IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAVENDISH CLINIC
TRIED&TESTED Laura Wood finds out first-hand what the HydraFacial hype is all about
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he first time I heard about a HydraFacial was through a social media/ beauty junkie friend who couldn’t wait to try it out, having seen the celebrity endorsements and the hype all over her Instagram feed. She was one of the first in line to give them a go as soon as they became available in the UK and still raves about them to this day. Since then, I’ve heard countless positive reviews about the treatment so I decide to try it out for myself at the newly- opened Cavendish Clinic, discretely tucked away in the corner of the John Lewis beauty hall. Founded in London in 2011, Cavendish Clinic was created by a team of consultant doctors from London’s premier teaching hospitals and use only the safest and most effective treatments. Based on its credentials and reputation, the Edinburgh clinic is the first standalone venture to get the green light from the much-loved department store and is now open for business on the second floor. There, I am greeted by the lovely aesthetician, Cat, who has worked in the beauty industry for the past 15 years, going down the aesthetic/ medical route for the last eight. After a skin consultation and a good look at what she is dealing with under the UV lamp ( if only I’d worn SPF on my face in my 20s) she starts the HydraFacial with a cleanse. Cavendish Clinic uses a range of SkinCeuticals, Dr Levy, ZO products for their HydraFacials depending on skin type and your concerns; the cleanser Cat uses on me is so effective and gentle on my sensitive skin that I decide to make a purchase after. So much more than just a facial, the SkinCeuticals X HydraFacial combines 10 steps in an hour-long process and, if you’re interested in results-driven facials using high performance ingredients, this is the one for you. It detoxifies skin, does some lymphatic drainage, removes dead cells, extracts debris from pores, and provides long-lasting hydration to protect and rebuild
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collagen levels. So much so, it will leave your skin glowing for weeks and, apparently, the more often you do them, the healthier your skin becomes. It’s not a pampering facial; nor is it painful. I leave the clinic noticing a visible difference in my skin’s appearance and a less puffy look overall. On day two, I wake to an even brighter complexion. After a week, my skin looks even and smooth. Some may call a SkinCeuticals X HydraFacial one of life’s little luxuries. I call it self-care. Cavendish Clinic, 2nd Floor, John Lewis, 60 Leith Street, EH1 3SP. Call 0131 609 0260. www.cavendishclinic.co.uk
