Some amount of down time is to be expected with most facials and skin treatments, especially if it's obvious results you're after. However, the Hydrafacial has become renowned for its speedy results - making it perfect for brides-to-be, wedding guests and anyone with a big event and little time to prep.
Using water and suction to cleanse, extract, and hydrate in three steps, the facial is completely non-invasive and also called "hydradermabrasion" because it combines hydration with deep exfoliation. Having been lured by many allegedly swift-acting treatments and products, I was curious to see how it would live up to the hype.
I have what I'd call pretty typical 30-year-old skin: oily and sensitive, with less acne than before, but dull and dry in spots, and still struggling to rally itself out of our long winter and take on that plump summery glow. I wear less makeup than I used to, but am fanatic about my SPF, which leads to clogged pores and a heavy feeling to my skin.
With a (hopefully) long summer of fun activities ahead of me, I was invited by South William Clinic to try one of the treatments for the purpose of review.
When I visited the clinic I was greeted by nurse Leah who would be doing my facial that day, and she led me through the plush four-storey townhouse clinic to a simple treatment room. I'd been asked to fill out a client form before my visit, detailing the products I use and my lifestyle habits.
A crucial thing to be aware of is that the clinic recommend at least five days between the facial and the last time you used retinol, as - despite being just water - the treatment is still rigorous.
Leah started by double cleansing my skin, which I'd left free of makeup but with my usual skincare applied. From there, she applied a peel with 7.5% salycilic acid, a step up from the typical 2% in most skincare products so if you have very sensitive skin, it would be best to talk this through with your nurse.
Despite having sensitive, reactive skin I didn't have any problems and barely felt a tingle. The peel also included some lactic acid, a very gentle exfoliator, and glycolic acid. Afterwards, my skin felt noticably fresher, with a new layer of skin revealed to help the next step work better.
Leah moved onto the extraction, using the specially designed wand to flush out the pores through suction. The nozzle is small and while it's forceful, it doesn't feel painful at all, just like a bit of pressure. The only part of my face that felt tingly was around my nose, but that passed after a few minutes.
From here on, the facial can be customised to each person, and after talking through with Leah what I'd noticed about my skin in recent months - dull, rough patches and some small breakouts - we decided to add some boosters into the hydration stage.
Depending on what your skin needs, you can opt for vitamin C for antioxidants or retinol for deeper exfoliation and cell turnover, which is what I went for. Leah was incredibly thorough in treading carefully with my very tempermental skin, double checking every step and asking how my skin reacts with certain ingredients.
After the deep hydration stage, it was time for some LED therapy, which is having its own moment thanks to its ability to treat pigmentation, dullness and acne. Ten minutes later, Leah topped up my fresh skin with moisturiser and SPF, a must after the intensive polishing my skin had gotten.
Immediately after the treatment, my skin looked pink and shiny, far less red than I was expecting and more like I'd just stepped out of the sauna. Its texture was the opposite of what it was when I stepped into the treatment room, smooth and plump, with a noticeable bounce to it.
The small acne breakouts I had were slightly more red after all the activity, but Leah had been careful to avoid them during the facial.
I'd been advised to avoid strenuous exercise on the day of the facial, and by the next morning the redness had completely subsided, leaving a dewy brightness to my skin.
What I was most impressed with was how seamlessly makeup applied: no rough patches, no uneven complexion and products melted together. For that reason, I can see why the treatment is so popular with people before a big event.
I was invited by South William Clinic to try the Hydrafacial for the purpose of review. The Platinum 6-Step HydraFacial, lasting 50 minutes, costs €200. Add-on boosters cost €65 each.
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