Light therapy has been prescribed for years to boost mood and treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and now beauty therapists are using it to supercharge facials.
First used by NASA scientists to heal skin wounds and burns, RED light has a stronger wavelength than normal light, so it penetrates deeper into the skin and stimulates the energy stores in the cells. This boosts circulation, bringing nutrients up to the surface, and stimulates collagen and elastin production, to plump and firm.
RED light therapy can heal a whole host of skin conditions, from acne, wrinkles and age spots, to eczema, rosacea and fine lines. Your skin type determines how long you’re exposed to the light, and you’ll usually have your eyes covered and closed while it shines on your face. It feels a bit like lying under a sunbed, but because RED light has no UV rays, it’s completely safe. There are few side effects which are mild and rare, and include headaches, sweating or nausea.
We tested RED light therapy during an indulgent Full Bloom Facial at the Cherry Woods Skin Clinic in Richmond, London. The two-hour treatment has been created by renowned beauty therapist Cherry Woods to be rejuvenating, moisturising and stimulating. And as any facial worth its salt should be, it’s also super relaxing and pampering, thanks to detoxifying face, neck and shoulder massages alongside soothing pressure point work.
It’s not just RED light therapy that makes this treatment unique – Cherry also uses low-frequency sonophoresis, or ultra sound waves, to painlessly push vitamins deeper into the skin, along with micro current technology, which sends weak electro-currents into the skin to stimulate and tone facial muscles. It all sounds a bit techie, but the resulting experience is nothing like the Frankenstein-esque treatment I was imagining.
The only noticeable difference between this and any other facial is that, at times, Cherry uses a small, finger-shaped machine instead of her hands to massage in the various serums, lotions and masques. If she didn’t explain any of the procedures beforehand, you’d be none the wiser that you were having one of the most technologically advanced facials around.
Until you saw the results, that is – I left the spa with firmer, smoother and plumper skin and felt so fresh and glowy that when Cherry recommended going makeup free for the rest of the day to protect my newly opened pores, I didn’t even cringe.
The Full Bloom facial is £140 for a two-hour treatment, or £75 for a 1 hour, 10 minute-treatment. Visit www.cherrywoodsclinic.com for more info and to book your treatment
