Navigating the bustling landscape of London's beauty scene can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding the right facial treatments to address your unique skin concerns. Whether you're a long-time resident or a visiting jet-setter, this comprehensive guide from Wallpaper* will unveil the city's best-kept skincare secrets, from cutting-edge laser therapies to bespoke injectables that deliver natural-looking results.
Elevate Your Skin's Radiance with London's Premier Facial Treatments
Dr. Karen Doherty: Personalized Approach to Aesthetic Treatments
Step into the serene sanctuary of Dr. Karen Doherty's Stoke Newington clinic, where the interiors, designed by gallerist Max Radford, instantly transport you to a world beyond the typical medispa. Dr. Doherty's approach to aesthetic treatments is as meticulously curated as her clinic's ambiance, focusing on the individual facial anatomy of each patient. With a "less is more" philosophy when it comes to fillers, she utilizes bespoke techniques to administer eye-brightening polynucleotides, delivering transformative yet natural-looking results. One of her standout treatments is the non-invasive NeoGen Plasma skin resurfacing, which will soon be available at her new Shoreditch location, set to open in 2025.Maison Sisley: Parisian Luxury Comes to London
In July 2024, Sisley opened its first London Maison, bringing the brand's signature face, body, and hair treatments to the UK capital. "We have been looking to open a Maison Sisley in London for a while now," shares Christine d'Ornano, the French skincare brand's global vice president. Designed by d'Ornano and her mother, Isabelle d'Ornano, the founder of the company, the Maison's interiors reflect its prestigious Mayfair location. Clients can indulge in a range of expertly-led facials, including the "Sisleÿa with Ginkgo Gua Sha," "Sisleÿa La Cure," and "Supremÿa," each tailored to address specific skin concerns and incorporating sensory elements for maximum relaxation.Pfeffer Sal: Intimate Clinic, Cutting-Edge Treatments
Nestled in the heart of Fitzrovia, Pfeffer Sal is an intimately-sized clinic tucked just under the ground level of a cobbled mews near Warren Street. Its nest-like environment, decorated with air-purifying plants, provides immediate tranquility upon stepping inside. Opened by Melbournite Andrea Pfeffer in 2015, the salon works with select ethical, sustainable, and clean brands to provide a wealth of treatments backed by the latest science and technology. From restorative facials and clarifying lasers to copper micro-needling and quick skin boosters, Pfeffer Sal also offers "limited edition" seasonal treatments, allowing clients to experience the latest techniques and products.The Omorovicza Mayfair Institute: A Thermal Spa-Inspired Sanctuary
Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza opened its new London Institute in Mayfair almost a year ago, designed to evoke the atmosphere of a thermal spa. The interiors, created by Tina Vaia and Ed Milton of EJM Studio, incorporate materials that reference the brand's mineral-rich products, such as travertine, copper, clay plaster, and terracotta. In the Institute's two treatment rooms, facialists and practitioners perform bespoke facials, beginning with a thorough consultation to understand the client's skin type and concerns. The treatment program, the "Omorovicza Prescription," is then tailored to the individual's needs, with products and advice on how best to use them.FaceGym: Sculpting and Toning the Facial Muscles
Inge Theron launched FaceGym ten years ago, opening its first location in Selfridges. Today, the brand has 15 studios across the globe, with six based in London, providing "workouts" for the face through non-invasive massage techniques to tone the muscles for a lifting and sculpting effect. Treatments range from the "Signature Sculpt," which uses fingers and FaceGym tools like a uniquely-shaped gua sha, to the "FaceGym Pro," an EMS device. Alternatively, clients can opt for a "hands-only" workout, with hydrating and cleansing add-ons. The techniques used by FaceGym increase circulation, drain lymph, and reduce puffiness and swelling, providing immediate results that continue to last for weeks.Dr. David Jack: Bespoke Facials and Cutting-Edge Skincare
With a growing presence in London, Dr. David Jack has recently opened a fourth location in the City's Royal Exchange, in addition to his existing clinics in Belgravia, a pop-up at The Savoy, and a flagship on Harley Street. Each of his clinics is designed with interiors that complement the architecture that houses them, creating a unique ambiance. At the Belgravia Clinic on Ebury Street, the space is inspired by a 1930s Milanese villa, contrasting the building's brutalist exterior. Within this clinic, clients can experience the SkinTech Studio, a bespoke facial bar developed with the clinic's head aesthetician to work in tandem with injectables. Treatments like the "Pigmentation Facial" combine derma roller microneedling and mesotherapy, where a cocktail of antioxidants is administered to the skin to reduce pigmentation and boost hydration.Dr. Joney De Souza: Laser Expertise and Tailored Injectables
Situated just across from Chiltern Street in Marylebone, Dr. Joney De Souza's clinic specializes in laser treatments, "less is more" injectables, and a plethora of other therapies such as PRP. Born in Brazil, Dr. De Souza has been practicing aesthetic medicine for 20 years, developing the "De Souza Method" that tackles "volume," "texture," and "tone." During a consultation, he will advise on a unique "contour and lift," "smooth and refine," and "clear and tone" approach. For the "clear and tone" effect, the Picosure laser treatment, with minimal downtime, reduces hyperpigmentation while stimulating collagen production, resetting the skin after summer in preparation for the winter months.Augustinus Bader: The Skin Lab at The Lanserhof Clinic
Adjoining the London outpost of The Lanserhof Clinic at The Arts Club on Dover Street, The Skin Lab by Augustinus Bader offers facial treatments in line with Professor Bader's approach to optimum skin health. Using the brand's signature TFC8 technology, present in all of its products, the treatments aim to "boost cellular communication" to rejuvenate, firm, tone, and refine the skin. The experience begins with a Visia Skin Analysis, where the skin is scanned with multi-spectral imaging to reveal underlying damage. The customized treatment then incorporates elements such as steaming, radiofrequency, extractions, and light therapy, all tailored to the client's specific needs.111 Harley Street: Cutting-Edge Treatments and Innovative Injectables
Established in 2001, 111 Harley Street by Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, the founder of 111 Skin and 111 Cryo, is globally renowned for providing up-to-the-minute treatments performed by a team of experts. The clinic offers a breadth of surgical, non-surgical, and injectable aesthetic treatments, including the skin-boosting injectable Ameela, derived from DNA found in salmon sperm, and Exosomes ASCEplus SRLV, a topical product derived from stem cells, used in conjunction with micro-needling techniques like Potenza. These treatments encourage the body's healing process, collagen and elastin production, and deliver visible results, though they may require a higher tolerance for momentary discomfort.