“A mask of gold hides all deformities,” the American actor, Thomas Dekker, once said. He used it as an idiom of course, but here at Stylensnitch, we decided to put the theory to the test – literally.
These days there are so many beauty treatments, choosing something can be a challenge in itself – especially with so much choice and alleged promise. And their names all imply results, encouraging you to believe you’re bound to look a hundred times better than when you came in – “rejuvenating”, “anti-ageing”, “brightening”… what a girl wouldn’t do to be beautiful!
HB Health of Knightsbridge is a one-stop clinic providing aesthetic and medical solutions. It’s fantastic because as we ladies get older it starts to feel like a simple spa trip just won’t do. This place, I was told, has eight doctors and fully medically trained staff. The clinic opened in 2000, founded by Heather Bird, a career-driven woman who has spent years in the medical profession, studying and implementing preventative methods of aging. More about Heather here www.heatherbird.com
On arrival I was greeted by Beata, a medical assistant who whisked me off to the 3D scanning machine. She explained that all the treatments here are bespoke, tailor-made upon consultation and 3D scanning of the skin. So before I even got onto the treatment table, I spent a good half hour under the inspection of this machine – and oh boy, what images I saw! It basically acts like a super magnifying glass that allows you to see all the details of your skin. This can be a bit of a jaw-dropper initially, particularly for us sun-lovers J The machine is needed, however, as it monitors the skin condition throughout the treatment program and serves as reassurance that you’re getting your money’s worth, as positive results start rolling in.
I decided on the 24k Gold Facial – hardly surprising I suppose! It’s a two-hour treatment that starts with Accent Radiofrequency to tighten and lift the skin. You will experience quite a warm sensation from the laser but I actually found it quite soothing and dozed off. My skin was then thoroughly cleaned and the gold mask was applied bit by bit.
I have to say, I’m usually someone who believes in the benefits of a regular routine and often I opt for at-home masks from SpaceNK or a local beauty shop, however, the process here made me feel like a modern day Cleopatra. The idea of having 24k gold applied to face felt so luxurious! Usually I wear my gold on my fingers or ears, but apparently it’s quite reputed for restoring skin’s elasticity, reducing wrinkles and doing overall lightening and brightening. I was told it slows down collagen depletion and the breakdown of elastin to prevent sagging skin. Apparently celebs love this gold mask too – Bar Refaeli has been praising its skin-brightening and tightening benefits for years!
On my face the mask didn’t feel tight, like they so often do. As the mask dried it just morphed into a powdery, soft texture. As I tried to snap a quick pic, however, I was a little afraid to smile, in case the golden leaves started falling off. Two hours went by and my pampering experience finished, but the next morning my skin felt amazing! There was no redness or irritation like I sometimes get with clay masks. I noticed my skin was suppler and had a dewy glow. Even my daughter commented on it! Of course it’s a lot pricier than a Boots DIY face mask, so I’ll be saving this treatment for special occasions. But I think there’s a little Cleopatra in all of us, so from time to time, I say, go for gold!
