I often wonder what I would look like in the wild. Do you know what I mean? If I was born 10,000 years ago, or even 2,000 years ago, without access to all the beauty fandango that I now have – how would I scrub up? Would I just be lousy with blackheads and acne, matted hair and wonky teeth? Or would the natural world and a natural life reveal a sort of truer beauty?
Actually don’t answer that.
I often wonder about this when I am doing some mad thing like microdermabrasion or this, an LED facial. LED facials are the new thing and they work by shining your face with intense LED light – different coloured lights sort out a range of complaints, from sun damage and acne to scarring, rosacea and eczema. The theory is that it works on a cellular level, sort of energising them into action.
I went along to a session at the Hersheson’s salon on Berners Street in Soho for two reasons: first of all, light therapy just sounds like it probably works; my skin is just 100% better in the Spring and Summer – it’s clearer, bouncier, I have less eye puffiness and fewer dark circles. Second, my friend Madeleine from MadeleineLoves is into it and I trust her. And the machine is from Korea and I feel like they don’t have time for no shit that don’t work in Korea.
Normally these sort of specialist facial things sound like they will take hours and cost a fortune, but to The Light Salon’s credit they are trying to democratise the whole process, offering a 25 minute in-and-out express treatment where you don’t even have to take your make-up off if you don’t want to.
If you don’t mind, they will do a cleanse, while you sit in a cosy armchair in the main salon, smother you with precious hyaluronic acid, splat you under the gentle heat light lamp for 13 minutes (I dare you not to nod off) and charge you £35.
Not for epileptics or anyone with major migraine problems but fine for everyone else. It does feel a little like trying to get to sleep next to an AA van with its light swivelers going round, but I got used to it quite quickly.
I can imagine that some people might find it odd to have a facial on a salon floor like that, but I enjoyed it. I find therapy rooms really quite creepy and claustrophobic, so to be under my light lamp with the buzz of the salon around me was rather lovely.
There is also an ace cafe within the salon that made me, (do not laugh), a seriously delicious Oat milk turmeric latte. I felt so freaking modern.
Does an LED facial work? Yes I really think it does. Lara, my facialist, was particularly energised about the results she has seen on clients with rosacea and eczema.
Like all these things, you will need more than one session, of course. Probably once a week for a month and then every now and again. So (probably, sorry) just for Londoners, or non-Londoners who are willing to make the shlep.
You can have a more advanced version of this treatment, which lasts 70 minutes and goes on one of the aforementioned therapy rooms – for people who want a more intensive treatment or to blast eczema/acne in other areas that might require stripping off. Anyway if this sounds promising to you, just give them a ring and see if they can help you.
The 25-minute Express LED Facial (and other treatments) can be found at Hershesons, 29 Berners Street, London; call T: +44 (0)207 434 1747 for an appointment
Not 100% related, but have you ever seen a Korean beanpaste flower cake? You won’t believe it.
Not just in London! There is the Light Loft in Rochester, Kent.
https://m.facebook.com/thelightloft/?locale2=en_GB
I’ve been looking into these. I have rosacea, which was a lovely present gifted to me by Old Father Time, on the week I turned 40. Thanks, I hate it!
I can’t find anyone who does the facial round here, but these are lots of LED masks you can buy. I’m swithering about whether to get one.
In despair at my sensitive, reactive skin, I bought a Neutrogena Light Therapy Mask and I am convinced it is brilliant. It calls it an acne mask but I think it works for lots of things (I don’t have acne, although that’s about all I don’t have!). I have certainly seen a marked improvement in my skin, despite not using it ‘properly’ (because I am lazy and neglectful, which might be part of the issue but let’s not dwell on that)
You buy the mask and then you need to buy the ‘activator’ which lasts a month, if you use it every day (as above, I do not. But it think even 1-2 times a week makes a difference).
I got it at Boots for 50% off – it’s frequently on offer – along with a bunch of activators but even at the full price of £60, plus £15 a month for the activator it is, for me, 100% worth it.
Lisa, this is great to hear. I was looking at the Neutrogena mask online and wondering if it would be as good as some of the more pricey ones. I think I’ll get it!
Oh also, someone in an Amazon review said there’s a hack on YouTube you can try, so you don’t have to buy the activators any more? I’ve no idea if it works and I hope it doesn’t, like, frazzle your face off. But it could be genius.
Oooh, that’s good to know, thanks Leona, I will check that out.
It hasn’t bothered me cost-wise so far to repurchase the activators, but it certainly feels very bad for the environment.
Good luck with the Neutrogena mask if you get one, I really hope it helps!