I recently visited the Metquarter and spotted a spa offering one of the most scientific facials I'd ever seen.
Élan Laser Clinics is based on the lower ground floor of the Metquarter, in the heart of Liverpool's busy and booming city centre. It's a calming sanctuary of cool concrete walls, large faux plants and stripped back, almost clinical-looking treatment rooms.
It combines "the latest medical grade technology with a luxury spa-like experience" and is "designed to provide treatments that deliver real results". It's also home to one of the most popular facials in the beauty world, the HydraFacial.
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I've seen the HydraFacial all over social media so was keen to give it a try for myself and see what all the hype is about and whether it could fix my skincare woes.
Getting spots in your 30s is especially frustrating because they usually accompany the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. I had spots all throughout my teenage years, so I'd assumed by the time I was 32, I wouldn't still be worrying about them anymore. After donating my eggs last year, I experienced some major hormonal breakouts and my skin was the worst it's been in years, so I've worked hard to maintain a consistent skincare routine to keep them at bay as much as possible.
I have noticed it's harder to keep my skin looking the way I want it to look as I get a little older and while I'm still often ID'd buying lottery tickets, I can't lie and pretend ageing isn't a concern. I'm noticing more and more fine lines under my eyes, and I'm starting to get frown lines between my eyebrows.
I don't want to get Botox or fillers at this stage (though may be open to it in the future), so I was drawn to the HydraFacial because it's a non-invasive treatment that still aims to offer dramatic results. According to Élan's website, the "revolutionary" and "miracle" treatment can "invigorate your skin and turn back the clock" while helping to cleanse and exfoliate it to leave it feeling "refreshed and rejuvenated".
It's a technological facial that "delivers results far exceeding those of traditional exfoliation techniques and treatments in under 30 minutes". At Élan, it costs £120.
Results vary from person to person, but they can fade fine lines and wrinkles, improve the firmness and texture of the skin, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, and even produce a more even skin tone. Understandably, I was keen to give it a go.
I met with senior therapist Suzanne Rollinson, who was incredibly informative while still managing to put me at complete ease with her calm and genuinely caring nature. I felt safe and comfortable, and she talked me through the in-depth scanner - which diagnoses each individual's skin problems - with clarity and detail.
I put my head inside the large machine, which felt like the merging of a retro camera complete with a curtain, and a mini MRI machine, to have images taken of my bare face. The scanner looks at the deeper layers of your skin to assess surface lines, sun damage, sensitivity, blemish forecast and more.
Now, this is most definitely the least fun part of the experience as the scan photos are not flattering in any way, shape or form, and highlight potential problem areas. The one that really made me panic was the 'biological ageing' image, which showed how I could look in the future if I don't protect my skin from sun damage.
I'm being brave and including it for your viewing pleasure, but it's enough to ensure I keep slathering SPF50 on my skin until the day I die:
The scans then deliver an in-depth breakdown of the skin, confirming the most prominent issues. For me, this was sensitivity and spots. The results also offer a comprehensive description of "symptoms", as well as treatment advice and impartial product recommendations.
No brands were mentioned, only ingredients, so I didn't feel like I was being sold a sales pitch - plus, the scan is included as part of the free skincare consultation at Élan Laser Clinics.
Of course, ageing is a privilege, as they say, and Mother Nature will always catch up with us so while the HydraFacial and scans do offer detailed analysis, and impressive results, there's only so much one can do to halt the inevitable. I'm using my results to make better decisions about my diet and the products I use for the health of my skin, but I'm under no illusions about fully keeping the effects of ageing at bay - it happens to anyone lucky enough to carry on getting older.
The HydraFacial is adapted to each customer's skincare needs, and is completed in three steps, as detailed on the company's website:
Cleanse & Exfoliate: during the cleanse and peel stage, gentle exfoliation techniques will remove any dead skin and uncover a new layer of skin.
Extract & Hydrate: the second stage of the treatment will use gentle suction to clear dirt and debris from the pores. They then re-hydrate your skin using intense moisturisers.
Fuse & Protect: Élan uses peptides and antioxidants to saturate the surface of the skin with goodness, which help to invigorate the skin's natural glow.
As my concerns were mainly spots and sensitivity, therapist Suzanne made sure to use a lower suction level during the extraction phase so as not to aggravate my skin, or heighten the pink and red patches on my cheeks. I was also put under a green LED light for five minutes to help further soothe my complexion once the facial was complete.
Even though it's a more scientific approach to a facial, it's still a relaxing experience and still offers that element of feeling pampered, which is definitely one of the main reasons to visit a spa in my humble opinion. It's not advised to book a HydraFacial immediately before an event, as best results are most visible a few days post-treatment.
I felt well cared for throughout my appointment and left with my skin looking incredibly hydrated, smooth and youthful. At work the next day, my colleague was suitably impressed with the results and said my skin "looked like glass".
A few days after the appointment, my skin looked even better - it was brighter, clearer and more plumped up; my makeup went on easier and lasted much longer, and my whole face just felt rejuvenated. I will definitely be visiting Élan again for another HydraFacial.
Élan Laser Clinics is based at Unit 9 & 10, The Metquarter, Liverpool, L1 6DA. You can book a free HydraFacial consultation here, and view other skincare treatments available at Élan here.
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