Review: The House of ELEMIS

Walking through Lancashire Court one Friday evening my mind was set on other things. I stared longingly at the alfresco diners laughing as they clinked glasses of rouge and exhaled social smoke. Stringy Margarita pizzas, shared charcuterie, contactless payment – quite frankly London had never looked so inviting! Yet my diary had other plans for me. I was booked in for a Friday night ELEMIS BIOTEC Skin Resurfacer Facial, followed by a red-faced Uber home.

Having arrived at the Mayfair townhouse, the brand’s flagship, I was immediately led to my treatment room ‘The Penthouse’. I felt immediately at home and “the private oasis of opulence where simplicity meets modernity” really is as good as it sounds. First came the skin assessment. I will admit I have always wrongly thought, despite my London drinking habit and hatred of water, I had fairly good skin. I rested my chin on a machine very similar to one you might find in an optician’s office to find out. My therapist, whose youthful glow could rival a toddler’s, then pointed out (in the most diplomatic way possible) some signs of; wrinkles, red spots, dryness, oiliness and the worst of all sun exposure. Surveying the damage I felt in safe hands, if a couture beauty house in Mayfair couldn’t fix this, no one could.

The treatment began with a high-tech double peel with the Resurfacing Activator, infused with concentrated Lactic and Hyaluronic Acid to help boost cell turnover. I can assure you this was far more enjoyable than it sounds. The warm towels, freezing gels and satisfying peels were all pleasantly varied sensations. Then, a neck and shoulder massage so relaxing I even fell asleep for a moment. My therapist, so wonderfully polite, pretended not to notice. Next came the ultrasonic peeling and light therapy, this was an odd sensation as it moved across my cheeks, whirring more audibly at blocked pores. It bore a striking resemblance to a metal detector and oh did we strike gold!

ELEMIS had promised the treatment would “minimise the appearance of blemish marks and fine lines,” but I would argue it achieved far more. Sipping on my Amelia Freer post-treatment charcoal, ginger and lemon juice, I couldn’t help but catch my reflection. No marks or redness, I was positively beaming. Their expert knowledge of science, spa and skin have created a sanctuary that I truly found to be the ultimate couture experience.

Leaving behind the ELEMIS oasis I became suddenly concerned for my newly cleaned pores so instead turned left, avoiding the passage of awful drinkers and smokers.

Speed Spa treatments start from £20. For more information on treatment packages and booking please contact House of ELEMIS

By Dani Sayers-Beaumont