'I tried a $400 facial using cold water that promises brighter skin. Here's my honest verdict.'

Before I ventured into the world of fashion writing, I was a beauty editor, which meant getting a facial done every week (often multiple times a week) was the norm. I know, I know, verrrrry hard life. 

And when I wasn't surrounded by professionals prodding at my face, I was researching and picking their brains about what skincare would work for me. 

Watch: School Of Skin. Post continues below.

Ever since I was young, I've been obsessed with all things skin.

In high school, I spent hours reading up on how to tame my acne and enormous pores, then when I climbed that hurdle I tackled my issue with hydration. Now, at 28, I look for ways to minimise fine lines and keep my skin looking youthful and plump.

As a result, I've tried hundreds of skincare products — it's safe to say my face has been through it. Not only was it a part of my job, but I genuinely wanted to see what worked and what didn't, even if that meant burning off the first few layers of skin.

So when KAILO Medispa in Brisbane offered me the opportunity to try their famous BR facial, I couldn't resist. My skin was in some serious need of TLC, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

BR, short for Biologique Recherche, is a French skincare brand best known for its customised skin treatments. The products are raw, cold-formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients. Yet, what truly sets them apart is their facial techniques, meticulously developed by a French physiotherapist.

I had always wanted to try the BR facial, mainly because fellow beauty editors would swear by their products.

So I, of course, decided to take you along for the ride and share my honest thoughts...

What you need to know about KAILO Medispa.

Image: Supplied.

KAILO is the in-house spa of the famous Calile Hotel in Brisbane, which was recently recognised as the top 12th hotel in the world. So, you already know the spa is going to be an unforgettable experience.

And don't just take it from me — after all, the spa has been awarded Australia's No.1 medispa for six consecutive years. 

Even Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are a fan, having visited KAILO during their Australian tour a few weeks back. 

So if you live in Brisbane, or happen to be visiting, be sure to check it out. You can head straight to the spa once you take a dip in the stunning Calile pool.

What a treat.

What is the BR Facial?

The BR facial is a tailor-made treatment curated for each individual's skin concerns, meaning no two facials will be the same. 

KAILO is one of the few clinics in the country — and the only one in Queensland — to offer this treatment, and that's because each therapist must undergo extensive training with the Paris-based Biologique Recherche team to master the techniques.

While the products used will always vary, the techniques remain the same. The treatment focuses on draining and lifting the face and starts with an in-depth diagnosis of the skin to identify any areas of concern.

My experience.

Now, just a bit of background, I have dehydrated, combination skin. Meaning my face appears quite dry, but by the end of the day, there's a layer of oil that's hard to miss.

As mentioned before, I'm 28, so while I'm not showing any major signs of ageing, I do have fine lines here and there that I wanted to address. 

Before starting the treatment, I met with the lovely KAILO therapist, who assessed my skin and explained exactly what she would be using on me. 

And unsurprisingly, she discovered that my skin needed some extra hydration and slight lifting. It was also around this time that she mentioned something I didn't expect — she would be using cold water instead of warm. (Honestly, she could've told me she was planning on pouring boiling water down my face and I would have trusted her with my eyes closed.)

This isn't a high-tech treatment with fancy technology and painful devices (AKA Morpheus8). Instead, it delivers results through gentle techniques and effective skincare.

The treatment was an hour long, and for one hour, I forgot about my troubles and descended into pure bliss.

While the cold water is obviously an unusual experience for a facial, I barely noticed the sensation once the therapist began massaging my face. She would apply the skincare and pull the skin upwards, eliminating any tension that I was carrying in my temple and jawline area.

It was comprehensive, and along with my face, she also massaged my scalp and my hands. 

By the end of it, I felt as if I was floating.

The products that were used on me throughout the treatment. Image: Supplied.

13 products were used on me in total, including the brand's famous Lotion P50 PIGM 400. Other products include the Lait VIP O2, Booster Soin Lissant, Mask VIP O2 for brightening combined with the Masque Visolastine for deep hydration.

As for serums, the therapist created a cocktail of the Collagene Originel, Colostrum VG, Serum A-Glyca and VG Tensil. She finished the entire treatment off with the Biofixine Eye Cream, the Creme Grand Millesime moisturiser and the Serum Yall O2.

Because this is a non-invasive treatment, the downtime is zero. In fact, I hopped on a flight back to Sydney immediately after and no one was the wiser.

My verdict.

With facials, I usually recommend more than one treatment to see results, but with the BR facial, I noticed a difference immediately. My skin felt smoother, the texture was pretty much gone, and the tone was a lot more even than when I walked in.

Immediately after. Image: Supplied.

But I also found that because of the facial massage, my face appeared more "snatched". I don't mean to toot my own horn, but if you judged me on my skin alone, then you would think I've been keeping up with my water intake.

Ignore the deadpan face, but LOOK AT MY SKIN — this was after a week. Image: Supplied.

I did find that throughout the week my skin purged and I broke out into small pimples, however, that subsided after a few days and I was left with skin that was clear and renewed.

As for the price, the BR facial starts from $320, and you have the option to pick between 60, 90 or 120 minutes. So yes, it is definitely on the pricey side. 

But if you feel like treating yourself to a non-invasive facial that feels super luxe, I'd highly recommend it. 

To see Kailo Mediaspa's full offering, click here. 

This writer travelled as a guest of Kailo Medispa. 

Feature Image: Supplied.

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