The Traditional Facial
European Facial
The classic, done properly and without hurrying. Cleanse, exfoliate, extract, massage, mask — the facial everything else on this menu is a variation of.
What it actually is
The one that has not needed reinventing.
Every few years a new device arrives and the industry decides the classic facial is finished. It never is, because the fundamentals — properly cleaned skin, gentle exfoliation, extractions where needed, and a long massage — do the majority of the work and always have.
What separates a good European facial from a forgettable one is time. Ours runs ninety minutes and a genuine share of that is massage: face, neck, shoulders and décolleté, worked slowly. That is not filler to justify the appointment. Facial massage moves lymph, brings colour into the skin and releases the jaw and brow, and you can see the difference in the mirror afterwards.
If you want one appointment that leaves you looking better and feeling considerably calmer than when you walked in, this is the one.
The appointment
90 minutes, start to finish.
Cleanse and analyse
Twice, then a proper look at your skin to decide what the rest of the appointment should be.
Exfoliate
Enzyme or gentle acid depending on what your skin will tolerate that day.
Extract as needed
Only where it is warranted. This is not the appointment to clear heavy congestion.
Massage and mask
The long part, and the reason people book it. Face, neck and shoulders, then a mask while you stay there.
Why people rebook it
What you should reasonably expect.
Deeply relaxing
Most clients fall asleep. The massage is the treatment as much as the products are.
Better circulation
Colour comes back into skin that has looked flat and tired.
Suits everyone
Nothing aggressive, nothing that needs recovery, nothing that rules out sensitive skin.
A proper reset
Ninety minutes where nobody can reach you is doing something too.
Being straight with you
When this is the right call — and when it isn't.
A good fit if
- You want to be looked after rather than worked on
- Your skin is basically healthy and you want to keep it that way
- Devices and acids are not what you are looking for
- You are buying it as a gift for someone
Probably not, if
- You need heavy congestion cleared — book Deep Cleansing instead
- You want visible textural or pigment change
- You have a specific concern like active acne or rosacea
We would genuinely rather move you onto the right treatment than take the booking for this one.
Questions
What people ask before booking.
Is this the same as a basic facial?
Will it help with my specific skin concern?
Can I have it before an event?
Is it suitable for very sensitive skin?
What is included in the massage?
Also worth considering