London Facial Treatment
London is home to dozens of top-quality spas that offer pampering and facial treatments. Companies that offer in-home services can be even more affordable and bring the same quality facial treatments to you in your London home. No matter your budget or time frame, if you suffer from blemishes, dry skin or stress, facial treatments can be a big help. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Spa facial treatments usually begin with makeup removal and cleansing, followed by exfoliation to remove dead skin. Many treatments include a combination of skin peels, masks, skin toners, eye, neck and face cream applications, essential oils, massage of the neck and face (and sometimes even shoulders and back). During mechanical facials, some spas use a steam machine to open pores. Others use electro-therapy, where metal rollers or high frequency glass electrodes deeper penetrate and tone the skin.
London Spas
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Glow Urban Spa offers a series of facial treatments using raw, living ingredients. Raw ingredients maintain the integrity of their nutritional content. Foods high in antioxidants, like acai berries, are used to counteract free radicals in the skin, which cause dullness and aging.
For a more decadent facial, visit Bliss Spa in Chelsea where wine and brownies are part of the Triple Oxygen Treatment. The 85-minute treatment costs 145 BP (as of October 2009) and begins with a deep cleanse and fruit acid exfoliation. As we age, the concentration of oxygen in our bodies decreases, causing wrinkles and dullness in our skin. This treatment uses a pre-extraction oxygen wrap, oxygen milk mask and vitaminized oxygen spray to revitalize the skin.
If you are willing to sacrifice some of the pampering and privacy, Origins at Covent Garden offers 45-minute treatments for only 15 BP (as of October 2009), using products based on your skin's needs. The therapist determines which products to use based on your skin history and qualities. One highly acclaimed Origins product used is the Mushlantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum, which renews skin clarity in sensitive skin.
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In-Home Spa Services
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At-home services can be a big help for women with children and busy schedules. The Home Spa offers party packages, facials and other services in the privacy of your own home. Mini facials are 40 minutes and cost 30 BP and one hour facials cost 40 BP (as of October 2009). All facials include a double cleanse and exfoliation, massage, mask and moisturizer.
Return to Glory is another London spa service that brings full facial treatments to you in your home. An hour-long facial treatment is 55 BP (as of October 2009). Return to Glory claims their facials "enliven dull complexions, reduce puffiness and sagging, and give you younger looking skin," in the comfort of your own home.
Perfectly At Home brings a therapy couch, towels and candles to set the tone. They offer a 30-minute massage for 40 BP, a 60-minute Tailored Facial for 75 BP and a 90-minute Luxury Facial for 110 BP (as of Octoberf 2009). All facials include cleansing and toning, and the Luxury Facial features a head and neck massage.
Benefits
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Because of the steps taken to open pores and remove dead cells, facials can offer deep cleaning that is hard to achieve with a regular face soap. You can rejeuvenate your skin from the stressful effects of everyday dirt and oils by using healthy natural ingredients in a spa or in your own home. Massage and taking the time to relax while allowing a mask to dry in your kitchen can be very relaxing.
Between facials, drink 8 to 13 cups of water per day, and eat a nutritious diet containing plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and low in refined sugars to prevent breakouts and dryness.
Use sunscreen daily to prevent age spots and wrinkles. To gain the benefits of antioxidant facials and oxygen blasts between treatments, venture out of the city into some fresh air and drink an acai smoothie on your lunch break.
Risks
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Temporary red spots and pain can follow a facial because of squeezing (extraction) and exfoliation. There is always a possibility of an allergic reaction to a product used during a facial, so if you have sensitive skin, talk to your therapist before she or he begins the treatment. Rarely, people experience burns from a steamer, or infection from an unsterilized piece of equipment, so finding a reputable, clean location is important. Do this by reading online, magazine and newspaper customer reviews.
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