The beauty hall in Harvey Nichols Leeds has a cacophonic and yet strangely balanced atmosphere. The perfume brands haven’t doused ever surface with their samples, and for all that the brand representatives are happy to share their luxury wares with you, they’re never pushy, they simply wait for your curiosity to get the better of you. Before approaching Valmont I enjoyed watching the team whilst they guided another visitor through their skin care recommendations, listening intently and considering every need before making a suggestion. I loved seeing these interactions, but that’s not what this article about. It’s actually about an 8 step cleansing facial from Valmont that left my skin feeling healthy, balanced and hydrated — which is a virtual impossibility in my world.
“If other luxury skin care brands are chocolate, Valmont is cocoa.”
Big words to live up to, but the team’s enthusiasm for the product range and their understated confidence was more reassuring than anything else could be. With that I was led away to the quiet treatment rooms nestled on the first floor. If you want this to be a serene and peaceful experience with little to no talking, never fear! The comfortable silences came easily and passed without tension, with that said, I am a nosy journalist, and my therapist was more than happy to answer my endless list of questions.
Having gone in with bare skin and just a hint of added eyebrows and blush there was little to do in the way of makeup removal, but even a full face of makeup wouldn’t have slowed down the facial by all accounts:
“We have two different makeup removers that we use for this treatment, a micellar based Icy Falls (which was used on my skin) and the more intensive Wonder Falls which is designed for use on heavier makeup.”
From here my mind drifted away as a series of hot towels and fresh cleansers were swept on and off of my face, neck and shoulders; the products soaking in so quickly a second round was sometimes needed. As a person with oily skin, I rarely consider the possibility of my skin being dehydrated, but alas, I have been proven wrong. My skin drank in the DetO2x cream faster than I can down an Old Fashioned after a long week of work (not the best for my skin, but the most honest metaphor that comes to mind), and then once it finished the first round, it begged for more, which my therapist willingly reapplied.
“When we mention these facials, they’re all instantly booked.” This is a feat that many brands cannot claim, especially not less than 2 months into their beauty hall tenure. Valmont has hit the ground running, and after one visit I understand why they get so much repeat custom, both from domestic and international visitors.
Price wise, I must confess, that when I first learned the cost of a Valmont facial, the former broke student in me had a small heart attack. With that said, 45 minutes was more than enough time to understand why this treatment is so worth it. As someone who not is enthralled by the idea of botox and fillers (although if that’s what makes your heart sing, then you do you) this is a fantastic alternative. My skin was plump, fresh and felt even better than it looked. There was of course a looming breakout that follows all good facials, but it was very much minimised by the glow coming from the rest of me — both inside and out. As good as Valmont products felt on my skin, the treatment by the team left me just as happy.
This is the kind of treatment and range I can honestly write about with no tinge of cynicism, which feels just as fabulous as anything else.
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