Is the Face Gym the savior of 30s face sag?
As I’m due to celebrate my 30th next year, I’m conscious of having to make a little more effort to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion (a slick of foundation just doesn't cut it anymore). Indeed, once we hit our 30s, our face feels slightly less plump and toned and we begin to see the early signs of the dreaded face sag. Hence facials become as necessary as six week haircuts and regular gym sessions. But facials can be so hit-and-miss, that many of us are loathe to part with £50+ and risk having someone merely layer one serum on top of another and lighting some aromatherapy candles (yawn).
Former journalist Inge Theron (How To Spend It’s undercover Spa Junkie) has come up with a more practical solution for the younger generations who don’t want to spend a great deal of time and money. Face Gym is a £35, 30-minute muscle toning, toxin draining treatment, combining acupuncture and facial massage. Or as Theron calls it, the ‘non-invasive finger face lift’.
'After having tried everything - having my blood turned into a bespoke cream and smearing lamb placenta thrice daily over my face, among others - I decided we had to go back to basics.' Theron explains. 'I realised I have more than 50 muscles in my face, none of which I had ever paid attention to. Yet it was clear to me on a treadmill at Barry’s Boot Camp when I noticed how perky my behind had become after just a few sessions, that this is exactly what we need for the face. The skin sits on a bed of muscles - so if you work the muscles, you lift the face. No needles, no down time.'
"In the beauty world, regular facial massage is already highly prized for its ability to de-puff, boost collagen, detox and generally knock years off a face."
I guess it makes sense – in the beauty world regular facial massage is already highly prized for its ability to de-puff, boost collagen, detox and generally knock years off a face. Plus as Theron says, those facial muscles obviously won’t get toned in my spinning class.
This treatment aims to focus on areas which as we get older, are more prone to sagging like the jowls, eyes and forehead. Theron claims that just after just 30 minutes 'the skin will feel instantly firmer, with a more toned appearance and deeply nourished with a fresh dewy glow.' With this in mind, I toddled down to Selfridges, where Face Gym is located on the Ground Floor, to see what all the fuss was about.
Firstly, I’m not a fan of getting beauty treatments – especially massages - on a shop floor, with the world and his wife gazing at you like you’re an animal in the zoo. But maybe I’m being too much of a puritan. To our time-strapped generation, I appreciate that this ‘on the hoof’ style of treatments does make practical sense (and most hard-nosed Londoners don’t seem to be that fussed in any case).
I arrive at the cheery-looking treatment space and hopped into one of the chairs which has a small ‘modesty umbrella’ placed in front of it (which don’t seem to offer much in the way of privacy, but hey ho). Although I asked for firm pressure, I’m still a little taken aback by how much welly the therapist was giving it in the ‘warm up’ stage, as tufts of my hair were grabbed and my head yanked this way or that. My skin was then vigorously brushed and cleansed, before we moved into ‘cardio’ (where areas like the jowls and cheeks are 'whipped' with the fingers to stimulate blood circulation) followed by ‘strength’ (more kneading and finger drumming) to lift and tone the muscles. Now this last bit did feel blissful - obviously not relaxing, but blissful all the same. Having suffered from poor sleep and lying on a bad mattress (not to mention teeth-grinding in my sleep) for the past few nights, I felt like my face hadn't been properly 'woken up' like this in a long time.
"I didn’t realise how much tension was in my face and jaw, which was noticeably absent after my 30-minutes were up."
Last of all came the 'cool down', where jade rollers are swept across the face to boost lymphatic draining (which although refreshing, did feel like the therapist was roughly mowing the thing up and down my face like she was slicing up a pizza). That aside, I didn’t realise how much tension I had actually been carrying in my face and jaw, which was noticeably absent after my 30-minutes were up. My skin exuded a scary red glow (which had me scuttling off to the ladies to apply foundation) but once that had calmed down, felt much plumper and firmer too. Although I’m still not totally comfortable with having my face pummeled so publicly, I’ve definitely felt the difference - and noticed contours under my cheeks I previously didn't know existed. Is this the way we’ll all be getting facials in 10 years’ time? It certainly looks that way.
Face Gym Signature Workout is £35 at Selfridges Ground Floor Beauty Hall. For appointments call 0800 123 400 or email [email protected]
www.facegym.com
