“You’ve not been sleeping well lately, have you?”. That’s how Jasmina Vico, aesthetic skin therapist at Hari’s Salon in Brompton Road, greeted me as I entered her studio. I stopped in my tracks. “How does she know my insomnia’s back?,” I thought, “No one else has noticed (brightening serums and concealers do wonders at hiding my sleepless nights). Is she psychic?”
Nope, just damn good at her job. Unlike most therapists who only treat the outward symptoms, Jasmina takes a holistic approach to skincare, believing that our sleeping habits, diets, and fitness level play an important part in skin’s health. So, she looks for every sign that something’s wrong, and tells you how you fix it.
After recommending me meditation for insomnia, she went on to ask me about my breakfast, recommending I switch from tea to almond milk. I’m glad to report, both helped.
The Initial Consultation
I had gone to see Jasmina for a facial, but before we got started, she asked me questions about my skin, including:
- What skin problems do you currently have?
- What skin treatments have you done in the past?
- What’s your medical history?
This short analysis allows her to figure out the targeted treatments that best benefit each of her clients, and avoid those that may cause problems in people with particular issues and predispositions.
At 33, I’m blessed with good skin. Unlike lots of Jasmina’s clients, I don’t have dark spots, thread veins, or acne. Just a few wrinkles around the corners of my eyes and mouth I wish were less obvious. And, of course, I’d love to prevent others from forming before their time. I know I’ll age, and I’m fine with that, but the slower, the better, right? So, that’s what my facial focused on.
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The Early Stages: Deep-Cleansing And Extractions
Once decided on the treatment, I lied down on the bed. Jasmina then put a cover all over my body, and started getting all her lotions, potions, and lasers, ready. Jasmine uses mostly Skinceuticals and Dermaceutical products.
Unlike most high-end skincare products, they’re actually packed with active ingredients that can help with premature aging, and any other concerns your skin may have. They’re outrageously pricey, but worth it. As we chatted about blogging, skincare habits, and her passion for helping women achieve a foundation-free complexion, Jasmina started deep-cleansing my face.
Next, extractions. This is always the worst part of any facial. Doesn’t matter how gentle the therapist is, and how relaxing the experience, extractions always cause some discomfort. But they must be done.
My skin prickled here and there during the treatment, but, afterwards it looked flawless. My blackheads had disappeared. And that little clump of dead cells at the base of my nose, which I had tried to get rid of with no success for months now looks so much smaller.
Once the bad part was out of the way, it was time to exfoliate. She used glycolic acid, my favourite exfoliant. Glycolic acid gets rid of all the dead cells that are accumulating on the surface of the skin, turning it dull and rough. Once they’re removed, skin appears brighter, smoother, and more even-toned.
Glycolic acid also hydrates skin, and stimulates collagen production keeping premature wrinkles away for longer. As she kept applying her lotions on my face, Jasmina also gave it a good massage, to improve blood circulation and flow. It was so relaxing, I almost fell asleep!
Related: All Your Glycolic Acid Questions, Answered!
The Big Gun: Fotona Laser
Next, it was time for the Fotona laser. It features two complementary laser wavelengths, Er:YAG and Nd:YAG, which stimulate the production of collagen for smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin. They can also help with other conditions, such as hyperpigmentation, acne, rosacea, and deep-lying veins, but I don’t suffer from them, so I can’t personally vouch for that.
Fotona laser isn’t painful. You just feel some slight discomfort on those areas where extractions were performed. Jasmina used it both on my face, and the inside of my mouth, to stimulate the production of collagen there too, and help reduce the wrinkles around it.
It’s fairly quick too, and, most importantly, there’s no downtime. You can just have it done, and go on to your next appointment. No redness, flakiness, or irritation forcing you to get back at home as quickly as you can. But there’s a catch. Fotona works, but its effects are, of course, temporary. For best results, you should have it done every few months.
The Last Lotions And Potions…
More lotions and potions followed. Jasmine moisturized my skin, and protected it with SPF. Talking about sunscreen, she noticed, without me even mentioning it, that I wear sunscreen every day (seriously, I was started to get a bit spooky by this point).
And so should you. There’s no point in using effective serums and moisturizers, and having lasers and other treatments done, if you the insist on skipping sunscreen. They won’t be able to undo the damage fast enough. Lecture over. Back to the treatment. Actually, that’s over too. The whole thing lasted about 60 minutes, but I felt like I was there for only 10. That’s how relaxing it was.
The Result: The Jasmina Effect
The result? The Jasmina effect. Jasmina doesn’t wear makeup. Well, she uses mascara, a touch of blush, and a swipe of lippie, but no foundation. Her skin is absolutely flawless and positively glowing. She’s fully committed to helping her clients achieve the same results with non-invasive skin procedures.
She certainly did with me. My face looked so much better afterwards. Smoother, Softer. Brighter. Even a bit plumper. I went to another blogger event that night, and didn’t feel self-conscious at all I was the only one not wearing makeup there. My skin didn’t need it.
If you don’t feel like trying Fotona yet, Jasmina offers many other treatments, like chemical peels, micro-needling, and red light therapy. She also gives you practical skincare tips, nutrition tricks, and lifestyle hacks to help you take better care of your skin at home too. As Jasmina loves to say, everything’s connected. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I went in with mixed feelings, thinking I’d have to listen to another aesthetician rave about the exaggerated benefits of the average products she uses.
Instead, I found a committed professional who actually knows what she’s talking about, doesn’t praise anything for the sake of it, and is genuinely committed to helping her clients both inside and outside her studio. I’ve learnt so much, and left with glowing, flawless skin. Thank you, Jasmina!
Price & Availability: £315 for 60 minutes (cheaper treatments are available), by Jasmina Vico, aesthetic skin therapist at Vico House at 6 Percy Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 1DQ
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
