In my 40th year I am finally taking my skin care seriously. I know I should have started earlier. My skin has never been great and instead of dealing with it I’ve ignored it. Previously my skincare routine was minimal to say the least. Until now.
For years, a bit of soap, a splash of water, and a dab of moisturiser would do, with no real thought. Being on the radio, where no one can see you, has its benefits. Recently though, I have found myself in the midst of a skincare epiphany. I now know my LED light therapy from my collagen, and my cleanser from my retinol. As I continue my skin care journey – next on the list was a facial. A Korean Glass Skin Facial no less.
It’s a treatment that promises to leave you with a luminous and dewy glow. I was ready to see what South Korea, the epicentre of anti-ageing skincare, has to offer. The hype around how your skin looks there is no small thing. It’s practically a religion, with the holy grail being the elusive ‘glass skin’—a complexion so clear and glowy it seems to defy reality. A real life social media filter.
I had never had a facial before, so I didn’t really know what was ahead of me. I wondered if I was going to be told off for not looking after my skin more, a bit like the dentist telling you off for not flossing on the hour every hour. I needn’t have worried.
My adventure began in the serene sanctuary of Dr. David Jack’s clinic, where stepping through the doors, the hustle and bustle of London immediately feels like a distant memory. The ambiance reminded me of dreamy hotel reception, with calming tones and a gentle aroma. It was almost as soothing as the thought of not having to think about breaking news for an hour.
Just around the corner from Victoria Station in Belgravia the location couldn’t be better. Every part of the clinic is dripping in luxury. The floor, the walls, the bathroom all gorgeous and so relaxing.
The treatment kicked off with a two-step cleanse. When I say “cleanse,” it was so soft that it seemed impossible that this was going to remove every last trace of the daily grime built up on my face. It was warm, delicate and just wonderful. I knew the soft towel gloved hands moving across my face were doing their thing.
Next came a bespoke blended brightening Micropeel. Now, as someone who has previous only ever associated the word “peel” with summer fruits, I was pleasantly surprised. This was another element working to brighten and smooth my skin and I didn’t feel anything at all. Just the slightest tingle.
Then, we moved on to the Deep Cleansing Aquapurify—this is where high tech meets the spa experience. It’s a facial version of an extreme clean. A tiny vacuum sucked away the impurities and dead skin cells. I was told that not only did it exfoliate, but it also stimulated blood circulation, again helping to create that glow. Uncomfortable? Absolutely not.
I think the pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the Ionised Oxygen Bubble Mask. I’m no scientist but the clinic says this is designed to boost hydration at a cellular level and it feels like it. Ultrasound is used apply the bubbles. So clever. It looked as good as it felt – bubbling away on my face – a fizzy spa for my skin. I could literally feel all those tiny bubbles working away. They were penetrating my skin, purifying pores, and boosting hydration all without stripping away that all-important skin barrier. Genius.
The final act in this skincare dream was LED light therapy. Designed to plump up my skin and stimulate collagen production. For the first time since the treatment started I was left on my own – just the LED light working its magic, lifting and tightening my skin with a gentle, yet effective touch. We ended with a Golki massage. This technique, which is performed over the whole face and neck, contours the jawline and lifts the facial fat pads. I instantly saw I had a sculpted, tightened and lifted complexion.
So, did it live up to the hype? Absolutely. The Glass Skin Facial left me with that promised dewy glow. My skin was obviously plump, radiant, and undeniably healthier. I couldn’t stop admiring myself in my camera – without a filter! This was something new for me. There is no downtime with this treatment and it only took 45 mins so you could do it in a lunch break. Just a little redness immediately after which went really quickly.
I also enjoyed how we got there, not just the end result but the journey. It was such an experience. For someone like me, who’d never before had a treatment like this, I adored this level of self-care and indulgence.
I stepped out of Dr David Jack’s and realised I didn’t just have the glow—I left with an appreciation for the science and tech of skincare. If you’ve been hesitant about trying a facial or are simply looking for a skincare upgrade, I would absolutely go for the Korean Glass Skin Facial at Dr David Jack’s Clinic.
Take the plunge, embrace the bubbles, the LED light mask and the Golki massage. You might not need an insta filter again.
KOREAN GLASS SKIN FACIAL @ DR DAVID JACK’S NEW CLINIC IN BELGRAVIA
Time: 45 minutes
Price: £170 (£430 for pack of 3, £815 for pack of 6)
Includes: Cleanse + Signature Micropeel + Deep Cleansing Aquapurify, + Ionised Oxygyen Bubble Mask + Ultrasound + Antioxidant Atomising Spray + LED
Ideal For: Improving skin texture, boosting hydration, reducing pores
Review and images by Chris Golds @chrisgolds
Feature image courtesy of unsplash.com
