Cornwall's fab new facials for brides

The spiritual facial
ZONE FACE LIFT
Tucked away in the Luxulyan Valley, Becky Williams' studio looks out across a paddock where ponies and alpaca roam, acres of lush woodland beyond. It is a tranquil spot to immerse yourself in the serenity of nature and the wisdom of the ancients - not to mention some impressive aesthetic improvements.

Becky is the first person in Cornwall to offer the Zone Face Lift, an innovative new treatment that goes far beyond the usual cleanse, mask and massage you usually expect of a facial. Garnering praise from top beauty editors and celebs alike, its founder Ziggie Bergman drew on her training with Native American shamans to devise this extraordinary blend of ancient and modern techniques - including facial reflexology, Japanese Face Lift massage, native American healing herbs, crystals and gua sha - that focuses on lifting the spirits as much as lifting the contours and softening the lines of the face. The launch of the treatment in Cornwall is timely; as we increasingly look beyond the modern world and its psyche-draining technology to embrace something 'other' - and crystals, chakra sprays and magic-inspired potions become the beauty industry's obsession du jour - we're seeing holistic beauty and ancient techniques take precedence over more invasive treatments such as Botox and fillers.

A feather brushed across my face - to dispel negative energy, as Becky explains - is the perfect way to begin. After a thorough cleansing, she wafted some smudge sticks, a rich scent filling the room to instil positive energy. Lavishing my face with Ziggie's amethyst-infused Facial Elixir, rich in nourishing botanical ingredients, she began the facial reflexology and massage, gently making her way around my face, smoothing and kneading, pressing methodically on pressure points. It was deeply relaxing. The bliss continued as she rolled a jade sculpting and lifting massager across my skin followed by the cooling sensation of a rose quartz wand. As Becky explains, while the treatment stimulates collagen and elastin, sculpting and tightening the skin, the reflexology allows her to explore the correlation between points on the face and systems in the body, and the issues she cited for me made perfect sense.

When I looked in the mirror, there was something renewed about my face - it had lost its tension. My features looked more defined, my skin tauter and softer, my eyes brighter. And I felt different: it was more than the easy feeling of relaxation I've enjoyed after other treatments. I felt calmer, more positive: as if the tight coil inside me earlier that morning had been gently unwound and my perspective realigned. It was a blissed-out feeling that lasted long after I'd left that tucked-away corner of Cornwall. Offering inner calm and outer radiance, it's the perfect treatment for brides-to-be.

A single treatment lasts 75 minutes but for optimum results, a course of treatments is recommended. Becky offer the following packages:
Intensive - three treatments within one week
Mini-course - six regular treatments
Full ZFL programme - 12 regular treatments

The red-carpet-ready facial
NATURA BISSE DIAMOND LIFE INFUSION
Every bit as decadent as it sounds, the Diamond Life Infusion Facial from luxury skincare brand Natura Bisse is an utterly sumptuous experience - with stellar results to match. The Spanish skincare giants have scooped all manner of accolades, including World's Best Spa Brand in the 2018 World Spa Awards, as well as an A-list fan base - and now, having experienced some Natura Bisse bliss for myself, I can see why.

Located within touching distance of the silken sands of Falmouth's Gyllyngvase Beach, I began to slip into the serene seaside vibe of St Michaels Resort as I wove my path through gardens dotted with waxy palms, the salty breeze filling my lungs. Home to the largest hydrothermal pool in the south-west and the UK's first Cornish Sea Salt steam room in the world, the spa is something special. With a series of experience showers, a sauna, herbal steam room, heated loungers and day beds and, outside, a Finnish barrel sauna and red cedar hot tub overlooking the gardens, it's impossible not to slip deeper into the resort's calming coastal ambience.

The Diamond Life Infusion Facial is one of the star treatments amidst an impressive menu, ranging from a Rhaussoul Mud Experience to Ishga Marine Detox and Relax treatment using the purest seaweed gel. Designed to plump the skin, minimise fine lines and instil a youthful glow, the innovative Natura Bisse treatment combines a series of techniques and products chock full of high performing ingredients.

The key steps included body alignment, a Diamond White cleansing ritual and a three-phase glycolic peel where my face was slathered in a potent solution rich in five alpha hydroxyl acids, which are incredibly effective in renewing and rejuvenating, creating a tingling 'Champagne effect' sensation. There was also an LED mask - a celebrity favourite that stimulates the production of collagen, plumping and brightening the skin - and a sculpting mask containing pearl and gold extracts; covering my entire face, it hardened with a rubbery texture and cooling, relaxing sensation. The massage had four phases, including a magnetic ritual for intense product absorption, and a lifting massage to firm and shape the contours of the face. It was a facial unlike anything I'd experienced before - with so many steps, so many different yet relaxing sensations and so many layers of luxe products cocooning my skin, I was reluctant for it draw to a close.

To say I was impressed with the results is an understatement. My tired, dull skin positively glowed, it felt softer and my cheeks were less red. It was a luminosity that lasted for days, so much so that I ditched my usual make-up coverage over the days that followed. What's more, after 90 minutes of A-list-worthy pampering, I felt calm, uplifted and, had I been a bride, oh-so ready for the ultimate red-carpet moment.

Treatment lasts 90 minutes and costs �130.
SKIN SAVIOURS
zonefacelift.com


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