dermatologist advised against facials due to my rosacea, warning that steaming, hot-cloth cleansing, and heavy creams could exacerbate it. Instead, I turned to machines and injectables: lasers for redness, Botox for lines, and skin boosters for hydration.
Recently, there has been a revival in facials, and surprisingly, I am embracing it. In the 1990s and early 2000s, beauty culture was punitive, focusing on restrictive diets, intense cardio, and harsh treatments. Now, a gentler approach—yoga, wholefoods, massage—is recognised for delivering results with consistency. Just as one session won't give you abs, a single facial won't transform your skin. Consumer awareness has also raised standards.
Returning to Vaishaly
A few weeks ago, I revisited Vaishaly, who looks unchanged from 20 years ago. Her signature facial was an hour of bliss. Nervous about triggering my rosacea, she was reassuringly gentle. After a deep cleanse, she performed extractions, very gentle microdermabrasion, and craniosacral therapy. Looking in the mirror, I felt the same satisfaction as after cleaning windows—everything appeared lighter and brighter. I hadn't realised how clogged my pores were; as we age, collagen loss stretches pores, making them accumulate more debris.
Caroline Hirons Enters the Space
Caroline Hirons, entrepreneur and leading midlife beauty influencer, has launched facials. She says they were always part of the plan for her skincare line, Skin Rocks. As a trained therapist, Hirons values aestheticians and is frustrated that facials are often dismissed by the beauty industry, attributing this to sexism. She believes that today, thanks to increased interest in skincare, many highly trained professionals can make a visible difference. Hirons has opened the Skin Rocks Pro training academy in London, accepting only highly qualified therapists to ensure quality.
Why get a facial? Hirons explains that a good therapist can educate you on products, identify skin conditions (including spotting skin cancer), and offer objective assessment. Many women misidentify their skin type. Facials also provide circulation-boosting massage, tension relief, lymph drainage, depuffing, and radiance-enhancing peels and extractions. 'You'll leave glowing and hydrated,' says Hirons. 'Long term, great skin quality comes from investing in products and professional facials.' I'm booking in.
Notting Hill Facial Experience
YOU's deputy editor Lindsay Frankel shares her experience with holistic facialist Rindie Ras and her trademark Notting Hill Facial. Despite initial doubts about lying still for two and a half hours, Ras's magic hands made time irrelevant. The treatment focuses on massage using minimal products—her own facial oil and manuka honey for gentle exfoliation. Techniques include lymphatic drainage and buccal massage (working inside and outside the mouth) to release tension. The result: a lifted, smoothed, de-puffed face, with freed shoulders, neck, and jaw. 'I even had a defined jawline by the time I left—something I haven't had for 20 years,' she says.
Affordable Options and Trends
Skin Rocks facials start from £75; visit skinrocks.com. Alternatively, try the Ruuby app for bespoke facials from £79. For under a tenner, the Estrid Mini Razor & Case Set (£8.95, boots.com) is lightweight and travel-friendly. In nail trends, the less-is-more mani is back—think sheer pinks and nudes, inspired by Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and the Princess of Wales. Products like Kure Bazaar Hyaluronic Base Intensive (£24, johnbellcroyden.co.uk) topped with Chanel Nail Colour in Ballerina (£30, johnlewis.com) or Mavala Mini Color Nail Polish in Ottawa (£6.40, johnlewis.com) offer affordable luxury. A salon appointment monthly keeps cuticles tidy, but otherwise DIY is key.
