Lifestyle

Spa of the week: we try Barbara Sturm’s legendary Instant Glow facial at the Corinthia Hotel



Dr. Barbara Sturm is a one of the great pioneers of the skincare world. Originally an orthopaedic doctor, Sturm transitioned into beauty in 2002 – when she created the MC1 cream which is made using a patient’s blood plasma.

Nearly 17 years later, Sturm’s products are now Hollywood’s go-to, her Molecular Cosmetics line is one of the top performing skincare brands on Net-a-Porter and Sturm has launched her treatments in a number of the world’s top locales – including Hong Kong’s recently opened hotel The Murray, and a dedicated 1,300 square foot Barbara Sturm space that launched in New York City earlier this year.

Sturm’s Molecular Cosmetic’s line has now found another home at London’s Corinthia Hotel , and we tested out her best-seller, the Instant Glow Facial, below.

Famous for:

Sturm has garnered a cult following for a good reason – her highly innovative approach to skincare uses science as its basis and has attracted a legion of fans including Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Irina Shayk. The German aesthetics doctor has developed a string of non-surgical anti-ageing treatments since launching her legendary MC1 cream in 2002. Sturm is also the woman behind the infamous ‘vampire facial’.

Dr. Barbara Sturm

The treatment:

Walking into Corinthia’s spa, you know you’re in for a treat. With its dedicated ESPA spa spanning four floors with 17 treatment rooms, the Barbara Strum treatments are an exciting addition to an already world-class spa.

For the uninitiated, rooms at the Corinthia are pod-like and the music in the background is not your regular spa music but rather a soothing playlist, something you’d want on in the background on a Sunday morning.

My therapist, Laura, ran me through the treatment and asked if I would like an extraction (a yes from me) before leaving me to place myself on the table. The heated table was contoured for extra comfort and as soon as I lay down I was instantly relaxed.

Opting for the Instant Glow Facial, Sturm’s science behind this uses purslane to nourish the skin and Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract to optimise skin tone. The added Wild Rose extract helps to refine pores.

The facial began with a deep cleanse before exfoliating the skin and leaving me under steam for a few minutes while my shoulder and neck was massaged. The pore extraction was probably the least painful I’ve experienced – but the results when I looked at the end were just as good.

Pure Hyaluronic Serum was then applied to penetrate the skin even further before a heavenly-smelling mask was lathered on. While the mask soaked in, a shoulder and arm massage was performed before finishing with a layer of rich moisturiser and glow-inducing oils. By the end I was so relaxed I could have happily drifted off to sleep.

Verdict:

When the treatment finished, not only was I in a deep state of relaxation, but my skin was quite literally glowing (probably due to the oil application at the end). While I did wake up with a couple of spots the following morning, overall my skin look rejuvenated and fresh.

(Corinthia)

You’ll leave feeling…

Ready for bed and a strict Sturm convert.

Barbara Sturm’s Instant Glow Facial is £195 for 60 minutes. espalifeatcorinthia.com/dr-barbara-sturm.

To find out more about Sturm’s partnership with The Murray, visit niccolohotels.com.



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