As the nights get colder and darker, it might be time to light up the LED and spark your inner glow; find the best aesthetics in London – from hi-tech facials to artful injectables. Plus, for a minimalist, no make-up, make-up, try road-testing some of the brilliantly subtle cosmetics that have just landed – with their added skincare benefits they're perfect for prettying up your look for November and beyond.
His artfully designed clinic represents Dr Joney De Souza's personality and also his approach to aesthetics. With a career spanning decades in dermatology and skin rejuvenation, he understands what works and what doesn't, and manages to mix his Brazilian flair with a British sensibility.
His mantra for patients' faces is less is more, and he will mix and match bespoke treatments to get the best results. He injects Profhilo to boost your glow, employs minimal fillers to restore some gravity, is a light hand with Botox to refresh and never freeze, and makes you look 10 years younger without anybody noticing.
Where: 49 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London W1U 7HH
Anyone chasing a more youthful visage, in need of some glow or needing help with pigmentation, scarring or acne, should follow Sienna Miller and co's footsteps and head straight to the Kichi Skin Clinic in Mayfair. It is run by Natasha Clancy, a trained medical facialist and skincare formulator and Korean tech fan.
That's why Clancy has invested in a Korean laser. No surprise, as the country is leading the way in skincare and rejuvenation tech. She has brought on board the Lutronic non-ablative thulium laser which creates dermis-level micro-channels in the skin, which means the super serums are absorbed at 90% instead of the usual 5% when applied with fingertips alone.
For me, we opted for a mid-to-deeper level – so numbing cream was applied, and the laser process didn't feel uncomfortable at all. Plus, as everything is bespoke you can have higher or lower intensity.
Clancy massages in a hydrating hyaluronic acid sheet mask and uses Ice Globes to calm the skin. At the same time, you are tucked under a blanket listening to some meditative music.
I did emerge a little pink, which lasted for a day or so but a week on, my skin looks refreshed and rejuvenated – beyond my expectations.
I'm getting more compliments on my skin now than I did in my younger years. Three cheers for hi-tech facials!
Where: 14 Hanover House, Hanover Square, Mayfair, London W1S 1HN
If you're feeling the pinch in the UK's cost-of-living crisis, try this brilliant budget hair salon in London. The Amazon Salon offers a transparent price policy, is accessible and affordable and has some of the best tech and stylists in the capital. It also has a quiet working 'pod' area for those wishing to have their colour, keratin or more done during the working day, meaning you can visit during working hours. While the prices for a wash and blowdry are capped at £25, cuts are £55 and weaves, braids, and locks start at £40.
Where: Spitalfields: 47 Brushfield Street, London E1 6AA
Newly launched from one of our favourite heritage herbaceous brand is the Olverum Purifying Hand Wash, £22.50 and Hand Lotion too.
A lovely gel-like lather foams up with the aroma of marjoram, lavender and geranium, with the warmth of clove and cedar. It's a luxurious experience with every pump to cleanse, renew and replenish your hard-working hands. Oh, and like the rest of the range, it's ethically made and free from parabens.
Make-up artist Monika Blunder is known for her fresh, inspiring looks on the red carpet and editorial shoots – think Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Gemma Chan and Amanda Seyfried. And now they can translate well for you too. We believe it's the mix of her Austrian heritage meets her LA life, where she creates these wearable, nourishing, skin-loving formulas that add glow to every complexion but with a minimalist vibe. It's caring colour as opposed to heavy make-up – so everything comes with skincare benefits too.
Check out her latest launches: The Liquid Flush Cheek Tint, £25, comprises four face-framing, radiance-boosting shades that blend seamlessly into the skin, while her Botanical Balm Hyaluronic Lip Tint in Fruhling, £23, leaves a subtle hint of pinkness without veering into Barbie bubble-gum territory.
If your skin lacks bounce and radiance and looks tired and strung out, this one is for you. Fatigue Fix, £95, is formulated with polygluconic and multi-molecular hyaluronic acids that offer next-generation deep hydration, while bio-fermented minerals, vitamin A, ferulic acid and peptides provide skin barrier support, and target fine lines. And if that wasn't enough, the founder Annee de Mamiel has also included optical pigments to give an instant radiance, so you don't need to wait for it to work.
She says, 'Stress affects the skin by slowing cellular turnover; the skin loses its brightness, becoming dull and lifeless. We also see the skin barrier weaken, leading to increased loss of moisture and, over time, dehydration. The tiredness we feel shows on our face; Fatigue Fix specifically targets this pathway, helping to protect, brighten and re-energise the skin.'
It's now my go-to serum, and sits perfectly under my moisturiser for the morning routine.
Want to amp up the efficacy of your favourite skincare products at home? Use the Reduit Boost to massage in. It works at 30-second intervals, with Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Technology (PEMFT) and the power of diamagnetics, pushing any products deeper into the skin. The massage element also helps with water retention, de-puffing, and makes it the feel-good step in your regimen.
Haircare used to be straight from the salon or off the shelf, but if you feel like it's missing something, then take the hair quiz at Function Of Beauty. It has an algorithm to analyse your hair type and needs, and your sensitivity to aromas and potency. There are millions of different formulas – but all come housed in 100% recycled plastic bottles and are vegan, dermatologist tested, paraben and sulfate-free. I concur with the 73,000 five-star testimonials: hair feels stronger and shinier and boasts a beautiful fragrance chosen by me.
The beauty experience like no other has landed back in the UK – after years of absence. Shop over 50,000 beauty products from 1,500 brands or, if that's too much, go straight to the Sephora Christmas selection. It will make gift-giving that little bit easier. A beauty playground, or store, is also in the pipeline – watch this space.
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