Young LDN facial review

I try and do all the right things when it comes to maintaining a good skincare routine. But thanks to winter, hormones, pollutants and potentially my wine/water ratio, recently my skin has become congested, breakout-prone, dull – and desperately in need of some love. 

I was therefore delighted to be invited to Young LDN Facial Notting Hill to give my skin a boost. Nestled in leafy, pastel-hued London, the salon immediately stands out. Industrial, urban, colourful interiors are combined with skincare expertise from friendly staff. Their approach is one that’s beyond just the aesthetic and encourages their clients to form lasting healthy skin habits after their salon treatment. 

I went for with their “20” Facial – perfect for those on a budget or a tad time-poor in need of a skin boost. For £45, this facial treatment promises to leave you with glowing in just 20 minutes, this treatment aims to hydrate, detox, refresh, brighten or tighten the skin depending on your needs. It’s also a great starter treatment if you’re new to the world of facial peels. 

On arrival, I was greeted with a complimentary drink menu, chocolate eggs and a hot lemon towel and introduced to my skincare practitioner, Roxanne. We discussed my skincare goals, before heading through to the beauty lounge. The facial bar treatments take place here and the more clinical treatments take place in private consultation rooms downstairs. I lay in the cosy reclining chairs with a hot water bottle and blanket, with nothing to do but relax while Roxanne worked her magic. 

To start, a cleanse and exfoliate using environmentally friendly micro-honey beads and beeswax, wiped away with soothing hot mitts. This was followed by my peel and enzyme – there are a variety on offer, but I went for salicylic 5% with flower enzyme, perfect for my congested skin and a first-time “peeler”. 

After four minutes, during which the skin gets quite tingly though my comfort levels were checked regularly, this is removed leaving a layer of fresh skin. Don’t be alarmed if your skin is rather pink after this, it’s a normal reaction and quickly reduces.

To boost circulation and the lymphatic system, smooth and tighten the skin and reduce redness, frozen cryo-balls and jade stones are used in succession to massage the face (this bit is super relaxing). A refreshing spritz and hyaluronic serum are then applied to finish treatment. 

My post facial glow started almost instantly and the next day my skin was smooth and radiant with blemishes were significantly reduced – I didn’t even need to wear foundation, which is unheard of for me in winter! 

I was also recommended after care including in-salon treatments, a bespoke programme with a stronger peel and the right products and skincare solutions to use on my skin. Many are available in salon for reasonable prices (except the peels which are professionally administered only) but it’s also handy to know, for example, that oil-free, retinol based products will work well on my skin and many of these are available from affordable high street brands. 

I loved Young LDN because of its relaxed, fun environment combined with its expert approach to skincare. It also markets itself heavily at teenagers, and I found myself wishing I’d had this education when I was younger and bemused by my breakouts! I left not only feeling instantly relaxed and with glowing skin but a much clearer idea of what I needed to do to maintain a healthy skincare routine, and much less overwhelmed by skincare terminology. It’s now one of my favourite London locations. I’ll definitely be back.

For more information on Young LDN treatments, products and prices, visit www.youngldn.com