To describe a facial as “life changing” sounds dramatic. Absurd, even. The kind of thing that I would roll my eyes at, and perhaps even guffaw over. So let’s take a deep breath as I become one of those people. Those dramatic absurd people who is calling a facial “life changing” — because I’m doing it. I drank the proverbial Kool-aid.
While in London a few months ago, I went to Sanctuary Spa, and had the good fortune of having a facial with the often whispered about, cult secret favorite facialist to the stars, Ms. Nichola Joss.
To call it a facial doesn’t really do it justice given that the woman puts plastic gloves on and literally gets her hands all up in your mouth to reshape and massage your face from the inside. Even in typing this, I realize how ridiculous (and perhaps gross) it may sound. But here’s the thing – once you get over the fact that this chic Brit is stretching your face from the inside out (in a slightly painful, but hurts so good kinda way), you realize that she will give your face cheekbones like Kerry Washington, a taut chin, and a glow that lasts for seven days. It works. It actually works.
And the best part is, she teaches you some exercises to do every day in order to maintain that chiseled sculpted face. You can find some of Nichola’s tricks of the trade here and purchase the Sanctuary Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil here.
- Pop a few drops of Sanctuary Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil into your hands and rub to warm the oil.
- Relax, close your eyes, breathe deep and enjoy the aroma of the oil.
- Using the palms of your hands, move outwards from the centre of your face making smooth sweeping movements.
- Using your fingertips, massage the oil into your skin for one minute, starting from the centre of your face and working outwards and upwards in small circular motions.
- Firm and tone your jawline by bending your index and middle fingers and placing your chin between your knuckles, guiding your jawline to under your ears in a sweeping motion. Repeat six times.
- Place the pads of your thumbs under your cheekbones with your palms facing outwards and gently push up, from the centre of the face outwards, to improve facial contours. Repeat six times.
Photos via: Cosmopolitian, The New York Times, Nichola Joss