Beauty treatment Archives - Fashion Voyeur

Categories: Beauty, Fashion, Uncategorized

YUVA MEDI-SPA Launch

YUVA MEDI-SPA opened its doors to the public in April 2017 and got to work on it’s three month wait list. Fast forward to the end of September and here we are at the official press launch (I told you about in this post) at the prestigious Alderley Edge clinic. YUVA really is something else. When you drive through the gates and lay eyes on the converted mansion house for the first time, it buries your expectations completely, it’s a beautiful building and when I visited there was nothing but blue skies over Cheshire making it feel like I was visiting a Swiss chalet.

The launch has been a long time coming, founder Dr Raj Acquilla is one of the most respected aesthetic practitioners in the world and his vision for creating a luxurious escape for that defies the usual medi-spa environment have been truly brought to life with YUVA. The grey and muted gold tones throughout the clinic make for a super relaxing environment and the furnishings and layout have all been planned with the patient in mind.

We’ve assembled at YUVA to watch not one, but three live procedures today by Dr Raj Acquilla and Dr Liesel Holler, YUVA’s resident expert practitioners. We arrive to a champagne reception and a bit of exploring before things get underway. The former recording studio that YUVA MEDI-SPA occupies is huge yet Acquilla made the decision to fit out just three spacious and well equipped treatment rooms with beds flown in from the US, and give each room its own dedicated waiting area. Perfect for celebrity clients who want to get in and out without having been spotted.

Private Treatment room at YUVA MEDI-SPA

The reception area resembles that of a 5 star hotel, with a seating area and skin bar either side, there’s a large communal waiting area in front of the downstairs treatment area fragranced with Jo Malone’s Lime, Basil & Mandarin and looking out over the gorgeous landscaped garden. It’s a world away from the usual aesthetic clinic and that’s exactly what Acquilla wanted. A quick visit to the restroom unveils more luxury, again fragranced by Jo Malone and each basin is topped with a range of SHOW Beauty styling products for post treatment touch ups – very client-centric.

We’re welcomed by Acquilla and his team and given the story behind YUVA and how he feels that there needs to be more of a focus on preserving and enhancing our natural beauty, rather than changing things drastically with lots of filler and Botox. Acquilla is a doctor who’s not afraid to turn away a patient, or prescribe a treatment different than the one they’re requesting; he tells us that often a patient knows what they want to achieve, but is looking at the wrong course of action to get there. Acquilla prefers to assess patients on a case by case basis and make small tweaks which give big gains. The young doctor is charismatic and speaks intelligently about only offering treatments which are safe and proven and have trackable results, whilst YUVA is at the cutting edge when it comes to aesthetic treatment, you’ll never be offered something so new that there are no comparable results.

We’re taken upstairs to a room to watch a Spotlight treatment on a live model. Acquilla reminds us that preserving natural youthful looks is what he wants to achieve, and ultimately, making his model feel happier about the way she looks. He works on the right side of her face with a camera providing close up images on a big screen while we watch. One thing to note is that every injection is small and precise, Acquilla uses no anaesthesia or numbing cream anywhere on the face saying that if precise injection points are used, there is no pain for the patient – credit to him, his model never flinches, not even when her lips are injected.

He proceeds to talk us through the subtle improvements he will make, from an eyebrow tail lift, the lift in the corners of her mouth, the reduction in her ‘gummy smile’, her ‘sad eyes’ and rounded jaw. With each injection he lifts and physically sculpts the skin to the bone creating a subtle, but instant impact. Her jaw is sculpted, her mouth is no longer downturned and her eyes seem happier. Everything is small and subtle, but she’ll leave looking refreshed with no downtime at all and with results that should last around 12 months. There is no drastic difference, no over inflated lips or flat, expression free forehead (something Acquilla isn’t a fan of), everything is natural and you really wouldn’t be able to tell she’d had work done. He asks his patient regularly if she’s comfortable and she chats freely during her procedure, laughing and joking with Acquilla and definitely not showing any signs of discomfort, something I’m intrigued by as I’m familiar with the extreme pain of lip filler without a dental block.

Next we’re introduced to Dr Liesel Holler, a former Peruvian beauty queen who turned her back on a career in modelling to focus on medicine and aesthetics. Holler is a vision, she’s captivatingly beautiful and speaks passionately about aesthetics, with a particular interest in skin. The treatment she’s showcasing is a 5 step bespoke Nanopore skin treatment which includes:

◆ A Liposomed Ferulac Peel – high dose antioxidant peel to help resurface the skin and remove dead cells.
◆ Application of Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to nourish and brighten the skin
◆ Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) which uses your own blood platelets to stimulate new cell growth
◆ Nanopure Micro-needling which produces micro-channels in the skin
(with a depth of 0.2mm around the eyes and 0.5mm on the rest of the face) to encourage absorption of the preceding ingredients
◆ An LED light is placed over the patient’s face for 20-30 minutes to restore and calm the skin

The benefits to this treatment are huge, Holler tells us that the needles cause a controlled trauma to the skin, which in turn induces collagen stimulation and over the course of a month it results in smoother tone and texture to the skin, addressing concerns from acne scarring to facial lines and wrinkles. It’s part of a new wave of aesthetic treatments where skin and cells are encouraged to repair themselves on the inside, giving a greater result on the outside. The YUVA team are a testament to their procedures, each of them has glowing skin that gives you confidence in their ability, that and the fact that each member of the practicing team is listed in the Top 20 Injectors in the UK.

YUVA also offers non-surgical treatments, with HydraFacial as one of their most popular non-invasive treatments. The focus at YUVA MEDI-SPA is clear, improvement in skin quality, appearance and overall wellbeing without over injecting. If you’re starting your aesthetic journey and are looking for a doctor you can trust to take your best interests into account then YUVA is a place to put at the top of your list. Achievable outcomes, subtle improvements, conscientious practitioners and doctor led treatment, all in a luxurious and relaxing environment. Kudos Dr Raj Acquilla, YUVA MEDI-SPA just set the bar for medi-spas everywhere and damn is it high.

pixie xo

Categories: Beauty, North East, Uncategorized

Sisley Black Rose Facial

Every now and again it pays to take stock and assess your skincare routine to see whether it really is addressing those ever changing needs. Whether it’s anti-ageing, fatigue, dryness or dullness, the chances are, from one month to the next your skincare priorities will change. One thing we do know, is that there is no universal skincare product. No matter what manufacturers tell us, there is no one magic product to address and effectively treat everything we’d like to improve about the appearance of our skin and so layering is key.

You already know I’m a fan of Decleor skincare products, I adore the Neroli Night Balm when I’m on vacation, my skin changes when I’m in a sunny environment and Decleor’s botanicals pack the perfect punch to give it an overnight reset. But what about when your regular product seem to have stopped being effective and you just want to reset your skin, give it a big moisture boost and a chance to normalise? I visited Sisley at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre to find out all about the innovative skincare research behind the cult French brand, and to discover the latest release, Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream before its official launch.

Before you say it, yes, Sisley is a very expensive skincare brand, there’s no denying that. It’s one of those cult skincare brands like Vintner’s Daughter or Creme de la Mer with a pretty eye-watering pricetag, however, Sisley has a raft of loyal followers who can’t get enough of those research backed benefits. Whilst Sisley does also produce a makeup range, it’s skincare where the brand really shines, and with their own research laboratory and academy in Paris, years and years of research, development and scientific testing goes into each product before release. Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream is no different, whilst the Black Rose range has been pivotal to Sisley’s success – one Black Rose mask is sold globally every three minutes – the consistency of the new Skin Infusion Cream is revolutionary and a whole new concept for the brand.

I was treated to a Black Rose Facial treatment, (yours for free with the purchase of any two Sisley products) in the House of Fraser Beauty Rooms with Milanese skincare expert, Michela. Michela is the personification of perfect, conceptual in-brand advertising; her skin is line free, smooth and radiant and she gushes about how Sisley’s products have helped her achieve perfectly balanced skin. She talks me through the thirteen steps to the Black Rose Facial and as always, the treatment begins with breathing exercises and fragranced oils to encourage tranquility and deep relaxation. She begins the facial by cleansing and toning my skin before buffing with Gentle Buffing Cream and hot towels to create a clean base, after which, the Black Rose Cream Mask is applied. Fun Fact Voyeurs, ask any French woman worth her Manolos what her favourite skincare product is and this mask is guaranteed to be up there. The mask is similar to Decleor’s Phytopeel in that it’s rubbed off, encouraging resurfacing of the skin, only the botanicals and essential oils are ramped up to the max in Sisley’s must have product increasing the efficacy. Once removed, skin feels softer and has that inimitable ‘bounce’. Black Rose Facial Oil is then applied all over, this step is a treat in itself, the fragrance encourages relaxation and the texture is that of a non greasy, dry oil.

In the arena of skincare for the face and body, Sisley’s expertise is well known. the brand’s complete line of products meets the needs of various different skin types and tackles the various stages of the average skincare routine: makeup removal, hydration, anti-ageing, sun protection, hair care, makeup and so on. Sisley seems to favour selective distribution, it’s not something you can pick up in your local Boots or Superdrug and to that effect, it definitely feels more prescriptive and exclusive – certainly the price tag reflects that.

The Black Rose Facial is more than just a skin treatment, it’s a sensory experience. From the warm, fragranced towels, to the heated gem stone facial massage, it’s a pleasure for the senses as well as the abundant skin benefits. Before I’m done, Michela covers my face in Sisley’s Ecological Compound which protects skin from environmental factors including pollution and sun damage, a slick of Confort Extreme Nutritive Lip Balm (amazing stuff) and Double Tenseur for immediate radiance. When I look in the mirror immediately after, I look fresh, like I just woke up from a ten hour sleep and pleasant dreams.

Phyto-cosmetology is the concept at the centre of Sisley’s creations and relates to using the best plant-based extracts in order to create what they consider to be the best cosmetics on the market. Plants’ vital energy, their capacity for regeneration and adaptation, their protection systems, and their fragrances have all been put to use for the skin and obviously, materials and associated research cost money. Sisley selects the best type of plant in its category, the most effective part of the plant for the problem being treated, the country or region where this plant is the best and, finally, harvests the plant at the very moment when it will provide the most effective active properties – none of which comes cheap.

So, reading about Sisley’s Black Rose Collection will either be the best or worst thing to happen to your skincare routine, best because, well we’ve covered that, and worst because the three Black Rose products in the range will set you back a whopping £370. What you need to weigh up now Voyeurs, is whether you’re worth the investment, I know I am.

Pixie xo

If you want to take the plunge and try out any of the Sisley skincare and cosmetic range, you can nab yourself a free facial with the purchase of any two products on counter at House of Fraser. To book your Sisley beauty treatment at Intu Metrocentre call 0191 4932424, service also available nationally.

Categories: Beauty

Decleor Hot Stones Massage

Decleor is synonymous with the spa environment, think of the brand and you naturally conjour up images of that yellow packaging and golden toned campaign images of super relaxing facial treatments. But did you know that Decleor also offer a range of body treatments? Some of them pretty unexpected from a mid price point skincare brand that prides itself on its use of micro grade essential oils.

I was invited in to Decleor House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre to experience a full body massage using hot stones and essential oils and as a Fibromyalgia sufferer I just couldn’t pass it up.

I arrived on counter and was taken through all the possible contra-indications and completed a health checklist with Michelle, before being taken to the hidden treatment area at the back of the store. Once inside, the dim lighting and soft, spa type music take you a million miles from the shopping mall and it doesn’t take long to completely switch off and relax.

The massage starts face down (there’s a real reason for this) with the starting focus on the back, neck and shoulders. Michelle starts with the diagnostic back massage that Decleor are famed for and she tells me my digestive system is sluggish and I’m dehydrated; ten points for accuracy, I’m feeling under the weather on the day of my treatment so this sums me up perfectly.

The massage gets underway with Michelle coating my skin in Decleor’s super thin aromatic oils before it’s time for the hot stones. Now, when it comes to this type of treatment, some places cool the stones first, others apply them over a warm towel and never directly to the skin, Decleor apply them straight from the heat on to your oiled skin which allows the stones to glide over your muscles, loosening them as they go. Yes, the stones are hot, but it’s a welcome sensation. I’m a person who holds tension in my jaw, neck and shoulders so feeling my shoulder muscles yield under the heat is uber satisfying.

Michelle tells me that my shoulders are like boulders and prescribes a deep tissue massage as a follow up treatment in three weeks time but works them as much as she can with the stones before moving on to my legs. It’s no ordinary leg massage – when Decleor say this is a full body massage, it really is a full body massage – my butt, legs and even feet are worked on with the stones to ensure even distribution of heat throughout the body. When I flip over on to my back, stones are placed under the shoulders and neck to encourage deep relaxation within the muscles and as Michelle works the stones on my biceps and triceps, a hot stone is placed in the palm of my hand to regulate the heat in that arm, it’s all very well thought out.

I’ll be honest Voyeurs, I enjoyed this treatment so much, I struggled to stay awake throughout, in fact, I’m pretty sure I drifted into a microsleep at one point, it’s that good. When you’re lying on your back, an eye mask is placed over your eyes so it’s hard not to indulge and take a power nap.

The Decleor Hot Stones Massage treatment lasts for an hour and if your a person who benefits from, or enjoys massage, then it’s an hour well spent. Y’all know I train in the gym a lot and whilst that has its own health benefits, it really does pay to keep those muscles in tip top condition with regular massage after using and abusing them. I try to have a massage every week if I can fit it in, something pretty deep, where you know you’ve been worked on, and a Hot Stones Massage, let me rephrase that, the right Hot Stones Massage is something I’d add into this regime on a monthly basis.

I booked my massage for first thing in the morning but I think next time I’d book it for after an evening gym session as I went home straight after and slept like a kitten until Plankton arrived home from school at 3pm. Oh yes, and thanks to the massage starting face down, I didn’t leave the place looking like I had a vagina on my face, as I have done at so many other places after being face down on a massage table with a face hole in it. Result.

Pixie xo

To book a massage, or any other treatment including the brand new Facial Pilates, contact the Decleor counter at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre.

Categories: Beauty, North East, Uncategorized

Image Skincare O2 Lift Facial

Oxygen facials, we’ve all heard of them and there are hundreds of variations out there to choose from, but what are the benefits? Well, there are actually many. Infusing the skin with pure oxygen speeds up healing, brightens and illuminates, fights off toxins and helps to eliminate pollution damage; the big question you should be asking, is how do you deliver an effective dose of oxygen to the skin without unnecessary fads and expense….

I was invited along to Novellus Aesthetics in Jesmond by Dr Steven Land to experience the VIP Image O2 Lift – dubbed The Red Carpet facial by those in the know, and a pre-awards show staple of many an A-Lister including Jessica Biel. The O2 Lift (Oxygen Facial) is a facial treatment with a difference, it’s administered by an Aesthetic Practitioner rather than a Beauty Therapist and every step of the treatment aims to address a particular need. First up, skin is cleansed with Image Skincare’s Gel to Milk Cleanser to lift off any surface grime, pollution and impurities, it’s removed with a warm washcloth which opens up the pores ready for the next stage.

A very mild Fruit Enzyme Peel is applied to skin – there’s no tingling and no after peeling, it’s purely to dissolve any dead skin cells sitting at the surface and in turn, amplify the effects of the facial and prolong the result. Once this is removed, your skin is a blank canvas and that’s when the magic really happens. An Oxygen mask is applied over the skin, with a foamy consistency, the mask fizzes and pops until it eventually fully disappears. The effervescent nature of the product delivers oxygen deep into the skin along with brightening agents which promote even skintone, it’s something you can really feel working, it’s a pleasant sensation and a little bit tickly.

Once skin is completely clear, a Stem Cell Rejuvenator is applied and massaged into the skin, it’s a watery serum rich in plant stem cells and vitamin C which help to seal the treatment into the skin. Dr Land tells me that the O2 Lift is a facial treatment that’s suitable for any skin type, there’s nothing harsh or abrasive at all in it and the end result is lighter and brighter skin. Normally at this point, you’d have a skin specific moisturiser applied and be sent on your way but Novellus Aesthetics have added in an extra step to magnify the effects of the Stem Cell serum.

Even if you don’t know it by name, you’ll have seen the Opera LED mask – it’s a big, weird looking imposing gadget that kinda looks a bit like Iron Man taking a nap – this high tech face mask has been featured in the pages of British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and most recently on TV in reality series TOWIE. In a nutshell, it utilises three wavelengths of low level light therapy to provide a multitude of skin rejuvenation treatments to the face and neck, adding in the LED mask whilst the skin is absorbing plant stem cells encourages faster collagen production and cell turnover which further enhances the benefits of the O2 Lift. You can of course, opt to have the original off-the-shelf O2 Lift without the LED mask, but then you wouldn’t be VIP would you?

I’m not gonna lie Voyeurs, it’s a weighty piece of kit and it takes a bit of wriggling around to get it in a comfortable position, but once you’re set, it’s plain sailing. The mask cycles through three different light settings which each have different skin benefits. The infrared light works on tightening and anti-ageing, the blue light promotes blood circulation and helps to treat acne, and the pink light is not only an excellent anti-inflammatory, it also makes you look like Kimberley, the best ever Power Ranger. Hashtag winning. Need further convincing of the benefits of light therapy? Look no further than Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Khloe Kardashian and Chrissy Tiegen who are all Opera LED Mask devotees.

BEFORE

AFTER

Once the Stem Cell serum is absorbed and the LED mask cycle is complete, a light moisturiser with UVA and UVB protection is applied (essential after this treatment) and I’m shown my face in a mirror. Once I look past the imprints of the mask which make me look like I’m wearing swimming goggles, I can see that there’s a radiance that wasn’t there before and a plumpness to the surface of my skin. Dr Land tells me that the effects should be better the next day too. I have enough facials to know that the following day I usually have a few surface blemishes appear as the toxins are drawn to the surface of the skin which happens to me every time, but by day three, my skin looks and feels softer and more luminous and is responding better to the products I’m using at home, like a fresh canvas.

Pixie xo

The O2 Lift Facial at Novellus Aesthetics is £80, for the upgraded VIP version of the treatment with the Opera LED Mask, expect to pay £100.

To book an appointment at Novellus Aesthetics, email info@novellusaesthetics.co.uk or visit the FaceBook page.

Categories: Pixie, Uncategorized

Dermatude: The Facelift Alternative

If you live in the North East, you’ll most likely be familiar with the name Hooker & Young. The formidable duo have been making waves in the hairdressing industry for years and they have no intention of slowing down. In fact, not content with lining their shelves with hairdressing awards, Hooker & Young are taking on the beauty industry.

At the pretty Hooker & Young Ponteland salon, you’ll find Hooker & Young Skin. A service that sits perfectly alongside their creative hair offering and something that feels perfectly placed with the brand. Kelly Covell is the driving force behind Skin and is passionate about offering clients the very best and most innovative treatments on the market.

“It’s not about getting in there first and being the first to have a brand new treatment, it’s about testing it, making sure the results are tangible and making sure it’s something that our clients will really benefit from.” Kelly Covell, Hooker & Young Skin

Today Kelly has invited me to try the Dermatude facial and all I know about it before my arrival is that it’s been dubbed ‘The Facelift Alternative’. When Kelly explains what I’m in for, I’m kind of pleased I didn’t do any research….

In a nutshell, Nouveau Skin Therapy’s Dermatude facial uses meta therapy to deliver active serums to the skin through micro-needling. That’s right Voyeurs, ‘facial’ and ‘needling’ in the same sentence, I’m already planning my escape…

I arrive at Skin and am greeted by Kelly who takes me upstairs to a cosy treatment room, the room is slick and clinical looking and dominated by a high-tech heated bed which I slink into like it’s my own. Kelly shows me the machine she’s going to use and explains that micro-needling as it’s known, is actually less invasive than Microdermabrasion and demonstrates the feeling on the back of my hand. she asks if I’m comfortable (I am) and then we begin.

Kelly talks me through the treatment while she’s working, we start with a strong Glycolic Peel to prep the skin and then the micro-needling pushes an active serum past the outer layers of the epidermis to living cells where they can instantly start to work on improving the texture, clarity and tone of the skin. The treatment claims to combat premature ageing, sun damage and open pores, it’s slightly uncomfortable in certain areas but most definitely not painful. The machine glides over the skin vibrating and pulsing to push the product deep into the dermis. The sound from the machine is not dis-similar to that of a tattoo needle, the feeling however, is a breeze in comparison to my expectations.

“As a result, connective tissue is produced, filling the wrinkle from the inside out. Again, this is a natural skin process. The treatment does not involve injecting any fillers whatsoever and no muscles or nerves are blocked. However, in order to support the natural process, our special serums “Subjectables” are used for a faster and even more efficient result.” – Nouveau Skin

Whilst the active ingredients get to work on my skin, Kelly treats the backs of my hands with the micro-needler and serum and tells me what to expect when the treatment is over; slight redness which will fade pretty quickly but no makeup until tomorrow.

When I’m done, she hands me a mirror and a glass of water and I’m surprised at how fresh and instantly brighter I look. it’s like I’ve had a good sleep and woken up wide awake and ready for action. Sure, it’s red, but not as red as you might expect, given the type of treatment this is. The most noticeable difference is around my eyes, the skin looks fresh and more luminous than it has before.

The treatment has a celebrity following and I can understand why, after one treatment my skin was glowing and by the next day it looked and felt amazing; soft and renewed and a lot clearer with far less visible pores. Like most of these treatments, they’re great before an event or vacation but are recommended as blocks or packages in order to add an element of maintenance and sustaining that ‘new skin’ look and feel. After seeing the immediate visible improvement, it’s something I’d definitely do again and Kelly is a conscientious Therapist, allowing time to explain each element of the treatment which would put even the most skeptical mind at ease.

So Voyeurs, if you fancy taking the plunge and trying out the Dermatude Meta Therapy facial, I’d highly recommend Kelly at Hooker & Young Skin in Ponteland, salon deets are below.

Pixie x

HOOKER & YOUNG – PONTELAND
13 Bell Villas
Ponteland
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE20 9BD
Tel : 01661-821004

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