Who Tried it: Alex Apatoff, Senior Style Editor
What is it: A LightStim anti-aging facial, which uses LED lights to make your skin look like this
Why I did it: I’d already done LED skin treatments on the cheap, and because I ascribe to the “Treat Yo Self” school of thought, I wanted to try the fancy version. I’m obsessed with pretty much everything Kate Somerville does (these are genius), except for the fact that she only has one location, so when I booked a last-minute trip to L.A., this was top of my to-do list
Level of difficulty: 0 (as with many high-end treatments, the only painful part is getting the bill at the end)
Courtesy Kate Somerville
Usually, if I’m going to splurge on a “just for me” beauty event, it’s going to be a massage (typing 1,035 stories about Kim Kardashian per week is doing horrible things to my upper back muscles). But if I’m in the same city as the dermatological superstar who invented this (and whose celebrity client roster is a who’s who of perfect skin), I’m going to reallocate my resources — and try the Cadillac of skin treatments while I’m there.
I picked the LightStim because I’d already tried LED light therapy with the Illumask and was interested to see how it compared to a professional treatment. And of course, I noticed the difference immediately when I walked into Somerville’s clinic, which was like the fanciest, most beautiful hotel I’ve ever been in. I wanted to go home and put on something nicer than my jeans to fit into the surroundings. Luckily, Lucy, my aesthetician, did not recoil in horror, but instead led me back to an equally gorgeous treatment room (photo above. Yes. Chandeliers).
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I don’t normally like to chat through treatments, but I could tell Lucy was super-knowledgable so I asked her every question I’d ever had about skincare. Can I use coconut oil on my face? (Yes, and my skin is so dry that I could probably try olive oil or castor oil instead.) Why am I not supposed to pick at my skin, but “extractions” during facials are okay? (Your pores are prepped from steam and exfoliation, and there’s no risk of breaking the skin with fingernails as there would be at home.) Is it okay that I am incredibly lazy about my skincare? (Laugh, long pause: Not really, but as long as I’m consistent with taking off my makeup, wearing sunscreen and moisturizing, it won’t do too much damage.) And then it was time for the LED part.
Ultimately it’s super-weird to sit still under an incredibly bright light over your eyeballs for 20 minutes and do nothing else. But I was astounded at how much better my face felt after the treatment. And when it came time to take a makeup-free selfie (quickly before any of the chic clientele saw me) I couldn’t believe that my skin looked glowing, fresh and smooth — like I had a layer of foundation on. I wore sunglasses and red lipstick all day, nothing else, and felt great about it.
Verdict: If you’re considering LED treatment for your skin already, I totally recommend it (whether you go professional or at-home) — it’s a smart add to a skincare routine that really does seem to work. And if you’re planning a trip to L.A., start saving your pennies for Kate Somerville’s spa, and get there like 30 minutes early you can relax with a magazine and a sparkling water in the fancy waiting area. Even if you’re staying in the grungiest AirBNB, it will make your whole visit feel luxe.
