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21 August 2012

Purchase the spring issue of Denizen magazine and trial for yourself the wonderfully plumping hydrating powers of Sothys Hydradvance.

I have just arisen from a wonderful slumber; one brought on by the blissful relaxation that is the result of a truly wonderful facial. I hazard a guess that I have racked up hundreds of facials over the years; they are my true indulgence, my escapism, a great facial not only gives me the benefits of skin rejuvenation, but also leaves me feeling totally and utterly relaxed.

But as we all know, not all facials are created equal; it’s an often-fraught affair trying to track down the best combination of a great facialist and a good product that delivers the results it’s claiming.

My recent blissfulness was at the hands of Meghan Thompson, the masterful trainer for the French luxury skincare brand Sothys. Meghan’s job is to pass on her skill, wisdom, and truly magical technique to Sothys’ clinic staff around the country.

After a period of both external and internal stresses on my poor body, I have been in desperate need for a pick me up. Publishing magazines might seem all glitz and glamour from the outside, but the truth is more like that of a swan, graceful and calm on the outside, but below the surface feet are paddling like mad in a bid to stay afloat. In a desperate bid to regain my long lost healthy looking skin I knew I was well overdue for some serious TLC and most importantly, hydration.

Skin that is not properly hydrated, bluntly put, means that fine lines and wrinkles look more like cracks and crevices – not pretty on anyone. Proper skin hydration improves the barrier function of the skin, accelerates the skin’s metabolism and promotes skin regeneration. It’s really no different to leaving your lawn unwatered – good things happen as soon as you add hydration.

Sothys’ newest innovation is their Hydradvance Cosmeceutic Programme, which, thanks to the addition of 1055 Boletus Extract, stimulates the genes to restore the skin’s ability to rehydrate itself. And what, I hear you ask, is 1055 Boletus Extract? Well it is in fact a delectable edible mushroom, prized the world over for its refined flavour. It’s rich in Vitamin B3, which in turn makes it great for reducing the effects of skin ageing, along with Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. And I guess if you consider that the mushroom flourishes amongst moist environments, it makes perfect sense that an extract from a mushroom would deliver very hydrating results.

Meghan starts my 1 ½ hour facial by first removing all of the makeup and impurities from my grubby face using Sothys Normalising Beauty Milk. The first thing I notice is how delicious it smells, the grapefruit extract is heavenly and it reminds me why the French are so good at skincare. To me, a great experience should treat all of your senses with equal consideration.

After another deeper cleanse to make sure all of the nasties are gone, Meghan moves on to the Hydradvance Intensive Treatment. The Hydradvance Intensive Treatment involves five stages; exfoliate, rehydrate, regenerate, plump and rebalance. The exfoliation stage offers dual-action by not only removing impurities, but also restoring suppleness to my skin while doing so.

The three separate phases of rehydration, regeneration and plumping involve the application of a series of delicious creams and lotions that envelope my skin in a veil of softness, while Meghan’s various massaging techniques leave me in a state of heavenly bliss.

The rebalance phase is where Meghan applies the all important take home products, the ones that will continue her good work long after I have left the comfort of her clinic. The Hydradvance Intensive Hydrating Serum will fill in what remains of any fine lines and wrinkles, while the Light Hydrating Crème completes my treatment.

After 90 minutes of sheer bliss I float out of the clinic with skin that is undeniably plump. Sothys claim that 80% of people thought their skin looked younger after one treatment – and I totally agree.

The Hydradvance Intensive Treatment is available from Sothys clinics, spas and salons nationwide and is $155 for a 90 minute facial.

To find your nearest Sothys Salon click here.

Because we are so caring and we don’t want you to miss out on trialling this wonderful product for yourself, every purchase of our Spring issue of Denizen magazine from magazine retail outlets comes with a free Hydradvance Intensive Serum (10ml) valued at $35.