I Tried My First Ever Tech Facial: Here’s Why I’ll Definitely Be Back
Main image – Courtesy of writer
“Is this your first tech facial?” Lisa Franklin London’s aesthetic nurse asked, as I peered up at her from the Champagne-coloured sofa. I nodded my head and sipped my grapefruit-infused water – it was, and I was more than a little nervous.
A tech facial is a skincare treatment that uses advanced technology to address specific skin concerns. The CACI Flex Facial, specifically, is designed to lift and define your jawline using microcurrent and LED light therapy.
And while I’m always here for a little more face definition, it doesn’t take much to irritate and redden my acne-prone skin. I wasn’t convinced that sending collagen-stimulating microcurrents through my skin would leave it calm and glowy.
So, whether you have sensitive skin like me, or you’re simply intrigued about trying the CACI Flex Facial, buckle up – I’m treating you to my honest thoughts.
The vibe
Lisa Franklin London is in South Kensington, just around the corner from my fave take-my-mum-for-coffee-and-cake spot – L’ETO CAFFE. It’s the brand’s London flagship, but the treatments are offered all over the country.
It’s on the fourth floor of a beautiful old London building, and the inside feels clean, but kind of soft and calm, rather than clinical. The treatment room itself was radiant with sunlight, and I can confirm that the bed was supremely comfy (it didn’t take me long to whip my top off and get under the crisp sheets – I was asked to do this).
Image – Courtesy of writer
The benefits
The key benefit of the CACI Flexi Facial is to lift and define your jawline. But it’s also designed to do other things like:
- Soothe and depuff your skin
- Boost your circulation (less redness, more glow)
- Smooth overall texture
- Stimulate collagen for plumper skin
Who it’s for
The CACI Flex Facial is technically a ‘non-surgical face lift’ which sounds intimating. So, can all skin types have the face lift? I asked the (incredibly friendly and helpful) aesthetic nurse Kené. She explained that anyone with any skin type can have the treatments, and that the practitioner can tailor the strength of the microcurrents (and the products involved) to your particular skin type.
Basically, it’s totally customisable – so the nurse can tweak the facial that it suits your skin. It was time for me to put the CACI Flex Facial to the test.
The actual facial
“One of my clients comes in and says: ‘lift me!’” Kené told me, as I bombarded her with questions while I adjusted my selfie stick for action. This made me feel a little more comfortable – then it began.
Step 1: LIFT
Image – Courtesy of writer
“How is it feeling on the skin?” “It feels quite nice actually!” I said – giggling as I watched the nurse massage my face with two thin metal probes (they do have a technical name, they are called CACI Quad Probes) that have LED red light glowing out of them.
Kené detected my nervousness and regularly checked in on whether the feeling was much. The purpose of this stage is to activate your muscles, as if they are doing hundreds of tiny sit-ups, to tighten the look of your skin. The feeling wasn’t painful, but it was a little uncomfortable and it give me a slight metallic taste in my mouth.
Step 2: CONTOUR
Image – Courtesy of writer
Next, was the contour stage. Here, Kené used techy gua sha on my skin. This wasn’t your average smooth-edged skin scraper, it was made from a special electroplated stainless steel to release tiny little microcurrents as it massaged my skin.
The goal? The gua sha itself is designed to promote lymphatic drainage (get rid of excess fluid) to depuff and sculpt the skin, and the currents stimulate more collagen production for elasticity. This part felt much mild and even enjoyable – it was like receiving a gentle face massage with a side of tickle.
Step 3: ENERGISE
Image – Courtesy of writer
Honestly, I’d never experienced anything quite like this before. Kené smoothed a Microcurrent Energising Mask on my face, which just looked like a sheet mask. In fact, I thought it was just a sheet mask – but I was wrong.
Instead, it was printed with something called a silver conductive electronic circuit to send microcurrents to your skin. These little microcurrent encourage your skin to repair more quickly, so the face mask is great for healing unwanted spots, scars and pigmentation.
Once the sheet mask had been applied, Kené used a sweet little fan brush to dab water on it. I asked if it lights up (sadly, a no) but Kené explained that it’s “the same concept of the microcurrent but in the form of a mask, and the water works as a conductivity booster to help it work even more.”
This is the last stage of the facial, and it felt a little tingly, but not uncomfortable at all.
My results
[Before]
Image – Courtesy of writer
[After]
Image – Courtesy of writer
There was only one way to describe the result: a mew to rival Timothee Chalamet.
My (usually red skin) was slightly pink from all the attention, but it just looked flushed, like I’d just come back from a run or someone had given me a compliment.
My jawline actually did look more defined (and I’m a sceptic) and my face did look a little more radiant and awake. My muscles had been worked hard, and for the next day or so I had that feeling you get when you’ve been smiling so much that your jaw aches. I noticed the results *even* more the next day, and they lasted for four days or so.
The takeaway
I can totally see why the A-listers are into it – if I was a celeb, I’d definitely nip down to Lisa London Franklin for a pre-red-carpet confidence boost.
For best results, you do need to go a lot. The aesthetic nurse told me that you need to go in once or twice a week, and after three weeks you’ll notice a real difference in lift in your skin.
I did ask if there’s anything you can do at home to prolong results or try and stretch out between-clinic visits and the practitioner said that you can use an LED mask at home (red LED light can help stimulate collagen production and soothe at the same time, for an at-home plumping effect), but for best results you really need to pop in for the real deal.
I’ve only had one session (rather than the full treatment shebang) but my experience was delightful. If you have the means (and the time), and you’re a tech facial newbie – then the CACI Flex Facial is well worth a try.
The vibe is welcoming, the staff are attentive and kind, and I have the selfies to prove that the CACI Flex Facial gives instant lift and glow.
Get Glowing!
