5th February 2014: Sutton Coldfield, Medizen Clinic: Since completing a detox ‘juice’ diet last week, juggling several work projects, and dealing with 2 small kids that were feeling under the weather, I have found myself increasingly tired and run down over the last few days, so it was no surprise that yesterday the dreaded seasonal flu bug hit me full on, the only way I could describe how I felt yesterday was ‘car crash wrecked’ my brain was fuzzy, a temperature of 38+ left me shivering all day like a pathetic lump, and my skin looked awful, dehydrated, sullen tired and lifeless. This sudden affliction couldn’t have come at a worst time as I am bang in the middle of filming two new shows for SKY TV Fitness and Beauty Channel, you can imagine how self-conscious I am feeling at this point with a camera pointing to me whilst I explain how sensational, healthy radiant looking skin can make you look younger and feel fantastic. I am thinking at this point …”I need a hero”.

Enter Dr. David Eccleston of Medizen Clinic in Sutton Coldfield with his enthusiastic offering of skin salvation via a treatment called Hydrafacial, after a brief consultation and explanation I am handed over to a delightful practitioner called Maureen who will be carrying out the treatment herself.

I take a very comfy position on the treatment couch and Maureen begins by cleansing and exfoliating my skin, *the junk, make-up, fake tan residue, dead skin, and black heads she clears from my skin is quite shocking, see the photo (left)*

This is just step one of a five step process, by step two I drift off to sleep, I’m not sure if it is a result of the the flu medications or Maureen’s hypnotic relaxing manner, but I can see why they’ve termed the treatment “Hydrasleep”  at Medizen.

Here is the Hydrafacial five step process:

Throughout the process of the treatment I feel no pain, no discomfort and no boredom, which is a bonus, when Maureen gently announces the treatment is over, I almost want to tell her to start all over again, as I simply cannot bear the thought of sitting up after being so comfy.

My big ‘reveal’ in the mirror is awesome, instantly my spirits are picked up for staring back at me is skin so soft to the touch it doesn’t feel like it belongs to me, days before it almost felt like chamois leather, and it was sullen, lacklustre and so very dry, however it now has a much needed glow and appears plumper on the cheeks. Apart from a bright red nose worn out during the day from Kleenex abuse, you would not be able to tell I have been ravaged by Flu, my Hydrafacial treatment has put back what was stripped from me in the last few days.

Its day 2 now, incase you’re thinking the results of Hydrafacial are short lived (as are most facials) think again, I am still consumed by the dreaded lurgey today but my skin looks fab, and my make up glides on like silk. I was called in for a BBC News TV interview this morning at very short notice, and the greatest compliment of all was being told by the newscaster that my skin looked great, now if that isn’t a good enough testimonial then I don’t know what is!

Hydrafacial will bring back ‘sexy’ to the skin from £98 – there are over 60 locations that provide  Hydrafacial.co.uk

My treatment was experienced at Medizen Clinic 

(Photo: below) My skin today 24 hours after my Hydrafacial