Now that I’m in my 30’s I’m beginning to notice changes in my skin. It’s thinner around my eyes, more susceptible to creasing and when I frown the lines on my forehead don’t always smooth out again. (Note to self – stop frowning Laura!). I’ve tried lots of different creams promising to ‘turn back time’ and whilst I’ve found some brilliant ones that do help, I’ve become more open to exploring clinical treatments for longer lasting results.
I’ve got nothing against anyone who wants to go down the surgery route but it’s definitely not one for me. The thought of knives anywhere near my face terrifies me, as does the thought of changing the way I look overall. Instead what I’m really interested in is non surgical spa-like ways to keep the signs of ageing at bay for as long as possible, so that I continue to look like ‘me’, just the best version of myself.
I’d been doing some research online and getting more and more confused about where to go and what to pick when EF Medispa got in touch to invite me to experience their ‘Luminous Lift’. It’s a 30 minute pain free laser treatment promising rejuvenated, replenished skin without a knife or needle in sight.
The Luminous Lift is a non invasive treatment using LED Photo Therapy. The machine used in the treatment (called The Durmalux) emits lights in a rainbow of colour frequencies which target the Epidermis (out layer of your skin where your skin tone is created) and Dermis (the layer underneath).
The orange and red lights stimulate collagen to help keep your skin plump and firm, whilst the violet and blue lights are great for acne sufferers as they help to kill the bacteria, promote healing and activate melanin release.
I visited the Canary Wharf EF Medispa which is in a lovely location on the waterfront across the South Quay Footbridge.
I was offered a drink in the comfy (and rather swanky!) waiting area as I filled out a short form about my medical history.
Then I was taken through to the treatment room which felt a bit like a really upmarket dental surgery with machinery and medical equipment in the room.
I wasn’t wearing any makeup but was reassured that I could have come in wearing some as they would have everything needed to prep my skin before the treatment; the idea is that you can nip in on your lunch break after all! I lay back on the treatment table and a special skin firming serum was applied to my skin and protective eye pads to block out the light. Within a couple of minutes the treatment began so it’s a pretty swift process.
With the treatment underway my practitioner checked that I was comfortable and once happy left the room, advising that I was more than welcome to go to sleep if I wanted to – most of her patients do! I was a bit tense at first however because I can get a little bit claustrophobic and every so often I could hear the machine contract which made me a bit nervous since I couldn’t see anything. There was gentle music playing in the background so I decided to focus on that. Slowly my worries drifted away and I settled into it.
The treatment itself is completely pain free and very pleasant. It feels like a warming glow gently waving back and forth across your skin so I imagined that I was on a sun lounger on the beach! I found that even with the eye pads on I still found the light incredibly bright for the first minute, but my pupils acclimatised very quickly. After that I enjoyed the light show dancing across my eylids in a kind of pyschedelic haze!
After 30 minutes the machine automatically switches itself off, so there’s no worry about being under treatment for too long.
Once the treatment had ended there was absolutely no downtime needed. My practioner gave me some SPF suncream to put on my face before I left because your skin can be more sensitive to the sun straight after the treatment and then I was free to be on my way. My skin looked and felt like it was positively glowing, but there was no redness or outward signs that I’d just had a treatment. I’ve had facials and massages before which have felt fantastic during, but left me feeling puffy and groggy afterwards. This one, however, left me feeling refreshed and energised.
I’m afraid that as I was on my own during the day I failed to get any pictures immediately afterwards to show you, however I met my friend after work that evening and she took a photo of me as we were on our way back to Kings Cross. As you can see, sans makeup (other than a slick of eyeliner and mascara) my skin was still glowing!
I can’t say that I noticed too much difference to the fine lines around my eyes or forehead, but the overall texture of my skin felt healthier in general and more ‘plump’ in the next few weeks. I’m unable to comment on longer benefits as a course of at least 3 to 4 treatments is recommended.
I’d therefore say that if you are looking for a one off treatment to give your skin a real boost before a special occasion like your wedding or a ball then this is something that will give you a perfect boost. However if you suffer from a skin complaint such as acne, have scarring or are looking to improve your complexion longer term then you’d probably need to go back again to continue the treatments.
One session costs £150 so it’s certainly an investment, but I do think that you get what you pay for and to be honest for something clinical I’d be rather dubious if the treatment cost much less than this! A course of 10 treatments is £1,500 which includes 3 extra sessions.
EF Medispas are located in Canary Wharf, St John’s Wood, Chelsea, Kensington, Bristol and Birmingham
You can find more details on their website here: EF Medispa
If you liked this review, you might want to check out my review of IPL Hair Removal, which you can find here.
Disclaimer: I received The Luminous Lift Treatment on a complimentary basis in return for providing my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, with facts on the treatment supplied by EF Medispa.
