The best facials in London

Salon C Stellar is a trip. From the epic painted mosaic that covers the three-floors of this snug Soho space, to their tag line ‘where ancient wisdom meets modern science’, Australian founder Andrea Pfeffer and her team of experienced aestheticians like to do things differently. The cosmic clinic’s signature treatment is the ultra-bespoke and aptly named ‘the Best Facial’. Tailored uniquely to each client’s needs, after an in-depth chat, my friendly therapist seriously studied my face to work out exactly what my skin needed. There are no identikit facials here. Deep cleansing, massage and extractions were all part of my particular package – which takes place in a chic,  womb-like room – as well as the use of microcurrents to tighten up my jawline. There was also a session of LED light therapy for more radiant skin, which came with headphones and a guided medication led by the salon’s in-house sound healer, Gorillaz, SBTRKT, and Shy FX vocalist Roses Gabor. Told you this place was different. £145, 45 mins; £195, 75 mins; £235, 90min

I’ve been known to doze off during facials, but there is zero chance of that happening in a room with Su-Man. Her treatment technique is unlike anything else. She goes way beyond gentle cleansing and exfoliating, with intense and intimate choreographed movements that manipulate muscles and define contours. Moving from your eye sockets to your ears, it’s like pilates for your face, with Su-Man drawing from her experience in dance and shiatsu for a very powerful, hands-on experience. Using her own range of skincare products, she’ll tackle any issues, perform extractions and moisturise your skin, including your upper body and feet in a firm massage while a mask sinks in. You’ll leave with a plump, smooth and transformed complexion. It’s total magic. The only problem is you’ll never feel satisfied with a ‘standard’ facial ever again. £270, 60 mins.

A shipping container in Cambridge Heath might not sound like the most glamorous place for a facial, but there’s an undeniably east London sort of cool about re:lax – the studio feels at once homey as it does chic and edgy. Opt for their personalised facial for a tailor-made session suited to your skin needs. I arrived with concerns about my acne scarring, and after a considered consultation, I had targeted microneedling alongside a thorough cleansing and hydration, plus a gentle exfoliation, and left with my skin looking (and feeling) visibly smoother and plumper. That was great, but the highlight had to be the deep but gentle massage all over the shoulders, scalp and face: bliss. You’ll leave with a tonne of reccs for your skincare routine as well as feeling genuinely relaxed and your skin lighter and rejuvenated. £89, 60 mins.

For a properly personalised experience, book yourself into one of Young LDN’s expert bespoke facials. It kicks off with an in-depth skin consultation, covering your skincare routine, goals and medical history, before curating an array of treatments based on your needs and preferences. My therapist, Roxanne, was not only lovely but also extremely knowledgeable, speaking through each step of the process with ease and providing useful, non-stuffy advice. The facial began with a relaxing honey cleanse and gentle wax exfoliation. My pores were de-clogged and black heads removed, before receiving a LED light treatment to promote radiance and reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes (all while I was given a soothing hand massage). Then, it was a mix of serums and a facial massage with cryo balls which had been in the freezer for an hour to get the blood flowing. The experience finished with lymphatic drainage and some expert advice about how to improve my routine (including advice on how to tackle a pesky bit of eczema by my chin). I left glistening – feeling cleaner, tighter and lighter – but also with a much better understanding of why and how my skin reacts and looks a certain way. This is a real treat for the face which will have you planning the next one in no time. £155, 60 mins.

Beauty Edit Mayfair can be found a scone-throw away from The  Ritz and Burlington Arcade. A Black-owned indie business founded by Sherrille Riley, the beauty store focuses on ‘clean’ products and treatments. This means only stocking items that are sustainable, socially-conscious and don’t contain any nasty chemicals. During my visit I was offered peppermint tea to sip on as I talked through any health issues or injuries with my therapist, Merron. I opted for the 90-minute Ilapothecary Supreme Silk Signature Facial, which proved to be a TestTrack-style MOT for my face. First up was Gua Sha, the ‘ice’ phase of the treatment. The traditional Chinese medicine technique involves a cool stone being scraped across the skin to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation and stimulate the lymphatic system. I even had my eye sockets massaged – which is a lot more pleasant than it sounds. Next up: the ‘fire’ phase, aka LED light therapy which increases the skin’s collagen levels and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Lastly, an ayurvedic massage was deployed to help me enter top tier chill. I left with unclogged pores, a dewy glow and the need to press the re-book button. £195, 90 minutes

As if a visit to the delightful The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, in Chelsea wasn’t treat-y enough, then a trip downstairs to their treatment rooms – under the careful watch of celebrity facialist Teresa Tarmey – had me in raptures. Her Advanced Facial was on a multi-layered mission to give me one hell of a glow, starting with a light lactic acid peel and extractions (be gone, nose-based blackheads!), followed by lasers, microneedling and LED. The microneedling isn’t exactly comfortable, but I wasn’t under any illusions that stimulating collagen production was going to feel like being brushed with silken mittens. The LED therapy was perhaps the biggest revelation, a goggles-on, strangely psychedelic few minutes of intense light therapy which had me seeing visions of galloping horses. The usual facial stuff, you know. I left looking slightly pink – which is to be expected – but received an unprompted compliment on my skin two days later. Job done. £289, 55 mins.

Still using the same skin products as a decade ago? Jasmina is an oracle of skin knowhow, full of fascinating facts and recommendations tailored to your individual needs. You’ll want to make notes as she analyses your skin. Your journey with Jasmina begins with a consultation, so there’s no need to swot up on what you’re after. Her ethos is all about preventing damage and promoting healthy, plump, hydrated and glowing skin, whether that’s through hands-on techniques or peels and laser. My Vico experience began with a deep cleanse and lymphatic massage before my unique issues were put under the spotlight (sometimes literally) with a little laser used on fine lines and redness. The results were immediate and impressive – my skin looked bright and nourished – but treatments here aren’t really about the quick fix. You’ll leave feeling informed with insights into how to better care for your face. And she won’t push pricey products on you at the end, either. £265, 55 mins. 

Want a workout but hate getting sweaty? At FaceGym you’ll find the face-focused personal trainers you never knew you needed. Set in the pristine beauty hall at Selfridges, FaceGym’s Signature Sculpt will sculpt, plump, define and de-puff, giving you a complete facial workout in less than an hour – while you sit in a comfy seat. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be relaxing: they believe in really working the facial muscles to lift your look. Expect your muscles to twitch with the FaceGym Pro tool, then you’ll get a facial massage and a shot of oxygen before the whole experience is rounded off with a jade-stone cooldown. Why not ditch the gym bag, rediscover your cheekbones, and experience this incredible non-invasive facial treatment for yourself? £100, 45 mins. 

From the moment I arrived at the Bvlgari Spa London I was treated like royalty. That’s certainly not the primary reason to book this facial but it’s a pleasing by-product. The spa itself, one of the most luxurious spaces in London, is opulent and otherworldly. Everything is tailored to your taste: from the temperature of the heated bed to the music you’ll listen to during the facial. The treatment is one of the most intense on our list. Developed by head aesthetician Milena Naydenov it’s a powerful combination of firm massage, rich masks, exfoliating acids and products with active ingredients to smooth and lift your skin. Did I mention some of them feature actual powdered diamonds? We know this indulgent treatment comes with an eye-watering price tag, but there’s no denying this ‘face lift’ facial gives impressive results, like catwalk-grade contoured cheekbones and zero eye bags. 90 mins, £370.

Step inside this white washed, uber Californian feeling spa on Newburgh Street in Soho for a real good skin cleaning, or laundering, as the name suggests. Designed to work from the inside out, these high-tech facials are good at targetting long-term skin issues such as acne scarring, hyper-pigmentation and rosacea. You're not likely to see much difference directly after your first trip – these facials are designed to be repeated as part of a long-term plan. Skin Laundry's signature laser facial only takes 15 minutes and literally zaps the bacteria out of your pores. After a skin consultation and cleansing, your specialist will treat your face with a laser pen. It feels quite hot and pricks a little, but isn't painful. During the treatment you'll hear the bacteria in your face crackle, and you might even smell it being vaporised away. If you're squeamish this might sound off-putting, but it's satisfying as hell. £250, 15 mins.

The Como Metropolitan’s spa is a dreamy pocket of calm just off Park Lane. Dr Hauschka is all about natural, ethical, simple skincare, and the holistic facial showcases the stars of the range. With assured yet gentle movements, this hands-on treatment will deeply cleanse, moisturise and balance your complexion, with extractions and more localised attention given to problem areas. You’ll leave with glowy skin and a quiet mind. And probably a tube of cleansing cream in hand – the sweet, fruity balm which is applied to the skin in a soothing, rolling motion during the facial is too good to leave behind. £130, 60 mins.

It wasn’t until I couldn’t feel my cheeks that I fully appreciated what I’d let myself in for. I’d rushed from work to the swanky wellness space hidden away in the heart of Harrods ready for fragranced oils to be stroked onto my face, but so far the 111CRYO Signature Cryotherapy Rejuvenation Face Treatment was far from soothing. Instead, I was lying in a bright white room while my therapist targeted a jet of -30°C cooled air and pure CO2 onto my face in a rhythmic pattern. To start with it felt like a gust of wind in your face on a snow day but after a while that icy air started to sting. Just when my face got uncomfortably frosty, we were done. And I got the pampering I was after too: the treatment ended with a powerful and super relaxing facial massage while my skin, erm, thawed. So why subject yourself to this chilly treatment? Cryotherapy is meant to aid circulation and stimulate collagen and elastin in your skin. For lasting results you’ll probably need to get cold on the regular, but I certainly left with a tight and bright complexion. 60 mins, £250. 

Step into the basement spa of this swanky Leicester Square hotel for a deeply relaxing facial. Using traditional Hungarian techniques, the Budapest-based Omorovicza are in charge of all treatments, including the Blue Diamond facial. Here, massage is used to stimulate oxygenation to the skin, while a gentle enzyme exfoliation will get read of any grubby old dead skin and let newer, sexier skin shine through. You won’t leave bright pink and tender (like you would after, say, microneedling), but you will leave squeaky clean. Scalp neck and shoulder massage is also included – but be wary, it’s so zen you might just fall asleep. In fact, about halfway through I caught myself snoring, for which I can only apologise. £185, 75 mins.

Say goodbye to the Camden crowds and namaste to cheery yoga devotees at Triyoga – a light and incense-filled wellness studio located in a former Victorian piano factory. The vibe here is so chill that it’s hard to fathom just how much activity is going on in each of Triyoga’s low-lit spaces; yoga, pilates, meditation, massage, acupuncture, homoeopathy and a whole range of facials. As a newcomer to the world of facials, I had little idea of what to expect (cucumbers over the eyes, perhaps?), which is why I was relieved when my therapist, Julia, prompted a preliminary discussion about my skin type and the treatment I was about to receive. This facial, as it turns out, involves more than just a surface slathering; it’s a facial massage which aims to relieve muscle tension by working pressure points and applying a gentle, yet firm touch to the forehead, eyebrows, cheeks, nose and chin. The experience was so profoundly relaxing that I fell into a blissful half-asleep state, rain tapping softly on the glass pane above. In the space of 60 minutes, I transformed from a stressed-out simpleton who didn’t even know that we carry tension in our faces to a super-calm convert to the benefits of facials. £75, 50 minutes.

There are facials that leave you relaxed, and then there are facials that actually work: like Young LDN’s Spectra Hollywood Peel. Though ‘peel’ in name, it’s actually a laser treatment that plumps up your skin, shrinks your pores and reduces blackheads, acne and scarring, all with no downtime. Young LDN’s treatment rooms are painted with colourful street art, and the salon’s knowledgeable facialists let you pick your own soundtrack as you lie back and get zapped for 45 minutes. Your treatment begins with a cleansing massage, then it’s down to business. First, your face will be rubbed with dark grey carbon (because the laser’s wavelength is attracted to dark things), then a Lutronic Spectra laser machine, which looks like something out of ‘Doctor Who’, will zap the carbon off your face and décolletage. This feels weird, but not painful – like warm, tiny hands flicking you in the face. As the carbon burns, it gives off a smokey odour.  After the laser treatment is finished, you get a bit of pampering: a soothing, fridge-chilled Rose Quartz roller is run across your face, and serums and moisturisers are applied as needed. Post facial, my skin looked plump, dewy and a little bit pink. But it was the days and weeks after the treatment that made the treatment worth the £195 price tag. It left my skin more luminous, and my complexion more even – but best of all, it eradicated the hormonal pimples that menace my T-zone and jawline. £195, 75 minutes.

Head downstairs at this holistic beauty salon on Kingsland Road in Dalston for a truly tranquil facial. Excellent for facial novices, this calming treatment can be tailored to your needs. Incorporating a luxurious neck and shoulder massage, a mineral-rich face mask, LED light treatment for killing acne-causing bacteria and deeper healing of acne scars, and a gua sha massage, this well-rounded facial will leave your skin soft, glowy, and rejuvenated, while helping you feel deeply rested. A win-win. £85, 60 mins.

A few minutes on the gently heated treatment bed and any tension, or awkwardness about a stranger cleansing your semi-naked body, will melt away entirely. This soothing facial treatment in the basement spa of the grand Landmark hotel champions vitamin C, fighting against the damage sugar and UV radiation can have on our complexions and promising to fight early signs of ageing. The treatment, an almost rhythmic application of product after product, rounded off with a rich, heavy mask, certainly left my often-neglected skin feeling illuminated. My one mistake: visiting the spa after a long day in the office. It was so relaxing, I snored through most of it. £180, 80 mins.

You might feel like a celebrity going incognito at a Harley Street surgery as you head into Linda Meredith. The Knightsbridge beauty clinic is hardly marked on street level, and you enter a non-descript, narrow stairwell that leads you up to a second-floor reception. I was recommended what they call a Haute Couture Facial to help clear up congestion, which included a fairly pain-free extraction session and an intensely tingly micro-peel that enlivened my senses. The peace was amped up by cosy blankets and pillows, but hindered by the noise carrying around the building and its slightly crammed-together therapy rooms. But it’s all in the results: within a week, my skin was visibly brighter – to the extent that people were commenting on it – and my complexion since feels softer and more even. It’s probably not up to Goop levels yet, but it feels like I might be on track. £120, 60 minutes.