Facial treatments used to be something you did before a wedding or after a breakup. But somewhere between the rise of clinical skincare and the collective fatigue with DIY everything, they’ve taken on a new role.
Now, it’s much less about indulgence and much more about targeted, technical intervention. But if your skin is already in decent shape (aka not yet crying for help), the question becomes sharper: what treatments are worth it?
Skinstorm is a multi-layered facial with a complex protocol but a clear objective: to oxygenate the skin, strengthen the skin barrier, boost hydration, and improve tone and texture.
I booked in to see whether the six-step treatment could live up to its promise, and to find out what it actually feels like to put your face through cryo, peels, LED light and pressure infusion, all in one session. But first:
What Is Skinstorm?
Skinstorm is a six-step, technology-driven facial developed by Crystal Clear, a UK-based brand known for its microdermabrasion and microneedling machines.
Launched in September 2023, it combines elements like cryotherapy, oxygen infusion, and LED light therapy to address various skin concerns, including dryness, pigmentation, and signs of aging (making it suitable for pretty much anyone – whether you have very specific concerns or simply need a quick pick-me-up)
Skinstorm is available at select clinics across the UK, including The Clinic Holland Park and The Secret Door in London. It’s definitely not your standard facial; it’s more intensive and clinical.
Prices reflect that, averaging £350 depending on the clinic and package. While you see results with one session only (I certainly did), a few sessions are recommended depending on your skin concerns. Now onto the experience itself:
The Skintorm experience
The Skintorm treatment is delivered using its very own SkinStorm machine, which features five specialised handpieces or ‘wands’, each tailored to a specific step in the facial. These wands use a range of technologies, including oxygenation, exfoliation, and LED therapy, to target different skin concerns effectively. All skincare products used during the treatment are from Crystal Clear.
1. The Oxygen Ice Vortex Cleanse
The facial started with a deep cleanse using something called the Oxygen Ice Vortex. The clinician used a wand that blew a cold mist over my face while at the same time drawing impurities out with suction. It didn’t sting or tingle, but it was definitely brisk which, after a minute or so, felt oddly refreshing. Think sticking your face in the fridge on a hot day.
The cleanser used was infused with oxygen and niacinamide. As the clinician explained, these help brighten and prep the skin for everything that follows. My skin felt clean in a way that was different from a traditional double cleanse. Almost like it had been cleared of everything, but without that dry, tight feeling I sometimes get from facials.
2. Resurface and Heal with Phototherapy Light
Next was exfoliation using a microdermabrasion device, paired with LED light therapy. I usually avoid exfoliants like the plague because I’m prone to dryness, but this felt very controlled. After that, I had LED light therapy. It was a mix of red, blue, and green lights which are meant to help with blemishes and pigmentation.
3. Oxygen Ice Peel
Then came the peel, which was one of the colder moments of the facial. A blend of alpha hydroxy acids was applied using another chilled wand, delivering a chemical exfoliant and dissolved oxygen in one go. The cold was sharper this time – more like a freezing puff of air than the mist from earlier.
4. Oxygen Ice Needling with Drone Technology
This was the most sci-fi sounding part of Skinstorm. Thankfully, in practice, it wasn’t intimidating at all (even for somebody that has never done micro needling).
There were no actual needles – instead, a device pulsed against my skin while infusing it with a serum. The “ice” part came from the continuous cooling effect. My clinician explained that this technique helps push active ingredients deeper. Meanwhile, the ‘drone technology’ part refers to how the ingredients are encapsulated for targeted delivery.
5. High-Pressure Injection
This step used compressed air to push more product into the skin. No needles here either, just a short, targeted burst that was slightly startling at first but completely painless. It made a soft puffing sound, and each pass felt like a cool hit of hydration going deep into my skin. The idea here is to firm and hydrate in a more intensive way, especially around areas like the cheeks and forehead.
6. Triple Fusion Phototherapy
The final step was LED therapy again, this time with a wider spectrum of light including near-infrared. I laid back with my eyes covered as the machine hovered over me, emitting light to boost circulation and encourage collagen production. This was the most passive part of the treatment and felt almost meditational.
With so many active steps, I was apprehensive – but surprisingly, my skin didn’t feel overloaded or irritated at all. To finish the hour-long treatment (which, honestly, completely flew by), the clinician applied a generous layer of a peel-off clay mask. Because really, what’s a skincare treatment without a good old clay mask, even after all the tech and cryo and light therapy?
To book or not to book?
This facial is nothing like you’ve seen before and, as it happens most often than not, that’s a good thing. It was an intensive yet somehow very soothing experience. I particularly enjoyed the cryotherapy elements (being a big fan of cold treatments myself). The cooling sensation was invigorating and left my skin feeling really refreshed.
As someone with generally good skin that tends to be on the drier side, I found the treatment to be as comprehensive and effective as a one-hour treatment can get.
I can’t speak to its efficacy for specific skin concerns like acne or pigmentation. However, just walking out of the clinic barefaced and confident was a testament to the treatment’s effectiveness. My skin felt so clean, lifted, and radiant that I genuinely didn’t want to cover it up.
The price point is higher than standard facials. Yet, considering the advanced technology and results, it could be a worthwhile investment depending on your needs.