Last week, I was invited to a beautiful house owned by Dr. Rita Rakus behind Harrods to experience a HydraFacial. At the very same time, I was reading a post online about how male artists, celebrities etc. rarely actually share their skin routines which is somehow rooted in the depths of toxic masculinity which I won’t digress into too much during this post, but that said, what I will do is share my HydraFacial experience with you in detail because it is a really original concept and patent which is really at the forefront of skin technology.
HydraFacial uses patented technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate while rebuilding collagen levels to boost skin in one 30-minute session – so the effects are literally immediate. Your skin feels pumped and energised so quickly – quicker than I have ever experienced from any other facial before.
The process works in three stages: cleanse and peel – exfoliation, extract and hydrate – debris removal through suction (you can see what is removed afterwards) and nourishment, and finally fuse and protect to saturate the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides to maximise your glow. The evidence is surreal. I am so impressed. There’s a short video on my Instagram highlights under EGO too where you can see the receipts.
The detail of the facial itself has versatility offering the ‘Life’ treatment, which uses super-serums filled with antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and protect skin from environmental damage, leaving your skin renewed and invigorated, the targeted ‘Anti-Ageing’ treatment is perfect for those looking to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also enhancing the skin’s elasticity. The facial uses DermaBuilder multi-peptide anti-ageing serum to tighten skin and increase plumpness. and the ‘Brightening’ treatment features the Britenol Vortex-Booster™, which is clinically proven to minimise the appearance of brown spots and sun damaged areas. The Intensive Spot Corrector contains alpha-arbutin and vitamin C to target hyperpigmentation, leaving the complexion glowing and even. Finally, the ‘Acne and Acne Scarring’ facial helps to improve active acne by reducing the build-up of excess oils. It also combats scarring using a deeper exfoliation treatment with natural salicylic acid and the application of different strengths of GlySal peel.
Following the HydraFacial I briefly experience a Perk treatment which is an add-on to the HydraFacial experience dubbed a hybrid-facial. Perk draws on a unique roller-flex technology working to gently remove surface layer dead skin cells and impurities. A special exfoliation tip is attached to your treatment vial and as it glides over the skin, removes build-up which is vacuumed away into a separate waste container. Next, the roller-flex technology gently flexes pores open to deliver vital antioxidants and nutrients into the skin. But the clever part is, the vial from your treatment doubles-up as a take-home antioxidant serum, arming you with skincare to extend the benefits for up to 30 days. It’s pretty impressive and I have been using the roller-flex vials almost daily since and they definitely add a sense of vitality and robustness to your skin almost immediately.
The only downside and what I literally had an existential crisis about was that the process includes the use of small crustaceans – so it’s not cruelty free which completely destroys me and makes it really difficult for me to ethically endorse long term, so HydraFacial, if you’re reading this – please consider a cruelty-free version for the future.
Portrait of Nik Thakkar taken three days after HydraFacial by Stuart Glover featuring vintage twisted Chanel earring and Daddy chain by Rory Rockmore