Review : Dermalogica Ion Active Power Facial

Beauty couch. Pebbles. Snaresbrook

I have to confess to having been a bit negligent in the beauty treatment department of late which is not very good practice for my poor skin, so when I got chatting to Javairya of Pebbles Hair & Beauty at a recent meeting, I was delighted to be invited to sample a complimentary facial treatment at her salon in Snaresbrook.

I have always been a Dermalogica girl.  The products have served me well and although I  have tried other products over the years, I do always come home to Dermalogica in the end.

Javairya specialises in facial treatments – in particular targeted treatments where a particular concern is present (ie anti-ageing, acne, pigmentation).  She works with a range of skincare brands and treatments – Non-Surgical facials, Chemical Peels, Dermalogica and Derma Roller to name but a few.

We talked about my wish to try something a little more targeted to my age group.

Pebble Hair & Beauty. Javeria.

As a Beauty Therapist in a previous life, I am always impressed by a Therapist that really knows their products and treatments.  Javairya is a Dermalogica Expert and really knows the product inside out.  She also offers many other facial treatments and is committed to providing skincare treatments for clients looking for results.  I found her to be very knowledgeable in all areas of skincare.

My current medical history precludes me from having any electrical treatments so I was very interested to hear about the brand new Dermalogica facial the Ion Active Power Treatment.

Dermalogica Ion Active Power Treatment

The Ion Active Power Treatment is ideal for people that are contra-indicated to electrical treatments and Javeria mentioned how excited she is that there is now a treatment available to address the concerns of fine lines, pigmentation and acne for those unable to take advantage of electrical treatments.

Ion Active Power Treatment formula contains powerful active ingredients including microencapsulated Retinol which has been shown to improve skin texture and wrinkles.

It was time for me to hop up on the couch for my 45 minute treatment.  This involved the usual cleanse and exfoliation.

Cleanse. Exfoliation. Beauty Therapy.

It is then straight to work with the targeted ‘treatment masque’ containing the active ingredients.

This is not a fluffy relaxation treatment – more of a functional facial that is focussing on particular areas.  You can feel the masque cooling, tightening and tingling while it is working.

Ion Active Power Treatment Dermalogica

I’m not a big fan of before and after pictures purely because if they show a huge difference, I don’t tend to believe them and for something like this, the result is not going to be hugely discernible to anyone other than me – especially after one treatment.

What I did notice was an immediate plumping in the cheek area and as they day wore on and the following morning, my skin looked much healthier and there was a difference to the fine lines which  made my skin look much smoother and alive with an overall glow.

I would most certainly have this treatment again.

For the reasons I have mentioned above, I would certainly visit Javairya at Pebbles again for skincare treatments purely because she is so passionate about skin care and products and her knowledge is testament to this.   I like to know that my Therapist is interested in my skin and is able to provide recommendations accordingly.

Dermalogica.

I am also very particular about comfort, hygiene, client care and certification to carry out treatments in a Salon and all of these factors exceeded my expectations.

Further, Javairya carries skin care retail items and I was able to purchase the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel which I was almost out of.

Dermalogica Products.

It can be very easy to overlook the parade of shops in Snaresbrook.  Javairya’s treatment room is above the tanning shop at 9 Station Parade (opposite Snaresbrook Station).

Here is a link to the Pebbles Hair & Beauty website.  Give Javairya a try for yourself.

Nicky

I was gifted the Ion Active Power Treatment facial (value £55) for the purpose of providing a review of the treatment and the services offered by Pebbles Hair & Beauty.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and are in line with my expectations as if were a paying client.

I only review products and services in keeping with the content and ethos of my blog.

Chelsea Girl Doesn’t Have My Size

Chelsea Girl

Or style!

And then I find out that BHS is closing down.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I jest of course as I think Chelsea Girl closed down before I was big enough to shop there.  I just latched on to my sister and followed her round while she spent her hard earned fiver from her Saturday job.

As for BHS, may it rest in peace with it’s good friend Woolworths in pic ‘n’ mix heaven.

Not somewhere I’d shop for clothes but the home section was fab.

Anyway,  I’m digressing so let’s get to the point.

Fashion through the age ranges.

For the purpose of this blog, I’m not sure whether I should describe myself as 40+ or fifty minus but what I want to talk about is accommodating body changes and style preferences.

Champagne. Prosecco

Too much salad and Prosecco together with a slowing metabolism and a whip me whop through the 40s is scientifically proven to have an effect on body shape.  I have this information from a good source.  The mirror.

There is a randomness to these changes – like suddenly acquiring someone else’s boobs, shoulders, arms, back and middle.  The whole top section in fact.  You don’t see it coming gradually.  You just wake up one day and it’s like, well – there.  On your body.

I’ve spent my whole life wanting bigger boobs and having been gifted a few cup sizes around mid 40 (yes it shocked me too!), I realise why everyone bemoans them.  They make clothes look different. They are uncomfortable and bras itch like mad.

Boobs. Bra.

I have walked around my favourite stores only to berate them in the changing room for changing their sizes (and styles).  This is a combination of some retailers being a bit stingy with the material and my delusion in not noticing my new top half sooner.

I’m nothing if not persistent but after trying to get something past my shoulders in the tenth shop, hoping the material will give so I can at least move my arms, one can become despondent.  The fact that it leaves me sweating buckets (yes that as well, the little bugger) – well what can I say.

Anyone nodding along?

Unlike Alice in Wonderland, when something says “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” – I do not shrink and fall down a rabbit hole.  Fall down yes – rabbit hole – definitely not.

More like eat a muffin top and you get one.  Smug cow in her blue and white dress. Those jam tarts do come back to haunt you though Alice.  Especially the yellow ones that are always left in the box.

Don’t say I haven’t warned you.

Alice in Wonderland

I have realised that I have to take some responsibility for my new ‘grown-up’ shape.

There really is not much to be done about it other than the usual but it does mean a different way of looking at clothes. A new way to address the extras.

I shall certainly mourn the old figure.

But moan I will not – nor is this a quest to be on the front page of Vogue, I have always been one of those lucky people that never had to worry about my weight or my plate.  It’s more of a nod towards feeling comfortable and changing things up a little bit.

On the body front, I don’t want to have to keep hoiking things up or pulling them down.  I want my clothes to stay where I put them.  I also want them to shake hands and meet in the middle.  Just get along really – not that hard is it!

Shaking hands.

So it’s about comfy staples – those beautiful Mars Bar gems that you really can work, rest and play in.  Simples.  So time to find said little numbers.

This I think will be the bit that takes a bit longer.  No longer the quick dash round picking up the stinky small sizes and being through the till in five minutes. More I see shopping as being more of a one item thing, it will probably require detail and said item will have a history of helping people like me.

A wise garment.

It will probably have a top end price tag too.

Outwardly I will still be the same me as before but inwardly I will know that it’s OK to have that extra glass of Prosecco and piece of cake because I have space in my wise garments for these eventualities.

Bang on trend but still able to bend.

This shall be my new style guide going forward.

I have a few places in mind but any suggestions would be most welcome if you have been on a similar journey.

Wish me swell.

Nicky