Last week, I was invited to visit my favourite Dublin spa to try a new facial. I jumped at the chance.
I arrived into the serene surroundings on a stormy day and told the therapist who greeted me at reception that I was looking forward to relaxing. Her eyebrows raised slightly, and she asked if I knew much about the treatment I was about to get, before explaining that while parts of it would be relaxing, other parts might be uncomfortable.
Once in the treatment room, my therapist went a little bit further, saying that it might actually be sore.
While relaying this story to a pal, she reminded me of the time she went for an expensive facial in New York. She had admired the skin of a friend during her visit, and gotten a referral to an expensive facial clinic in Manhattan. She was happy to splash out, but wasn’t expecting the women who worked there to visibly grimace when she presented them with her perfectly normal skin.
“We’ll see what they can do,” they said. What followed was an hour of tortuous facial practices, none of which were remotely relaxing. “My skin glowed for months afterwards, though,” she said.
I say all this as a warning to you that all facials are not created equal, and it’s a good idea to do some research before you book.
In the end, I was really happy with the facial I received in Velvære. The Magistrale facial is a 90-minute treatment which combines deep facial massage with the Nira Pro+ laser and specially formulated Codage products to stimulate skin regeneration and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The facial massage is intense, but my permanently tight jaw felt looser afterwards and my skin has looked incredible since.
Another less than comfortable, but deeply satisfying, facial experience is the hydrafacial (from €99 available at clinics nationwide). This treatment uses ‘vortex technology’ to remove impurities from the skin while infusing it with serum, or, in simpler terms, uses a sucky-up tube to hoover dirt out of your face while delivering skincare.
You won’t doze off during this one, but I will always love a treatment which ends in them showing you all the gross stuff they’ve removed.
Of course, some people prefer a relaxing facial with more of an emphasis on the experience than the results, and, honestly, I get it. There’s a lot to be said for just how relaxing it is to have someone gently touch your face, let alone do that while you’re lying under a blanket as relaxing plinky-plonky music with accompanying bird song plays. And that’s before we even mention luxury skincare products!
What’s important is that you know what you’re in for. Facials aren’t cheap, so you don’t want to find yourself in for a relaxing facial when you’re looking for results, or an uncomfortable facial when you’re looking for relaxation. Do your research, call ahead and ask questions, and most of all, enjoy.
If there’s one step I’d advise you to include in your skincare routine, aside from cleansing and moisturising, it would be exfoliation. The removal of dead, dull skin from the surface of your skin allows a healthier, brighter complexion to emerge. Skingredients’ new launch, Enzyme Exfoliating Powder Polish (€35 via skingredients.com), is a water-activated powder formulated with natural fruit enzymes and hydrating polyhydroxy acid, which will gently get rid of impurities and dead skin, without doing any damage.
I’ve been a lover of YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick (€43 via brownthomas.com) for quite some time, and if I’m honest, I’ll say the packaging is a big part of it. The gold and black tube is reminiscent of the 1990s supermodel era, and it is simply a chic object. Fortunately, the product itself is excellent as well. The bullet easily deposits pigment on the lip with a single swipe via a formula that is incredibly comfortable. Gone are the days when, if you wanted a lipstick that packed a pigment punch, you had to compromise on your lips’ hydration. This formula, and others in this category, prove that colour can be combined with comfort and in fact deliver hydration as well as a strong look.
Last month, I was thrilled to learn that American beauty brand Merit was landing on our shores. I’d watched, with jealousy, as the products landed in the UK earlier this year, and wondered when we’d be able to access them. The brand’s ethos is ‘minimalist make-up’ that’s ‘impossible to mess up’, which I can absolutely get on board with. Having played with several of the products now, they are all great, but I find it’s the lipstick I keep coming back to. Lightweight and buildable, Merit’s Signature Lip (€29 via meritbeauty.com) can deliver sheer coverage or a proper punch of colour depending on how much you apply. Never uncomfortable, it’s beautifully packaged in gold and smoky brown, and I love taking it out of my handbag.
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