You have reached your destination
Correspondent • Published 17 May 2011 09:30
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A Pristine state-of-the-art clinic has the ability to instill a feelgood factor in its clients - and keep them returning for more. The bright white reception area of Destination Skin is reminiscent of a Hollywood-style cosmetic surgery and the clean-cut and minimalistic design is perfectly complemented by the innovative machines used for treatments. The clinic is the 11th of it's kind, with other branches based in House of Fraser stores in Cardiff, Birmingham and Guildford.
Greeted by the friendly staff, who are dressed in pristine beige beautician uniforms, it's easy to forget you're on the second floor of The Oracle's House of Fraser store in Reading.
Targeted somewhere between a spa and a cosmetic surgery clinic, Destination Skin offers treatments alongside expert advice and post-care pharmaceutical products to maintain the effects of treatments. Brand marketing manager, Ewa Czepracha, explained the process: "We sit down with the client and have a consultation. During this, the customer says what she, or he, wants to achieve. We come up with a list of everything they want done and they end up with a prescription of treatments and products. It's not about saving lives; it's about improving and making a person the best they can be."
As part of the consultation process, customers begin by placing their face inside a box designed to assess any flaws in skin complexion. The ultraviolet light identifies any problems the skin may have developed; oil build up will show by turning the area orange, while pale blue highlights healthy skin and pigmentation becomes a brown colour. Under the UV light it becomes clear that the skin around my eyes is dehydrated, something which I'm told a cream containing Pentapeptide will cure. Phew.
One of the many fantastic treatments on offer is microdermabrasion. This facial treatment costs from £67, and offers deep exfoliation for the face by lifting dull and dead skin cells to provide a visibly more revitalised complexion. This is achieved by lightly blasting aluminium oxide crystals at the skin followed immediately by a vacuum pressure that sweeps away the dead skin. The sensation feels as if a gentle vacuum is grooming the surface of your skin and the new skin is then treated with a series of moisturising creams. The second part of the treatment involves rolling a yellow light along the surface of the skin to promote the production of collagen - a protein which helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Finally, vitamin C serum, a recovery cream and high SPF moisturiser is applied to the skin to provide all the nutrients and protection it needs. It smells great too.
After the 30 minute treatment I felt completely rejuvenated and my skin is the most radiant I've ever seen it - the perfect glowing look for spring. This sensation is something which Eva says is very common: "People always leave feeling great. The treatments really work and when men or women have had one, we find they want more and more. We've had so much interest already, Reading really is the perfect location for Destination Skin."
Offering a range of treatments from teeth whitening and laser hair removal to skin peels and wrinkle-relaxing injections, Destination Skin strives to provide a treatment to suit everyone. Other treatments include the new Palomar machine, used to remove acne scarring, and the Skin Sculpting machine, which uses light therapy to liquefy fat and remove cellulite from areas like legs and bums.
Pop into the clinic situated on House of Fraser's second floor or call 01189 072 430 for more information or to book an appointment.
Laura Routledge
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 30 Mar 11
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