A couple of weeks ago, I headed to Young LDN, an edgy skincare clinic in the heart of Notting Hill, for a facial that could have been taken out of an episode of Games of Throne.
Called Fire & Ice , it promises to use the power of exfoliation, light therapy, and cryotherapy to resurface your skin, get rid of dark spots and wrinkles, and give you a youthful glow.
I went in sceptical. I got out with the best skin since the pandemic hit us. 10 days later, I still haven’t worn foundation. Yep, it’s that good.
What Is The Fire And Ice Treatment?Â
The Fire and Ice treatment is a bridge between a mild facial and an intensive peel. It’s designed to exfoliate skin, reduce fines lines and wrinkles, and boost collagen for healthier, firmer, younger-looking skin – without downtime.
Here are a few benefits you can expect:
- Fine lines and wrinkles look smaller
- Faded hyperpigmentation
- Promotion of cellular renewal and skin rejuvenation
- Youthful glow
Needless to say, you need multiple sessions to make a significant reduction in the signs of aging.
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Who Is The Fire & Ice Treatment Suitable For?
The Fire & Ice treatment is suitable for all skin types, except very sensitive skin that reacts badly to glycolic acid or high doses of Vitamin C.
Pre Treatment Care
To get the most out of the treatment (and avoid any unwanted side effects), follow these guidelines:
- No waxing or laser for 48 hours before treatment.
- Stop using retinoids and exfoliating products at least three days before treatment. If you’re on prescription retinoids, consult your aesthetician first to see if you’re a good candidate for this treatment.
- Let your aesthetician know if you’re pregnant or taking any kind of medication that may interfere with the treatment.
What Happens During The Fire & Ice Treatment?
The treatment has several steps:
Step 1: Double cleansing skin to remove every trace of makeup, dirt, impurities, and anything else that stands in the way of your skin soaking up all of this juicy goodness.
Step 2: The “Fire” portion of the treatment is a resurfacing mask formulated with enzymes and glycolic acid to deeply exfoliate skin and reveal the brighter, smoother surface hiding under all those dead skin cells. I’m not sure why this part of the treatment is called Fire. The mask felt very cooling, almost icy, on my skin upon application. But I was asked if I felt a burning sensation (a sign that exfoliation is damaging your skin). Thankfully, I didn’t. I only felt a slightly tingle that faded away quickly.
Step 3: The “Fire” portion of the treatment was followed by the “Ice” one, a deeply hydrating mask with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet that attracts and binds to your skin up to 1000 times its weight in water. All that extra moisture makes your skin super plump and soft.
Step 4: I had a few blackheads lodged in my nose, so we decided to take those out with manual extractions. It was painful, but worth it.
Step 5: Time for some cryotherapy. Now this is the truly icy part. Those little balls are kept in the freezer and the icy temperature isn’t that pleasant as they glide on your skin. This cold shock to the skin sends more blood – and as a result, more oxygen and nutrients – to the target area. The result? Toxins are flushed away. Water retention diminishes. Dark circles get smaller. Skin looks plumper and fresher.
Step 6: The next phase is red light therapy for 13 minutes. Let’s be clear. There’s no UV radiation or anything damaging here. Red light boosts collagen, helps reduce wrinkles, and improves skin softness, smoothness, and firmness.
Step 7: Time for another cleanse! This time with a gentle lactic acid cleanser to brighten and hydrate skin.
Step 8: An extra dose of hyaluronic acid, this time in the form of a leave-in serum for more hydrated, plumped skin.
Step 9: Another collagen boost, this time with a 20% Vitamin C serum. In its pure form, L-Ascorbic Acid, brightens the complexion, fights free radicals, and prevents wrinkles. Plus, when layered under sunscreen, it boosts sun protection too!
Step 10: No facial is complete until sunscreen is applied. Exfoliating skin makes it brighter, smoother, and softer – and more prone to sun damage. Using a sunscreen with a high SPF (and reapplying it religiously) is an absolute must.
Step 11: Your lips needs a little TLC too. The last touch is lip balm. It was so moisturising, my lips didn’t need a touch-up all day!
P.S. All products used during the Fire & Ice Treatments are from iS Clinical. The only exception is the lip balm (Image Skincare).
Related: Light Therapy For Skin: What Is It And Does It Work?
Post Treatment Care
Although there’s no downtime, that doesn’t mean you can go back to your usual skincare routine immediately. Your skin has just shed a lot of dead cells and needs some TLC. Here’s how:
- Wear sunscreen religiously: Dead cells help protect skin from sun damage. Now they’re off your face, your skin’s more susceptible to UV damage. Apply sunscreen generously in the morning and as needed during the day.
- No harsh actives: No retinoids or exfoliation for a few days after the treatment. Give your skin time to recover.
- Basic skincare routine: For the next few days after the treatment, be gentle with your skin and focus on the basics. Cleanse. Moisturiser. Hydrating serum. Sunscreen. You don’t need anything else.
What Are The Results?
After the treatment, my skin was GLOWING. It was brighter and positively radiant.
That’s partly because of the exfoliation and partly because of the hydration. All that extra moisture made my skin plumper, softer, and smoother to the sight and touch.
The treatment also boosts collagen to maintain these results for a few weeks afterwards. It can also help to fade away wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, but you’ll need multiple sessions to see significant results in those areas.
Are There Any Side Effects?
If your skin’s particularly sensitive, you may experience mild redness for a few hours. For most people (yours truly included), there’s no downtime. At all. You can have it done and go straight to the office (or on a date).
How Much Is The Fire And Ice Treatment?
The Fire & Ice Treatment is £149.00 at Young LDN, 228 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RH. You can also pay in installments wit Klarna or Laybuy.
The Bottom Line
10 days after the facial, some of the blackheads had come back. But, that nuisance aside, my skin still looked amazing. Brighter. Smoother. I still haven’t gone back to wearing foundation. If you have a special occasion coming home or just feel like treating yourself and your skin, I definitely recommend the Fire & Ice Treatment. It bridges the gap between a mild facial and a more invasive peel – and has no downtime.
