Last night I went for my first ever microdermabrasion facial in Kensington, London. Having not had many facials before, let alone a micro-derma facial it’s safe to say I was a little nervous after watching YouTube videos of the procedure. Just for anyone out there who is wondering what the hell  a micro-derma facial is, here it is summed up pretty well...

Microdermabrasion is one of those cosmetic procedures that most people have heard of, but don’t really know much about. Even if your skin-obsessed friend swears by it, or you’ve seen it listed on spa menus, the procedure is still one of those best discussed with a dermatologist.

Allow us to clear up any misconceptions. Microdermabrasion is a procedure that exfoliates and removes the superficial layer of dry, dead skin cells. According to licensed medical aesthetician Maria Barry at Union Square Laser Dermatology, microdermabrasion machines can buff and polish the skin using a stream of fine crystals or a diamond tip. Some systems have suction to vacuum loose skin cells from the face.

Read more here


After a year of travelling, and probably quite a bit of sun damage and dry skin, I knew that this type of facial was definitely needed. I visited the Kensington skin clinic which is located a short 10 minute walk from Earls Court station- the actual salon is quite small, but it seems to fit everything in as it does hair, nails & skincare. I headed down the stairs for my facial which was much quieter and decorated really nicely, so a good first impression.

The salon offers many different facials for different problem areas at varying costs, being a bit of a savvy shopper I actually booked my facial through Groupon and got it for £19.00 when the actual price on the price list was £55 - so a bit of a bargain if you ask me, however you can see why I was a bit skeptical of the procedure. My worries soon vanished when I met my facialist who was the loveliest lady ever and made me feel very comfortable, she answered all my skincare queries and gave me some really detailed advice on minimizing pores and tackling problem areas on my skin.

The actual facial lasted for around 30 minutes, and it was a bit of an experience. Firstly, she took any left over makeup off of my skin with some lovely scented cream and cotton pads, and then began applying a pre-gel for the procedure. Due to the fact that this is literally a hoover type machine rubbing crystals all over your skin to literally scrape the dead skin cells off – it wasn’t the most comfortable half an hour of my life, It did hurt a tiny bit on some areas where the nozel was going over the more delicate areas of my skin, however nothing horrific.

The lady doing my facial told me all about the crystals, and the fact that they were imported from Italy – so it seemed that no expense was spared in terms of the brand and actual products. When she finished the actual dermabrasion, she then applied a few different creams to my skin, and then applied a really lovely chamomile cream mask and a cold compressed flannel onto my skin to decrease the redness and swelling.

After the procedure, I must admit my skin felt so so smooth and looked amazing, even my flat mates told me I was glowing. It just seemed as though it did what it said on the tin as it were – my skin looked healthier, felt smoother and generally looked more radiant. The facialist told me to make sure I thoroughly hydrated my skin over the next few nights, and to return in two weeks for a follow up procedure, as with this it generally works much better if you go for 2 or 3 procedures within 2 months, but she told me for my age and because my skin isn’t too bad I only needed the 2.

Overall I would say I am very happy with my experience at the spa, and am more than happy to go again and tell friends to visit- plus for £19.00 it really is a bargain. One thing I really took away from the whole experience is that as women we spend so much money each year on creams and serums that tell us they will minimize our pores and make us look more radiant, but I’ve now realised that it is much better value for money to just get a few facials a year instead, as these actually work! So I will definitely be starting to look after my skin a lot more by making regular visits to skincare salons.

If you would like to book this facial, click here or keep an eye on Groupon for skincare offers. 







Keeping your skin hydrated throughout the summer months is crucial if you want to keep the wrinkles at bay and retain a youthful glow by preserving your skin collagen levels. This time of the year we are more exposed than ever to harsh sunlight, longer working hours, pollinated air and boozy afternoons at our local pub, all of which causing havoc to our skin and in turn making it look significantly duller. There are many things you can do to look after your skin in this drying weather, most of which won’t break the bank or require any more effort than usual.

The power of Hyaluronic Acid
Originally used as a lip filler ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid has quickly become a vital element of every beauty expert’s skincare routine. Having previously had the reputation of being an unattainable ingredient with a significant price-tag attached, it can now be found practically anywhere, including high street drugstores. Hyaluronic acid, in short is an easy to use hydrating solution you can apply any time of day, aiming to hydrate and re-plump the skin leaving it looking and feeling fresh and 
dewy.  

Top up your H2o Levels
It’s no secret that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is the simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin hydrated and looking fresh, however managing to drink this much can prove difficult when you lead such a busy life. Try keeping a reusable water bottle by your desk so you remember to top up each day.

Hydrating Sheet masks
Sheet masks have only really become a bit of a phenomenon in the UK over the past year or so, originating from the Korean beauty industry, women are now swapping their much loved clay masks in favor of these easy to use, no mess masks. There are countless hydrating sheet masks available on the market at varying price tags all promoting similar benefits for the skin, and with hyaluronic acid acting as the key ingredient, this allows your skin to enjoy a super-hydrating facial leaving your complexion plump and fresh.

Facial Sprays
Hydrating facial sprays are perfect for busy woman who need to top up their skin hydration levels on the go. A quick spritz all over the face and neck instantly gives you a glowing complexion, eliminates that tight feeling and allows your skin to breathe. These can be found most places, from high end brands to drugstore.

Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is a naturally rich source of essential fatty acids that re-hydrate dry, sun damaged skin and help to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, burns and stretch marks. Used regularly, it can completely change the look and feel of your skin, rejuvenating and kick-starting those skin cells.  

Facials
If you can afford to spend a little more on your skin, why not treat yourself to a professional facial. Splurging on one of these once in a while can do wonders for your skin and give it a new lease of life within minutes, and with many different types to choose from you really are spoilt for choice. The skincare Specialists at Ellipse beauty have unveiled their new Light Facial device which help diminish fine lines, wrinkles and promote a radiant and fresh complexion, the perfect result for summer ready skin.


With more and more women working 12 hour days, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain concentration and motivation. When your task list seems never ending it can be really hard to keep on top of your game, and thus, the work anxiety starts to creep in. I’ve listed 5 tips which have helped me become much more motivated in my PR role, which will hopefully help you too.  

Get a head start
And no- I don’t mean spending 40 minutes of your morning doing a downward dog yoga pose. I simply mean starting your day right. Get up a little earlier, make yourself a coffee, listen to the morning news on the radio, chill out and get yourself mentally prepared for your day. I know many of us are more prone to hitting the snooze button more than once, but chances are if you rise earlier you will be much more ready to face the day, rather than arriving at the office a fuzzy anxious mess.

Make a priority task list
I find that creating a list of things I need to achieve that day is great for keeping on top of my game. Whether it’s a few things or a lot, if you keep a log of where you are and what needs doing you will feel so much more organised, and trust me, that feeling of ticking tasks off when finished is fab.

Drink water
I know many of us are more likely to be downing 8 cups of coffee a day than 8 glasses of water, however ensuring you drink 3 litres of water a day is paramount to keep you hydrated and in turn helping your concentration. I find keeping a 2 litre Evian bottle by my desk reminds me to finish it each day!

 Push yourself
Are you a victim of the 3pm work slump? Me too. It seems once that hour hits my motivation    goes out the window, which is why it’s super important to make sure when you hit that wall to just break through it. Maybe give yourself a goal or a task that you want to get done by 5, or push yourself to hit your targets earlier.

Take a break
Many of us who work in an office environment get so engrossed in what we are doing that we forget to take a break and stretch are legs. Having regular breaks from the screen is not only good physically for your eyes, back and legs, but mentally as sometimes having a walk around the office, or getting some fresh air gives you a fresh perspective on things.