Do you ever wonder what lurks beneath your skin? With a HydraFacial you not only get soft glowing skin, but you get to see all the gory left overs at the end contained in a glass ‘gunkie’.
Even if you aren’t a skincare enthusiast, you’ve likely heard about HydraFacial treatments on social media.
The award-winning treatment uses patented vortex-fusion technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate in one customizable treatment.
I have to confess that I rarely take time out from my busy schedule to treat myself to a facial. So when the opportunity arose to discover what this 21st century facial was all about, I was nervously excited.
My destination was The Spa at The Merchant in Belfast, which has recently been shortlisted for an award at the prestigious World Spa Awards.
The lights were dimmed, light music was playing in the background and I was wrapped up in a plush cosy blanket, ready to relax.
I must admit it was quite a shock, therefore, when my therapist started the treatment by using a cold facial cloth to pre-cleanse my skin, rather than a steaming hot one.
She explained that before and after the HydraFacial it is recommended to avoid intense heat, and therefore the treatment isn’t combined with their use of the spa’s hydrotherapy suite.
Next came the technology, with the HydraFacial probe-like device doing a spiralling deeper cleanse and lymphatic drainage strokes to eliminate toxins.
A light peel was then applied before the pores, whiteheads and blackheads were dislodged using a different tip on the HydraFacial hand piece.
The suction sensation was strange but definitely painless, with no uncomfortable facial pinching.
Now with my skin totally clean, it was time to hydrate and balance with a serum full of antioxidants and peptides.
Finally, a pair of sunglasses were placed over my eyes in preparation for an infrared LED light being put over my face to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen production.
My therapist advised me not to get my skin wet and to wear none, or very light make-up for the rest of the day, and to put SPF moisturiser on for the next few days.
But in just 45 minutes I was finished and ready to get on with my day.
The HydraFacial claims to soften fine lines, improve firmness, even skin tone, smooth texture and reduce pigmentation and pores.
My verdict? It totally does what it says. At times, the sounds and movement made me feel like I was getting a scale and polish at the dentist – however, this non-invasive procedure was definitely a lot more gentle.
Immediately after, I couldn’t resist touching my skin and being shocked at how soft it felt.
Although quite reddened straight after my treatment, it soon faded to leave me with a healthy glow.
That glow, and subsequent confidence, lasted for the remainder of the week. Three days later, a friend, who didn’t know about my cheeky little spa visit, complemented me about my skin.
The downside is that it is recommended to maximise results that you should take a course of six treatments, so it could work out quite expensive. But what price for your health? Your skin is the largest organ of the human body after all and it should be kept healthy too.
:: Packages begin at £130. For more information and to book, visit www.themerchanthotel.com/spa or telephone 028 9026 2712
