How to win the ageing game

Laura Wood finally finds a beauty fix to staying youthful - without surgery...

We all know that 2016 was an ‘annus horribilis’ on a world level, and, for me, it was on a personal level too. Generally, I’d say I’m fairing up well in the ageing process but recent events were taking their toll on my 40-something skin and it got me thinking; how can these gorgeous celebrity women in their mid-40s (I’m looking at you, Jennifer Lopez) stay so darn youthful looking but be so adamant a needle has never gone near their skin.

I came across an article in W magazine, interviewing top dermatologists with A List clients and it became apparent that the secret to looking good without surgery isn’t just exercise, a balanced diet and monthly facials, it’s got rather a lot to do with the new hi-tech non-surgical treatments now available. With this very faint glimmer of hope that I too could age beautifully, I stepped inside the doors of Blossom Beauty in Marchmont where salon owner and skincare expert Amy Ramage introduced me to the wonderful world of CACI. The original CACI technology was developed in the US as a treatment for Bell’s Palsy and there’s more than 20 years of medical research behind it.

Nowadays, celeb-endorsed CACI facials use microcurrent impulses to lift and tone the facial and neck muscles, improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines. “It’s like a workout for your face and reeducates the muscles,” Amy explains. “I would recommend the treatment to anyone in the market for a facelift without surgery,” says Amy. “Whatever your age, it lifts, firms and re-contours the facial muscles, hence the brand name of a non-surgical facelift.” Just like a fitness blitz, it takes dedication and commitment to make lasting changes. For me, Amy recommended a course of 10 sessions carried out over a five week period. So did it work? Let’s see..

Week one

Skin analysis under a UV lamp is followed by the first treatment. It’s relaxing, leaves no redness and has immediate results. I would recommend a one-off for anybody looking for a ‘lift’ before a special occasion/ big night out. Two days later, I was back for treatment two.

Week two

After treatment three, my skin was super smooth and my lips looked plumper. By the fourth session, the microcurrents are turned up a notch and I was much more aware of the electrodes but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Week three

I left the salon after session five with a tighter face, defined jawline and a much brighter complexion. I noticed quite a difference in texture and plumpness to my skin going into the sixth session too.

Week four

My face looks even better after this week's sessions, possibly helped along by upgrading my usual at-home skincare routine from baby wipes to proper Dermalogica products.

Week five

For the final two sessions, Amy uses the machine to stimulate my neck muscles (they’re stronger than facial muscles so are left until last). After the tenth and final session, the transformation to my face and skin is subtle, natural but absolute. My cheeks look plumper, my eyes less heavy and my jawline is more defined. Hail, CACI! The way forward to youthful looking skin.