The Light Salon

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