Natalie Keeler puts the new Environ Facial to the test at Fulham’s Blush and Blow beauty salon
I love winter; the prospect of wrapping up warm, cosying up by a burning fire and snuggling under a duvet in a thick pair of pyjamas.
The unfortunate thing is that winter doesn’t particularly love me, or – more specifically – my skin. As victim to a flaky t-zone for as long as I can remember, the colder months usually have me caking on moisturiser by the tub-load in a desperate attempt to give my skin a little radiance and hydration. I have blackheads that refuse to budge on my nose, and in short, I just really need a little TLC.
It was time to call in the professionals, so I headed to Blush & Blow in Fulham to try their new Environ Facial, which I’d heard is one of the most technologically-advanced treatments on the market.
Specialising in facials, nails and fabulous blow-dries, upon arrival I immediately got the sense that this beauty salon – which was founded by make-up artist Bridgette O’Keeffe – is a hub of elegance and serenity as I walked through the glass doors on New King’s Road.
The interiors are chic, modern and uber-Instagrammable, with a large blue neon sign glowing from the far end of the room. I was greeted by Raimonda, the salon’s skincare expert, who was friendly and asked me to write down what I hoped to achieve from today’s experience, so my facial would be adapted to suit my skin’s needs.
Raimonda then took me down to the treatment room, where she left me to settle in, undress and rest on the bed. She started by removing my make-up with a double cleanse, and asked me to talk through my main concerns and my usual routine.
We discussed what I can do to rejuvenate and better hydrate my skin on a daily basis, and she even helpfully agreed to note down all her recommendations for me to take home afterwards.
It was time to begin the facial, and Raimonda started by applying lactic acid to remove the build-up of dead skin cells on my face, while gently exfoliating my skin. She then applied some vitamin A and C serum, which helps to increase hydration and lock in moisture into the lower skin layers.
Next, Raimonda probed my face with an ionzyme machine, to help the serums penetrate my skin fully while stimulating collagen. While the sensation felt a little odd, I thought it was a good indicator that the treatment was working.
She then applied an alginate mask, which was incredibly thick and covered my whole face, including my eyes, mouth and down to my neck. The whole process was so relaxing that it was quite a surprise to come back to normality and have the mask peeled off my face. Raimonda finished the treatment by applying some cooling eye gel, vitamin A cream and sun protection on top.
I felt positively renewed once the experience was over, and my skin was noticeably plumper and more radiant. I’d walked into Blush & Blow expecting a top-quality facial, but Raimonda had given me so much more than that: it was relaxing, rejuvenating and just what I needed at the end of a long working day, and better yet, I’d been given all the tips and advice I needed to keep my skin looking and feeling healthy for longer – that’s far more than I’d ever bargained for.
Prices start from £90 for an hour-long Environ Facial at Blush & Blow London. To find out more, visit blushandblowlondon.com
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