Luxe Skincare Heroes Worth The Money

There are face masks and then there’s Skinporter’s All In One Facial Kit. It’s a slightly surreal paint on gel that vacuum wraps your face, temporarily lifting jowls, brightening skin and tightening up large pores to make you look five years younger. The secret lies in mixing the lifting serum with a peptide gel as carbon dioxide in the air fuses into the formula creating the O+ complex; this reaction causes the mask to solidify onto the skin, creating an intense tightening effect. Wash the mask off ten minutes later and you’re good to go. 

Based on peer reviewed patented ingredients, such as ashwagadna –an adaptogen that promotes better sleep, more energy and clarity of mind – Lyma supplements are a bit like the iPhones of the vitamin world, as they get an annual update as new ingredients become available. The latest ingredient to be added to the deck is Levagen, a protein found naturally in the body that acts as a painkiller; toddlers have lots of it, hence playground scrapes are significantly more bearable than if you were to have the same sort of injury at an older age. Having personally road-tested the new, enhanced supplement over two heavy perimenopause menstrual cycles, I can report it did indeed work just as effectively as ibuprofen to alleviate intense cramps. Taking Lyma long-term has also eased anxiety, PMS and cleared up those rosacea-based breakouts, too. 

This pink silicone mask may look like a prop from a horror film, but it’s what lies beneath that will really excite you. More powerful than its competitors, the LightMax LED is the only FDA cleared LED Mask for skin rejuvenation and the treatment of acne. Ideally used daily in short ten-minute sessions, improvements are visible after just a couple of treatments (think more radiant, clearer skin) but keep going daily for a few weeks to see more tangible changes – lines and wrinkles will appear smoother and skin will take on a more uniform tone. Ocularplastic surgeon, Maryam Zamani has also created larger cut outs around the eye area to prevent any LED going into the eyes, as studies have found LED radiation can cause significant damage, including increased risk of age-related macular degeneration.

For the ultimate body inspiration, look no further than supermodel Tatiana Korsakova; with skyscraper legs and nearly a million Instagram followers, she’s the millennial’s answer to Elle Macpherson. Now bottling the routine she uses to maintain her flawless figure, she’s teamed up with Ila spa founder Denise Leceister to create the Scentiana body range to tone and deeply hydrate the skin. The Body Mask Peel is the standout product of the collection and should be slathered over dry skin ten minutes pre-shower. The formula combines lactic and phytic acid to gently exfoliate and rejuvenate leathery skin. Also in the mix are some plant-derived oils such as blue chamomile, orange blossom and geranium that work on brain receptors to lift your mood. 

If winter has left you looking grey or sallow, Prevage’s Progressive Renewal Treatment is the closest thing you’ll find to an in-clinic resurfacing treatment you can enjoy in the comfort of your own bathroom. Primarily focused on brightening the skin, the four-week kit includes bottles with click down caps that release idebenone (Prevage’s super powerful patented antioxidant) into a mix of alpha hydroxy and the lesser know polyhydroxy acids that gently help to increase cell turnover. This treatment should be applied before bed, and at the end of week one you should look significantly less tired. By week two, fine lines will be less noticeable, and by week three, skin should be smooth and sparkling. Just make sure you stick with it. 

Set in a former church, Teresa Tarmey’s Notting Hill Clinic has seen the pews replaced with deeply comfy 1980s De Sede leather chairs and sofas. Instead of incense, there’s now the steady burn of Bella Freud scented candles and the vaulted ceiling looks down on a covetable array of Guy Bourdain prints. It’s a super chic yet friendly space and ‘TT’ – as she is affectionately known to industry insiders – alongside her excellent team deliver facials that focus on the rejuvenating powers of fractional radio frequency. Microneedling is also on the agenda here, done with Teresa’s own kits that can be taken home to use with a potent blend of serums including niacinamide, vitamin C and biotin. There are also plans to host a series of regular beauty masterclasses, dinners and events to draw out some of TT’s A-list fans, such as Poppy Delevingne and Sienna Miller. 

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit but this one is likely to be easier to adopt. Stop washing your face in the shower. Why? Hot showers may feel fabulous to soak away the stress of the day but it can play havoc with your skin – stripping it of oils, causing redness, dryness, and in extreme cases, broken capillaries. Lukewarm water is always better. If you want to go the extra mile, invest in a Hello Klean filter. It’s a handy screw-on attachment that softens hard city water removing chlorine, hard minerals and impurities. As a result, skin and hair will be imbued with bounce and feel noticeably softer.