Fake Bake Beauty Salon Launches In Selfridges Beauty Hall, Manchester!

Two weeks ago, I attended the brand spanking new and totally fantastic Fake Bake Salon in (also brand new) Selfridges Beauty Hall in Manchester. It’s a gorgeous little salon, light and bright and with the most amazing chandeliers hanging from the ceiling (instantly alerting that magpie in me – ooooh sparkly) – everything you’d expect from a salon located in a Selfridges store! Refreshments are provided with a smile (I even had a glass of the fizzy stuff) and it really feels that nothing is too much trouble – great service.

I was very surprised to see the range of treatments available as I expected that it could just be mainly focussed around tanning and possibly nails too but there’s a whole host of treatments to choose from, from bronzing to Botox – just have a look (and apparently there’s more to come)!!

I went for a resurfacing facial, using a Dermaquest 10% Glycolic mask which isn’t a nicey nice facial where you relax, but it is a facial that delivers results almost immediately (I will do a separate post on that very soon)! The therapist was informative throughout the treatment, telling me exactly which step was being done and what it did. She was also very friendly, and seemed genuinely interested our conversation whilst doing the treatment!

Whilst there I also met, and had a great chat with the king of tanning, James Read, who has bronzed the bodies of many celebrities throughout his career, and who was giving fake tanning master classes for 2 days in the Manchester salon. I found James to be utterly fabulous and so friendly too - he definitely knows his stuff where self tanning is concerned and this knowledge really shone through as he talked me through tanning trends and the Fake Bake range.

All in all, I am VERY impressed with the salon and its staff. If you fancy a visit, you can find it nestled in the new downstairs beauty hall at the side (ish) just near to the MAC and Illamasqua concessions.

The Latest Stem Cell Facials - Save 60% For 2 Weeks Only!

They say:

"With celebrity fans including Denise Richards, Stem Cell Facials have been hailed as a breakthrough in anti-ageing skincare in the US. Now available here in the UK, this results driven facial works to heal sun damaged, wrinkled skin, stimulating cell rejuvenation and leaving your skin firmer and younger-looking.

How does it work? The Signature Stem Cell facial uses a unique blend of peptides, fruit enzymes and botanical stem cells to plump, polish and firm your skin.

Benefits of Stem Cell technology include:
- Instant, visible tightening effect and lift to the skin
- Improved appearance for fine lines and uneven textures
- Brightening and hydrating
- Antioxidants protect and soothe the skin
- Cell renewal and regeneration
- Gentle exfoliation using pineapple and papaya
- Refinement of the complexion creating a smoother, healthier and softer appearance
- Botanical Stem Cells combat the signs of ageing where the skin needs them most

As with any innovative therapies, Stem Cell facials are an expensive investment. However, thanks to Wahanda, you can now try a course of three facials for the price of £65 – that’s 60% off, saving yourself a huge £100! Snap it up quick - this fantastic offer will be valid for 2 weeks only.

Each treatment will last 45 minutes at DestinationSkin clinics. Locations throughout the UK will include Westfield London, Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Glasgow, Guildford, Manchester and Reading."

I say:

After doing some research into this exact treatment (the one being offered on this Wahanda deal) by having a fairly lengthy conversation with the clinic over the phone, I have found that this is NOT the treatment that Denise Richards has had (and was shown on YouTube), but something entirely different, that gives 'similar' benefits. Denise's treatment consisted of stem cells from sheep placenta and included the use of a laser machine before application.

This treatment is plant/fruit based, and to be honest, it sits a bit better with me as a vegetarian (even if the animal hasn't been killed for the cells, it's still a bit ewww, don't you think?) and was told that it works like a very low strength peel, but actually without any peeling afterwards (and without as dramatic results too). I'd probably just think of it more as an intense exfoliation with extra benefits, such as the brightening, tightening and softening of the skin etc - all of which are temporary. Still, £65 for 3 lovely facials (even with temporary benefits) isn't bad at all.

The procedure is pretty much like that of any other facial, in that they will cleanse and exfoliate your skin before using the stem cell mask (which is DermaQuest, just in case you were wondering) and then following up with the Dermaquest moisturiser! There's not really any massaging, I was told but that's because the products used don't need to be massaged in, they do the work themselves!

I wanted to make it clear that this isn't the same as Denise's treatment, purely because when I Googled her name and Stem Cell Facial, I came up with a YouTube video and a lot of other links that were also nothing like the treatment being offered - and if I did that, then I assume others would too!

The treatment does look quite interesting and I am curious to see what results could be gained by it - has anybody had it before?