8 London Beauty Treatments To Book For A Post-Summer Refresh
Busy minds, tired bodies – we can all do with a little pamper to add fuel to our fire, but where to go? Tried and tested by the HB team, these are the very best beauty treatments in London to book now…
The Grey Wolfe Attuned Recharge
BEST FOR: The stressed, emotionally drained and frazzled.
USP: Tipped as high vibrational self-love, it would be tough to beat this as a 360-degree wellness MOT with ALL the luxury of a chic day spa.
WHERE: Barnes, London
A small and beautiful boutique spa space in SW London, Grey Wolfe is dedicated to overall well-being. In fact, make that simply being well. Not your usual day destination, time here is fluid – don’t expect to be hurried along or any rigid scheduling. You are welcome for as long as you need and are made to feel extremely at home – cups of herbal tea, cosy blankets, and all.
In terms of treatments, if you feel like you’re running on empty and need a full-body reboot, then the Grey Wolfe Method is for you. Arriving in a very depleted state, I can honestly say I left a few hours later a new human.
If you feel like you’re running on empty and need a full-body reboot, then the Grey Wolfe Method is for you.
My experience began with what I can only describe as a mind massage – a session on the super comfortable Rebalance Impulse bed that uses light and sound cycles to balance and analyse your brainwaves. My mind was quite literally blown. This preceded a soothing full body massage performed while lying curled sideways around a pillow – simultaneously odd and yet gloriously freeing.
My favourite part next – sweating out all those built-up toxins in a private infrared sauna. An old-school coal sauna lover, I’d never experienced the infrared alternative and can attest to its superiority – no suffocatingly dry air or discomfort. The final element in the Method was a session in front of the BioCharger – a machine that emits 4 different energy types (light, frequencies and harmonics, voltage and PEMFs (Pulse Electro-Magnetic Fields) to recharge your cells. I fell completely asleep – enough said.
Harmony Massage
BEST FOR: If you’re looking for alternative treatment to help aid emotional wellbeing and recovery.
USP: Not your average massage. Combining all aspects of healing rolled into one treatment, you get all the holistic benefits as well as a traditional massage.
WHERE: Harvey Nichols, London
Expect a unique double-whammy combination of a hands-on massage and energy healing takes place at the plush Beyond Medispa in Harvey Nichols, London. This beautiful and profound healing experience brings the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies back into alignment. Carried out by either one of the founders of Harmony, Helen Porter and Wioleta Janik, who cherry-pick the best elements of various holistic therapies to create the most powerful and transformational experience.
With their strong belief in the relationship between physical and emotional health, you’ll be treated with the utmost care and attention.
After an in-depth consultation form, my energy centres were checked for depletion and so-called “energy blockages” before my full body was massaged with luxury skincare Tea Tonic oils while crystals and hot stones were placed on specific parts of my body to increase blood flow and balance my chakras.
I became emotional during parts of the treatment, while at other times, I drifted off into a blissful state of relaxation.
This is not your average massage, some parts of my beauty treatment felt a little uncomfortable as my therapist worked on my facia and trigger point release, however the results I felt were well worth it.
I became emotional during parts of the treatment, while at other times, I drifted off into a blissful state of relaxation. Once the treatment was finished, I sipped warm Tea Tonic tea (delish!), while I listened to the fascinating findings that my therapist found while mapping my body during the treatment.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
BEST FOR: Final pre-holiday toning, cellulite reduction or tackling post-flight bloat
USP: The automated pressure massage leaves your therapist free to work on the incredible add on Custom Facial, meaning you can leave detoxified AND radiant.
WHERE: Belgravia or Primrose Hill, London
This advanced technology Lymphatic Drainage Massage involved easing the lower half of my body into what can only be described as a trouser-shaped swimming pool lilo, but don’t let that put you off. The suit is actually concealing technology that inflates and deflates air pockets to deliver a carefully regulated pressure massage designed to stimulate your circulation and flush toxins.
Aesthetics Lab billed the treatment as relaxing but I would caveat that – at least on first try – it feels odd rather than zen. But the sensation is not unpleasant, and I recommend taking the opportunity of being prone for an hour to indulge in the add-on Custom Facial option. Mine was a mix of traditional product application, LED light therapy and dreamy Gua Sha massage but the treatment can be expertly tailored to your preference and skin needs.
I can honestly report that this alternative massage left my legs feeling lighter, firmer and ready for some sunshine.
Whilst I suffer from little cellulite concerns, I love the concept of lymphatic drainage treatments and can honestly report that this alternative massage left my legs feeling lighter, firmer and ready for some sunshine.
The Mesotherapy Experience with Vaishaly
BEST FOR: Skincare concerns, particularly fine lines, pigmentation, tired eyes or when your face starts moving south.
USP: The nearest thing you’ll get to a skin-boosting non-surgical anti-ageing treatment with the ultimate glow.
WHERE: Marylebone, London
Hidden away on a side street in the hustle and bustle of Marylebone, London lives award-winning and celebrity favourite facialist, Vaishaly Patel. This new innovative beauty treatment uses facial massage techniques and Vaishaly’s unique and powerful cranial sacral work, shifting the client’s mind from ‘a state of overthinking’ into ‘Being’.
From the moment Vaishaly’s magical hands touched my face, my mind went completely blank (in a good way). Everything suddenly slowed down and my mental to-do list was far away.
Vaishaly began the facial with a powerful yet gentle cleanse, releasing tension and stress around my jaw and cheekbones (thanks to months of wearing aligners).
She then mixed up a serum (a powerful bespoke blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals) and applied it on my skin using the ‘Nappage’ technique. This includes a tapping motion on the surface of the skin that releases fresh cells and removes damaged ones, which left me with a remarkably firmer, more toned, uplifted, and radiant complexion after just one treatment. I was only saddened that I didn’t have anywhere special to go to show off my new skin.
Chantecaille Revitalising Sculpting Facial
BEST FOR: Sun-damaged, dry, tired skin. An ideal pre-event treatment.
USP: As luxe as it gets from venue and products to overall treatment and service.
WHERE: Harrods, London
This is luxury at its very best. Housed in the Harrods beauty suites in London, this facial uses the iconic energising 24K Gold skincare collection – which seems rather apt, including the newly launched 24K Gold Serum.
Laying on a heated blanket, it didn’t take long until I was dozing in and out of consciousness… while my cheekbones and jawline were gently chiselled to perfection.
In the most glorious setting (without a sound from the outside buzz of shopping above), my skin was layered up using the most potent peptide-rich ingredients. At the same time, the exclusive Chantecaille Revitalising Lifting Machine lifted, toned and de-puffed my face using similar techniques you would experience from lymphatic drainage and cupping.
The smell of the products was beautifully intense, while the beauty treatment was powerful and exhilarating in equal measures. Laying on a heated blanket, it didn’t take long until I was dozing in and out of consciousness (even with the gentle use of the machine) while my cheekbones and jawline were gently chiselled to perfection.
BEST FOR: Exhausted minds and bodies that desperately need to slow down.
The SJW Signature Treatment by Sarah Jane Watson
WHERE: South East London
USP: A massage that is truly transformative and lulls you into the deepest state of rest.
Sarah Jane Watson is a firm believer in the power of massage. But this is no ordinary massage, her SJW signature will truly leave you feeling transformed. Practising for over 20 years, Sarah has a remarkable talent for quietening the mind while removing every last trace of tension with a continual, rhythmic flow.
Using the highest quality essential and aromatherapy oils blended by renowned aromatherapist Michelle Roques-O’Neil, Sarah used various massage techniques from Swedish, Balinese, Hawaiian and Indian head massage that felt blissfully meditative. Sarah is astonishingly intuitive and knew my points of tension and where I carry stress in my body. After 90 minutes of pure bliss, my body felt peaceful, calm and like I had been on some well-being journey far, far away from London.
CACI Synergy Purifying Facial Treatment
BEST FOR: Sensitised, irritated, oily, combination, teen, hormonal skin.
USP: Gentle yet effective
WHERE: CACI spas and salons nationwide
If you’ve been considering trying a more techy facial but aren’t sure where to begin, this is for you. Flashing blue and red lights, thousands of vibrations a second – all of these tools look very futuristic, so our Editor went to see what all the fuss was about.
“As someone with blemish-prone skin that’s also starting to show the first signs of ageing – no happy middle ground between the teens and adulthood for this writer, it seems – this sounds spot on. The combination of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory red and blue LED light therapy heals the skin while also triggering tissue repair. This stage used an Ultrasonic Actuator, which is as impressive as it sounds, containing ceramic/quartz transducers and vibrates at a speed of 27,00 per second, to propel impurities to the surface.
I was pleasantly surprised by how gentle this treatment was while delivering a solid dose of cutting-edge skincare goodness.
“Other highlights from the treatment included ETR (Enhanced Tissue Repair pads placed on specific areas of concern) along with a skin-repairing Wrinkle Comb, and finishing with CACI’s New Purifying Silver Mask. This transparent gel face mask is a hard-working creation, infused with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory Pure Colloidal Silver combined with antioxidant-rich ingredients to strengthen the skin’s natural defences and protect from free-radical damage, which is known to age the skin. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how gentle this treatment was while delivering a solid dose of cutting-edge skincare goodness.”
Tarot Reading at Wellness Foundry
BEST FOR: Unlocking questions that are playing on your mind and general guidance in areas of your life.
USP: Far from a one-size-fits-all approach to wellness, this treatment will allow you to find comfort, confidence, and grounding without having to leave your house.
WHERE: Vauxhall, London or Zoom
An alternative way of promoting deep healing through a spiritual reading is particularly great for busy, curious minds. This reading can be done face-to-face in Vauxhall, London or on Zoom.
Susanna, a psychic, clairvoyant, and energy reader, prompted me with questions in all areas of my life, where most want questions answered or at least some positive guidance for the future. Everything from current to past relationships, jobs, health, family, and love were all touched upon but without being too intrusive. Susanna was scarily accurate without me giving away too much about my life. I came off the Zoom almost elated, like a weight had been taken off my shoulders, and I had goosebumps throughout the entire hour session.
