The Wallpaper* guide to London facials, from rejuvenating lasers to skin-lightening injections

Who and where should you go for facials in London? If you’re asking yourself this question, be it as a long-time resident or a flying visitor to the city, then this Wallpaper* guide is for you.

Whether it’s lasers with little to no downtime or injectables that subtly regenerate rather than freeze or overfill, this regularly updated directory of best practices, knowledgeable doctors, and design-focused clinics carries the beauty editor’s stamp of approval Hannah Tindle.

The Wallpaper* guide to facials in London

At the Stoke Newington Clinic by Dr. Karen Doherty

(Image credit: Courtesy of Dr. Karen Doherty)

Dr. Karen Doherty

The interior of Dr. Located on a leafy north London street, Karen Doherty was designed by gallerist Max Radford. So when you walk in, it’s a world away from the dime-a-dozen medispa, with eclectic furnishings and an ambience that immediately makes you feel like you’re in the safe hands of someone with a real eye for detail.

Dr. takes the same approach. Karen in her aesthetic treatments, which are based on the individual facial anatomy of her patients. She takes a “less is more” approach to filler, using tailored techniques to deliver eye-brightening polynucleotides to achieve transformative yet natural results. One of my personal favorites when it comes to treatments at the clinic is the non-invasive NeoGen Plasma skin resurfacing, which is also offered at their new Shoreditch location, opening in 2025.

Dr. Karen Doherty, Stoke Newington, London, N16

drkarendoherty.com

Maison Sisley

Sisley opened its first London maison in July (2024), bringing the brand’s signature face, body and hair treatments to the British capital. “We’ve been thinking about opening a Maison Sisley in London for some time,” Christine d’Ornano, global vice president of the French skincare brand, tells Wallpaper*. D’Ornano, along with her mother, the company’s founder Isabelle d’Ornano, designed the maison’s interior, with details indicative of its Mayfair location.

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For those who enjoy classic yet expertly performed facials, Maison Sisley offers a comprehensive list of treatments, each using world-renowned products. The Sisleÿa with Ginkgo Gua Sha, Sisleÿa La Cure and Supremÿa facials are designed to treat specific skin concerns and include sensory elements (e.g. lights in treatment rooms, essential oils, scalp, hand and foot massage) . for maximum relaxation.

Maison Sisley, 61 South Audley St, London W1K 2QP

sisley-paris.com

Pepper Sal

Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, Pfeffer Sal is a small-scale clinic located just underground in a cobbled stable block off Warren Street. Its nest-like environment, decorated with air-purifying plants, provides instant calm upon entering the door (a reclaimed 1930s design).

Opened in 2015 by Melbourn-based Andrea Pfeffer, the salon works with select ethical, sustainable and clean brands to offer a wealth of treatments based on the latest science and technology. “We value proven results and benefits, otherwise we simply can’t justify using something,” says Pfeffer Sal’s website. In addition to restorative facials, clarifying lasers, copper microneedling, and rapid skin boosters (these can be among the signature facials), Pfeffer Sal also offers seasonal “limited edition” treatments where customers can experience the latest techniques and products.

Pepper Sal, The Stables, 10B Warren Mews, London W1T 6BY

peppersal.com

Omorovicza’s London Institute on South Audley Street in Mayfair

(Image credit: © Mark Cocksedge)

The Omorovicza Mayfair Institute

Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza opened a new London institute designed to evoke the atmosphere of a thermal spa almost a year ago (November 2023). The interiors were designed by Tina Vaia and Ed Milton of EJM Studio and use materials that reference the ingredients of the mineral-rich products, such as travertine, copper, clay plaster and terracotta.

Beauticians and practitioners carry out treatments in the two treatment rooms directly below the first floor of the building. A tailored facial begins with a consultation with one of Mayfair Institute’s therapists, who will ask questions about your skin type and concerns (deep cleansing, steaming, masks and massage were key elements for me). You will then receive a treatment program, the “Omorovicza Prescription”, with products tailored to your needs and advice on how to best use them.

The Omorovicza Mayfair Institute, 60 South Audley St, London W1K 2QW

omorovicza.co.uk

FaceGym

Inge Theron founded FaceGym ten years ago and opened its first location in Selfridges. Today the brand has 15 studios around the world – six of them based in London – offering facial “workouts” through non-invasive massage techniques to tone muscles and achieve a lifting and sculpting effect.

Treatment options include Signature Sculpt, which uses fingers and FaceGym devices, such as a uniquely shaped Gua Sha developed in collaboration with makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, or FaceGym Pro, an EMS device. Alternatively, there is the option of training with just your hands, with moisturizing and cleansing additives if desired. Facial massage also promotes blood circulation and drains lymph, reducing puffiness and puffiness. The techniques used by FaceGym deliver immediate results that last for weeks afterwards. Don’t expect any light patting or stroking: it’s called “training” for a reason.

FaceGym, studios at various locations across London including Surrenne, Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP and Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB

facegym.com

Products from Dr. David Jack, including the “Yellow Peel”

(Image credit: Courtesy of Dr. David Jack)

Dr. David Jack

Dr. Having recently opened a fourth location in the city’s Royal Exchange (joining existing clinics in Belgravia, a pop-up in the Savoy and a flagship on Harley Street), David Jack is one of the most trusted beauty specialists in the UK. All have been designed with interiors that complement the architecture in which they are housed. In the case of the Belgravia Clinic on Ebury Street, a 1960s building, the space is decorated in contrast to its brutalist exterior, which is inspired by a 1930s Milanese villa by Piero Portaluppi.

Here you will also find the SkinTech Studio, a bespoke facial care device developed together with the clinic’s head beautician that works in conjunction with injectables. The Pigmentation Facial combines derma-roller microneedling and mesotherapy, where a cocktail of antioxidants is applied to the skin to reduce pigmentation and increase hydration. My treatment was carried out by one of the experienced practitioners and included dermaplaning and the “Yellow Peel” from Dr. David Jack combined.

Dr. David Jack, 96 Harley St, London W1G 7HY and 59 Ebury St, London SW1W 0NZ

drdavidjack.com

Dr. Joney De Souza: Skin and Lasers

The Marylebone-based clinic of Dr. Joney De Souza, who specializes in laser treatments, “less is more” injections and a variety of other therapies such as PRP, is just opposite Chiltern Street. Inside you will be greeted by Diptyques “Baeis” and Dr. Joney’s team greets you before meeting the man himself.

The Brazilian-born Dr. De Souza has been practicing aesthetic medicine for 20 years and has developed the “De Souza Method,” which addresses “volume,” “texture,” and “tone.” During a consultation, he will advise you on a unique “contour and tightening”, “smoothing and refinement” and “clarity and tone”. For the latter effect, Picosure, a minimal-downtime laser treatment that reduces hyperpigmentation while stimulating collagen production, provides my skin with a “reset” for the winter months after the summer. Other laser options, all performed by a specialist, range from IPL to CO2 resurfacing.

Dr. Joney De Souza Skin and Laser, 49 Blandford St, London W1U 7HH

drjoneydesouza.com

A treatment room at Augustinus Bader: The Skin Lab on Dover Street in London

(Image credit: Courtesy of Augustinus Bader)

Augustinus Bader: The skin laboratory

Augustinus Bader’s Skin Lab adjoins the Lanserhof Clinic’s London outpost at The Arts Club on Dover Street. Offering facials in line with Professor Bader’s approach to optimal skin health and leveraging the brand’s signature TFC8 technology used in all products, the ultimate goal is to strengthen cellular communication to rejuvenate, tone, tighten and to refine.

To accompany the facial treatment I had, there was an intravenous vitamin infusion at Lanserhof, which delivered a powerful amount of nutrients directly into the bloodstream (what happens inside the body is ultimately reflected on the outside). The treatment itself began with me placing my head into a Visia skin analyzer, where the skin was scanned using multispectral imaging to reveal damage beneath the surface. Each element is then adapted to the client’s needs, from steaming and radiofrequency to extractions and light therapy. Needless to say, I left beaming.

Augustinus Bader: The Skin Lab, The Lanserhof at The Arts Club, 17-18 Dover Street, London W1S 4LT

augustinusbader.com

111 Harley Street

111 Harley Street by Dr. Yannis Alexandrides – also founder of 111 Skin and 111 Cryo – offers a wide range of surgical, non-surgical and injectable aesthetic treatments (more than 10,000 per year, to be exact, according to the website). Each of these treatments is carried out with the same meticulous care and attention to detail at the clinic, founded in 2001. Today she is known worldwide for offering state-of-the-art treatments with her team of experts. This includes Ameela, an injectable polynucleotide that strengthens the skin and is derived from the DNA of salmon sperm.

Exosomes ASCEplus SRLV, also derived from stem cells, is a topical product used in conjunction with microneedling and is known for its moisturizing and healing properties. I had it applied through Potenza, where tiny needles of a thickness appropriate to my skin type (this is decided by a doctor after a thorough consultation) penetrate the epidermis along with radiofrequency. It promotes the body’s healing process and collagen and elastin production. While this isn’t for the faint of heart, the results are worth any temporary discomfort.

111 Harley St, London, W1G 6AW

111harleystreet.com