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Time to face the future

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The words ‘skin peel’ can strike terror into your heart. So it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I agreed to try an Image Skincare Signature Facelift, a peel that can be done during your lunch break.

Under the expert hands of consultant Michelle Hargie, I not only enjoyed the experience, but in around the same time as it takes to nip out and buy a sandwich, I was sporting a fresh-faced look.

I really shouldn’t have worried at all, as this felt more like a relaxing facial. As Michelle explained, this is a great time of year to have the treatment as weeks of winter weather, dry central heating, late nights and perhaps partying a little too hard during the festive season can all take its toll, resulting in dull, lifeless skin.

The peel is simply a way of breaking down the ‘glue’ that holds together dead skin cells and helps speed up the process of bringing new cells to the surface.

There are several steps to the process, which started with my face and neck having a double cleanse to remove all traces of make-up. The Image Vital C hydrating facial cleanser has the most amazing smell of fresh and zesty Florida oranges.

My skin was then washed with a product containing glycolic acid, which resulted in a warm, slightly tingly sensation and showed the exfoliation process was under way. Then a de-grease solution, removing any excess oils was applied, followed the signature peel solution, an Aloe Vera gel infused with pineapple and papaya and a clay-based mask designed to draw out any impurities from the skin.

By now I was so relaxed I could feel myself drifting off to sleep while further applications including a Hyaluronic filler, Vitamin C anti-aging serum and a moisturising cream with high UVA/UVB sun protection were applied.

I don’t think my skin had ever looked so clean – it was literally glowing and, to be honest, looking a tad shiny, but that quickly settled down. What’s important to remember is that skin has a 28-40 day (depending on age) renewal cycle, so in order to achieve the best results, you are given products to use at home for the following week, including a hydrating enzyme mask that you use every three days after your treatment to do a mini version of the facial at home.

So, if you have a special event coming up, I’d suggest having this done the month before. I was pleased with the results, my skin definitely looked brighter and had a much smoother, plumped out texture that made it look like I’d caught up on all my beauty sleep at once!

  • Priced between £40-£60, depending on which salon you visit, the treatment is available at Fantasia Beauty Spa at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness; Nuffield, Aberdeen; EtreBeau Facial Aesthetics, Stirling. Visit www.renaissance-skincare.com