BEAUTY: Celebrity facial put to the test (From News Shopper)

BEAUTY: Celebrity facial put to the test

8:13am Thursday 5th February 2009

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The fear of turning 30 led News Shopper news editor HELEN BACKWAY to try out a celebrity facial, which pumps oxygen into the skin, to see what all the fuss was about.

I HAVE never worried about ageing. In fact, looking younger than my years used to annoy me, especially when I was asked for ID when buying fireworks at the age of 23.

But as I approach my 30th birthday, I still suffer from spots and keep thinking I have spotted my first grey hair.

So when the opportunity to try out a celebrity facial came along, it was too tempting to turn down.

Celebs including Madonna, Demi Moore and Uma Thurman are all said to be fans of oxygen treatments, so I went along to Breathe Treatment Rooms in Bromley to see what all the fuss was about.

I was trying the Oxyjet oxygen facial, known as the natural alternative to cosmetic injections such as botox.

It claims to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, firm skin and improve texture.

At 29, I don’t think I have many wrinkles but I did like the thought of reducing my worry lines and getting a holiday glow in rainy February.

To help my teenage-like blemished skin even more I started with a bio-brasion, microdermabrasion treatment.

This removes dead skin cells and unblocks pores and all the things which build up due to pollution and daily life.

It all sounded great but I was trying not to be put off by the fact the machine starting up sounded like a dentist’s drill.

But the 30-minute treatment was more unusual than uncomfortable, feeling like a tiny but gentle vacuum cleaner sucking up my skin.

Then it was time for the Oxyjet oxygen facial itself.

Beauty-tox, a type of natural cream, was applied to my face and neck, before the small, again dental-looking, instrument was moved over the top producing a slight suction.

It injected the oxygen straight into the base layer of the skin.

Again, it was a strange but not unpleasant feeling.

Then my hair follicles got an airbrush so they didn’t miss out on all the rehydration treatment which the rest of my face was having.

This involved a fine mist being passed over my face to get Vitamins A, C and E into my hair and aid skin cell renewal.

The hour-long treatment finished with a freeze-dried collagen mask and I inhaled a combination of oxygen and aromatherapy oils.

At this point the combination of the mask, the soothing music and the darkness — the mask covered all but my mouth and nose — almost sent me to sleep.

To get the full benefits of the oxygen facial you are supposed to have five treatments and then top-ups every three months or so.

But could I see a difference after just one hour?

Straight afterwards my face did seem to have more of a glow than usual.

And the next day the frown lines between my eyebrows seemed less prominent.

I am sure if I kept this treatment up people would ask me where I had been on holiday.

Madonna, Uma and Demi … now you can add News Shopper news editor Helen Backway to the list of celebs loving the oxygen treatment.

l Helen went to Breathe Treatment Rooms in Bromley. The bio-brasion costs £30 for one treatment with the Oxyjet costing £50, or both for £70. The salon, in East Street, Bromley (below Cutting Remarks), specialises in anti-ageing treatments and wellbeing. Other treatments include the push and peel skin peeling system, spray tans and reflexology. Call 020 8464 9100.

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