The Bespoke Youth Trio.
The Private Clinic is situated in a very grand building on Harley Street and is just as impressive inside with a chandeliered reception and industry awards proudly displayed on the mantlepiece. With over 35 years of experience, this really is the place to come for a huge array of medical cosmetic treatments.
I’m here for a bespoke facial as I’m suffering from typical winter skin issues and need a boost both metaphorically and literally. I’m in safe hands with Maria, my therapist, as she takes (extreme close-up) photos of my face and asks what my main concerns are. The usual sagginess, face going south type of thing I bemoan. She decides on a treatment called ‘Bespoke Youth Trio’; this involves a cocoa enzyme peel, lactic peel and laser. I’m hoping my inner youth will be revealed once more and I lie back in readiness for a transformation.
The cocoa enzyme peel smells like I’ve had chocolate cake rubbed onto my face, which is never a bad thing. This is to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells. It’s on for ten minutes and feels slightly tingly. While it gets to work Maria gives me the most gentle of face and head massages, simply applying light pressure to accu-pressure points, it’s incredibly relaxing. Generally speaking this is more of a medical facial so I wasn’t expecting to feel this relaxed.
Next up is the lactic peel and this acts as a way to deeply hydrate the skin, removing the top layer of epidermis. Derived from milk, lactic acid belongs to a class of anti-aging ingredients called alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). Lactic acid is specifically used to treat hyper-pigmentation, age spots, and other factors that contribute to a dull and uneven complexion.
Other benefits of AHAs like lactic acid include improved skin tone and reduced pore appearance. It’s very gentle and is only left on for five minutes. These two stages get the skin in the best place to receive and maximise the effects from the laser treatment. Goggles on and the laser is go!
The laser (or to be more precise, the Laser Genesis Protocol) works using infrared light to tighten the skin. It heats the collagen underneath the surface of the skin which induces the formation of new collagen causing the skin to then contract and tighten with almost instant results. It feels warm but not uncomfortable on the skin and Maria is reassuring and explains what she’s doing throughout the whole process.
It’s all over in less than a lunch-break; my face is glowing and my cheeks seem to have lifted up a good centimetre! This facial is often used as a pick-me-up before a big event but is even better as a course as the results keep improving. The next time I want to look the very best version of myself I’ll be straight back into Maria’s treatment room.
The Bespoke Youth Trio is £250. To book a consultation with a skin specialist at The Private Clinic of Harley Street call 0333 920 1098 or visit www.theprivateclinic.co.uk
