“These Facials Will Make Everyone Ask How You Got Your Glow”
According to Vogue, Yumiko has "magic hands" and it's "best for anyone who wants a firmer jawline" and "de-puffed skin".
read on vogue.co.uk
There are facials and then there are facials. Whether you’re after one that uses tech to perfect your pores, a skilled therapist to massage the life back into your muscles, or just a treatment that feels really nice, the downside of having so many types to choose from is working out which will cater best to your individual needs.
The good news? Vogue’s beauty team has done the hard – okay fine, really enjoyable – work for you. From lasers and facial massage to all-round skin MOTs, here are Vogue’s honest reviews of the best facials that we’ve road-tested in the name of research.
Who, what, where?
A 60-minute Khera Griggs Signature Cupping Facial with Yumiko Inoue, from £150, at Urban Retreat in Knightsbridge, London.
Cosy or clinical vibes?
Expansive white beds that border on clinical, but upstairs the Urban Retreat itself is full-on interiors inspo – a new level of gorgeousness at every turn.
Best for?
Anyone who wants a firmer jawline, de-puffed skin, and wants to sleep better at night – it’s incredibly relaxing.
Pampering or punishing?
Utterly pampering, you’ll fall asleep after the first few minutes. Yumiko removes any make-up, then presses the reflex points on the right side of your face, with your left hand facing upwards “towards the sky”, which she says helps her connect with the universe. Nearly all massage-based, the facial continues with a combination of massage and cupping to drain the lymph, with Yumiko using silicone facial cups to gently pull the skin away from the deeper layers of the fascia, through careful manual suction. She checks the lymph nodes on the neck at the beginning and end of the facial, and can tell by any decrease in size if the treatment has worked.
Who should I book in with?
Yumiko herself. A Tokyo native who has been London-based for 22 years, her knowledge of cupping, massage, reflexology, Indian Champissage and all manner of other beauty therapies mean she really knows what she’s doing.
Brands used?
This isn’t a facial for anyone who loves state-of-the-art gadgets – apart from cleansers by La Roche-Posay and Decléor, a rose oil by Balance Me, and the occasional use of a Gua Sha jade tool, it’s very low-tech. But with Yumiko’s magic hands, you don’t need any more.
Results?
I felt like I’d had a face-lift. Jaw looked firmer. Cheekbones were sharper. It won’t last long – a few days at best – but I would definitely return for more.
Does it pass the “OMG-your-skin-looks-amazing!” test?
Yes. As Yumiko’s clients, many of whom are in their fifties, would testify. One, in her early 20s, felt she could see a jawline she hadn’t known existed before.