As a bride on her wedding day, you become the protagonist of your childhood daydream, front and centre to all of the occasion’s Kodak moments, so it’s only natural that you’d want your beauty game to be flawless on the big day.

Great British Life: Harley Street Skin Clinic, ReigateHarley Street Skin Clinic, Reigate (Image: Archant)

For her specialist intel on the matter, we sat down with Lesley Reynolds of the Harley Street Skin Clinic in Surrey, to talk through the most popular skincare treatments as chosen by brides-to-be.

Facials

In a comprehensive menu of facials, Lesley recommends the Hydrafacial to any bride or member of her party looking to ‘minimise the appearance of fatigue and wrinkles.’ For best results, the Hydrafacial is recommended as a six week programme to deliver ‘all the benefits of an intensive chemical peel without the associated downtime.’ The condition of your skin is ameliorated over this period through the effects of the active ingredients: hyaluronic acid, horse chestnut seed exact, red algae extract, copper zinc and magnesium peptides.

Peels

Although a step up from a facial, Lesley explains that the effects of a Glycolic peel are not harsh on the skin as the name might suggest. Instead, the peel will transform a sallow complexion which has proven popular among clients complaining of “city skin” that’s been dulled by an urban pollution and hectic working life. ‘The solution penetrates the tough, dead layer of surface skin to stimulate growth of the lovely new cells underneath’. This in turn promotes cell renewal and is thus effective against ‘fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and blemishes.’ The Glycolic Peel is suitable for all skin types including sensitive ones and for best visible results a course of six is recommended.  

Great British Life: Harley StreetHarley Street (Image: Archant)

Botox & Fillers

Whilst botox and fillers are invasive procedures synonymous with a not-so-coveted ‘frozen look’, they are quick-fix solutions against more advanced signs of ageing – and these needn’t be on your face. Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a distressing condition that can be tackled with one session of botox injections. This has been hailed as the ‘dream cure’ for many brides-to-be concerned by armpit sweat on a hot summer’s day. For the mother of the bride perhaps concerned with more tell-tale signs of ageing, weathered hands can be instantly boosted with the insertion of fillers. The effects of both treatments wear off after six months and ‘you [the patient] are in control of how subtle or extreme you’d like to try them.’

Proshock

For women looking to maintain the ‘body beautiful’ image that they’ve worked on for months leading up to their wedding, the Harley Street Skin Clinic also offer a more permanent fix for the perfect honeymoon figure, too. Ice shock liposyis is the only non-invasive device that treats fat and all three types of cellulite. ‘This machine means sculpting your body can be a reality for many women struggling to achieve what sessions in the gym and a no-carb diet cannot’ Lesley tells me, and what’s more, this fat-freezing procedure leaves no bruising or flesh trauma as is the case with other ‘cryo’ devices. Clients are advised to try treatments in packages of one to four, or even up to six with problem areas.

Great British Life: Harley StreetHarley Street (Image: Archant)

Viora Reaction

Viora Reaction is another treatment that addresses stubborn areas of cellulite on the stomach, thighs and buttocks, but with further skin-tightening and contouring benefits, too. ‘A course of eight sessions is recommended for optimal results and from the very first treatment, collagen fibres are contracted’ Lesley tells me, which means ‘lumpy skin with a loose texture is erased and replaced with a firmer, smoother appearance’. The hand-held vacuum uses radio frequency to penetrate subcutaneous layers of tissue to assist the breakdown of fat cells and subsequently increase the ‘diffusion of oxygen in the cells’. This results in improved circulation and lymphatic drainage which all aid the development of a better skin elasticity over time.

Rosina’s Lotions and Potions

Because of the lives we live today, our skin is under a constant barrage of toxins. Sun, wind and air pollutants contribute to damaging the skin and as we age, our skin is less able to deal with these issues. We lose elasticity and may be more prone to fine lines and wrinkles so try using fabulous products that are not only gentle on the skin but also deliver long lasting results…and they also smell delicious which makes getting into a routine easy. Plus they are organic…but don’t be fooled because they are packed with some of the most advanced scientific formulas around. Check out the Fountain of Youth Serum with Rose, Argan Oil, Aloe Vera AND TriPeptide 5 for a great collagen boost.

Girls’ Night In

A smile is the most ‘beautiful thing a woman can wear’, so said beauty icon Audrey Hepburn, and if you choose this evening of pampering, you’ll be guaranteed to wear one all night! From £195pp, brides are invited to hire the clinic for an evening with their bridesmaids to enjoy pampering treatments to include face masks, a 30 minute Red Carpet Facial as well as minor corrective procedures such as mole and skin tag removal and even semi-permanent makeup application.

• Call to book your appointment or to discuss treatments please phone 01737 247246

• Harley Street Skin Clinic, 16 Bell Street, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7BG; harleystreetskinclinic.com

• T: @harleysreigate1 | F: Harley Street Skin Clinic | I: @harleystreetskinclinicreigate

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