Power Facials: the lazy girl guide to rejuvenating winter skin

I recently underwent a course of four Power Facials over four months with skin guru Eavanna Breen and wow, do the results speak for themselves. I had been suffering from dry, dull, tired skin over the winter months and was looking for a non-invasive skincare treatment that would perk and plump up my skin and help to give me back some glow. Essentially I was looking for a lazy girl solution to help me feel—and lookless haggard with the least amount of effort possible and so I found myself sitting in Eavanna’s consultation room ready to do whatever it took to achieve that.

In our first session together, Eavanna measured my skin’s hydration and collagen levels and much to my dismay, both were on a downward trend. While not uncommon for someone who has reached their mid 30s, I was determined to reverse this. Unphased, Eavanna got to work, ordering me a bespoke Skinmade moisturiser that I could use at home daily to directly target and supercharge my current collagen and hydration levels. She then explained to me that her signature Power Facials would combine four advanced modalities from light chemical peels, microneedling with stem cells and exosomes, to laser genesis skin rejuvenation and LED light therapy, all of which would ultimately result in rejuvenated, younger and healthier looking skin. I had never tried any of this before but I was sold!

As Eavanna got started on the chemical peel, which removes dead skin cells to promote cell turnover and a fresher complexion, I frantically played on repeat in my head the scene from Sex & The City where Samantha’s face practically peels off after a particularly enthusiastic chemical peel. I was pleasantly surprised to feel (and see afterwards!) that this was a much gentler, but still effective, approach to skin exfoliation.

Next up was the microneedling and exosomes part, which I was particularly intrigued to try out given all the talk these days about ‘salmon sperm’ and the wide-reaching benefits of stem cells in creating a more natural youthful appearance. Eavanna herself uses an ethically sourced umbilical cord lining stem cell serum which is packed with proteins and stimulates collagen production, addresses fine lines and promotes overall skin rejuvenation. Tick, tick, tick. By using microneedles to create microchannels in the skin, the exosomes can be directly absorbed into your skin. While this microneedling part is uncomfortable, especially around the eye and neck area, it is absolutely bearable and over quickly.

In the next step, advanced laser technology is used to heat up your dermis and further stimulate collagen production, ultimately reducing redness, improving your skin texture and minimising fine lines. I found the steady beep and hum of the laser machine as Eavanna worked really soothing – this part of the treatment is relaxing.

The final part of the Power Facial, and my favourite part, uses non-thermal wavelength LED light energy to promote skin healing, reduce inflammation and enhance skin clarity, tone and texture. I liken this part to a meditation as you relax with the mask on while your mind wanders. The perfect winddown before back to reality!

Overall, I found the downtime from the treatment really minimal, despite its potency and effectiveness. There is some redness and you are advised not to wear make-up for 24 hours, and to avoid using vitamin C and retinol for up to five days, so I tended not to make social plans for a day around the treatment. I continued the treatments monthly for four months, in conjunction with using my bespoke Skinmade moisturiser daily, and did notice a visible brightening and smoothing to my skin complexion and overall a more glowy and youthful appearance, so surely my collagen is back on the rise!

For someone who is generally quite lazy about my skincare maintenance and who enthusiastically partakes in quarterly Botox as a solution to all my skincare problems, this was the ultimate add-on needed to boost my skin to the next level and make me feel more in control of my skincare. I would definitely recommend anyone pay a visit to Eavanna Breen to explore a bespoke package.

Eavanna Breen Signature Power Facials, 75 minutes, €485 per session, eavannabreen.ie.