STAR RESULTS FOR THE STARS’ FACIAL…

The clue is in the name really… ‘fire and ice’ … and yet I still hadn’t quite grasped what was being offered to me…

I had been lucky enough to be in introduced to Dr Sophie Shotter through the Athena Network Businesswomen North West Kent group (Twitter: @AthenaNWKent) organised by Angela Spiteri and as part of a goodwill gesture to learn about each others’ services, Sophie generously offered this treatment to those within the group who would like to try it. An iS clinical Fire & Ice facial has developed a reputation as being the essential pre-red-carpet procedure many Hollywood celebrities swear by and I’m nothing if not swift off the mark when it comes to taking advantage of gifted opportunities….

Sophie is a qualified medical practitioner who also owns and runs the Illuminate Skin Clinic in Kings Hill (website: http://illuminateskinclinic.co.uk/) near West Malling in Kent. Even though I had been present as Sophie discussed her business and even as I arrived at her clinic and realised that it was more ‘Harley Street’ than ‘chichi’ beautician’s, I was still labouring under the apprehension that I was about to be pampered rotten with unguent potions, fluffy towels and scented candles, which exposes my complete lack of sophistication when it comes to the more therapeutic end of the skin care spectrum and establishments such as the one run by Sophie and her team.

Sophie’s colleague, the lovely Ellie, took me into one of the treatment rooms and asked me to lie back on one of the firm beds. There was no requirement for me to remove any clothing – the only preparation was to wrap a small towel band round my hairline. It was about this point that it dawned on me that I had perhaps focussed a little too much on the words ‘Hollywood’ and ‘facial’ and possibly not enough on the words, ‘fire’ and ‘ice’.

Ellie warned me as she cleansed my face that she was about to apply the peel – the ‘fire’ part of the treatment and that it would be ‘mildly tingly’. I would say it was a little more than that – in fact it was quite a discernible stinging sensation which lasts for about 5 minutes. The peel uses glycolic acid to remove the very top layer of the epidermis and stimulate the cells underneath.

The ‘fire’ is removed just before it borders on ‘uncomfortable’ and the next stage is to have the ‘ice’ applied – a masque containing hyaluronic acid, which rejuvenates the skin with herbal antioxidants and soothing aloe vera. It quickly quells the hot tingling. This was the most pleasant part of the treatment for me.

After this some further ointments are rubbed in to the face including an eye cream and sun cream and … that’s it! The procedure had been super brisk at no more than 30 minutes and I was a little bit surprised it was over so quickly. I don’t want to give the impression I was disappointed – I think ‘mildly confused’ is a fairer assessment, as it hadn’t been a ‘facial’ as I know it, notwithstanding the fact it was carried out in an utterly professional and gentle manner, by an assured pair of hands, in a very comfortable environment. Futhermore, I won’t deny that the more the penny dropped I was experiencing a ‘peel’ – albeit it an ultra mild one – vivid visions of the character Samantha in scenes in ‘Sex and the City’, when she has a bad reaction to a peel had run rampant in my mind and I was nervous to look at myself in the mirror. Needless to say I didn’t look my best straight away – all shiny faced, pink-cheeked and flat hair… but no worse than that.

So, I left Sophie and Ellie genuinely thankful for the treatment but absolutely not as grateful as I should have been because I will struggle to get across how outstanding, a few hours later, the results were. In almost direct contrast to my experience of the fire and ice ‘facial’ feeling like an anti-climax (primarily because of MY misunderstanding of what I was actually undertaking), the result of the procedure far EXCEEDED any expectation I had of – or have experienced from – a ‘beauty’ treatment. I was stunned by the improvement to my complexion. I cannot overstate this enough. Never mind Hollywood stars – this is 5 stars all the way.

Within a couple of hours I was glowing and various people commented on how well and attractive I looked. My skin felt amazing, very soft and smooth, and has, in my opinion, remained looking incredible for a week or more. It is truly an exceptional treatment that I suspect becomes something of an addiction for those who can afford it on a regular basis because it is bordering on transformational – so if you are Kent-based, can get yourself to Kings Hill and you have an event coming up that you’d like to look your most radiant for, then I couldn’t recommend an ‘iS Fire & Ice’ Facial at Illuminate Skin Clinic more highly. I am certain you will love the results … just don’t expect candles.