Facialology at Vaishaly

[Gifted] Vaishaly in Marylebone is an award winning clinic owned by Superfacialist Vaishaly Patel. A favourite among celebs and those serious about their skincare, the clinic offers a range of services including massage, hair removal, micro blading and of course, facials. The luxury clinic has recently debuted a brand new treatment dubbed Facialology, so a few weeks back I went along to visit the clinic and experience the facial myself. The Facialology treatment combines the signature Vaishaly facial with reflexology, creating an hour long treatment that produces results and feels suitably pampering all at once. Before this treatment I had never been to Vaishaly before but I can confidently say that after this first impression I'd definitely recommend a visit to this clinic. On arrival I was given a very warm welcome at reception and shown to the waiting area with a patient questionnaire to fill out. My Therapist came in and collected me in good time and took me down some stairs to one of the treatment rooms. Vaishaly is an impressively pristine and quite deceptively large clinic (a bit like the TARDIS - it looks quite modest from the street) and has numerous treatment rooms, a couple of bathrooms and what looked like a little make up station with a lit mirror so you can touch up post-facial.

Before getting started, my facialist explained what the treatment included and the order that she would be doing things. First of all she would begin the Signature Facial with extractions. I was warned that these could be a little uncomfortable but this part really didn't bother me. She somehow managed to perform the extractions incredibly gently but definitely effectively as my pores were left impressively clean. After a cleanse, the therapist performed microdermabrasion, which I was really looking forward to as it's a treatment I've not had in years. I remembered my microdermabrasion experiences of the past as being quite an intense experience but this was actually quite relaxing, which was a happy surprise.
In case you've never had microdermabrasion, it's an effective exfoliating process that uses either fine crystals or a vacuum type tool to lift off dead skin cells. The type I had was the latter and it just felt like light suction on each area of my face as the therapist got to work.
After the microdermabrasion, a high frequency treatment began using a multi-functional tool (like a wand) that dries and shrinks the pores while killing off any bacteria on the skin - particularly important after the extractions. A glorious facial massage followed using the signature Vaishaly technique, which involves kneading and cupping the face (and the neck and shoulders) to release stress and tension and promote blood flow. It was absolutely lovely and probably my favourite part of the treatment, for obvious reasons!
Following the facial massage, a hydrating mask was applied and it was time for my therapist to get to work on my feet. I was slightly nervous about this part because I am quite ticklish when it comes to my soles! I needn't have worried though because not only was I too blissed-out to be concerned about virtually anything, the therapist performed the reflexology using a nourishing almond and lavender oil with incredible finesse. I am a great believer in holistic therapies and reflexology has always interested me. The idea is that reflex points on each foot relate to specific organs and glands in the body and that stimulating these points can restore unbalanced energy levels and combat a variety of health and skin issues. I really enjoyed the reflexology part of the treatment and think it complemented the signature facial brilliantly, making it an all-round beautiful experience.
The facial mask was removed and my soles were refreshed with a hot flannel for the perfect finish to the treatment before I was left to gather myself and come back down to earth ready to face the streets of London.
The Facialology treatment was created by Vaishaly as an effective two-in-one experience for busy people who are short on time (pretty much everyone) who want a little bit more than just a facial alone. I obviously carefully inspected my complexion immediately afterwards and loved the effect - dewy, refreshed and plumped up skin. I even skipped reapplying tinted moisturiser and went to an event a few hours later without makeup and if that's not testament enough to how happy I was with the results, I don't know what is.
The treatment runs for 55 minutes (including the 15 minutes of reflexology) and costs £120.
If you've got a bit more time to spare, you can opt for an 85 minute session which includes 40 minutes of reflexology for £170.
For more information visit www.vaishaly.com or call Vaishaly Clinic at 020 7224 6088.
You can visit the clinic at:
51 Paddington Street
London
W1U 4HR

Juliette Armand Elements Hydration Gift Set

[AD gifted item] I've written about Juliette Armand previously - you can read that here - but today's post is all about taking a closer look at one of the brand's gift sets. I was given the Elements Hydration Gift Set to trial in an effort to help out my somewhat retinol-ravaged complexion and now that I've had a little time to try the products, it's time to spill the beans.

The Hydation Gift Set features the Cleansing Face Foam, Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Multi Hydrating Cream, so it's an easy trio to incorporate into your routine with one product each to cleanse, treat and moisturise.
The cleanser was the first product I pulled out of the box and actually tried pretty much immediately. I'd literally run out of cleanser the night before this arrived (not counting a few oil cleansers I had stashed away) and was in desperate need of something user friendly I could wash my face with. Balm and oil cleansers are of course wonderful to use in general, but they're not really a quick and easy option when you're getting ready in the morning/ running late. This cleanser however, is.
First things first, do not be fooled into thinking this is a foaming cleanser - it's not. The cleanser is dispensed in a pump action bottle which turns the product into a foam as it comes out. I just didn't want you to think it was one of those foamy, soapy facial cleansers that lathers up and strips your face of every last bit of oil, if you know what I mean? The cleansing foam is actually exceptionally comfortable on the skin and easy to use. Just one or two pumps massaged onto a damp face and then rinsed away. Job done.

The Hyaluronic Acid Serum is one I've tried previously so I'll just reiterate what I've said before. It's worth mentioning that I actually used up the entire bottle of the previous one I owned, which has until recently been an embarrassingly rare thing for me to do. What can I say? I can get bored easily. This hyaluronic acid serum is light, not sticky and perfect for layering and retaining moisture in the skin.

The Multi Hydrating Cream is a new product to me but first impressions are good! The cream has a thick, glossy texture that spreads easily and absorbs beautifully, so perfect for day wear and applying before makeup. The hydrating face cream contains hyaluronic acid as its key ingredient and promises to deliver deep hydration. It also features MOIST 24 which is a special ingredient extracted from the Imperata Cylindrica plant which is a type of grass that has an impressive ability to retain water and therefore is purported to be brilliant for providing long-term moisture to the skin.

The Elements Hydration Gift Set is a fantastic introduction to the Juliette Armand brand and I found that all the products delivered though the cleanser was the stand out for me. The set retails for £70 from Probeauty.