Before your treatment, we ask that you avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds for at least 48 hours. Please stop any active exfoliants, scrubs and acid products for 48 hours beforehand, and arrive with the skin clean and free of makeup, oils and perfume.

If you use prescription retinoids, or you are having active skin treatment elsewhere, let us know when you book. We will need clearance before proceeding.

Because the skin sheds for several days afterwards, think about your timing. If you have an event coming up, tell us and we will plan around it.

If this is your first visit, please allow an additional 30 minutes for your consultation. You will be asked to sign an informed consent form so we can confirm there is nothing in your history that makes this treatment unsuitable.

Your skin is cleansed and prepared, then the spicules are massaged evenly into the treatment area. This is done by hand, without a device, and the skin is not broken.

Most clients feel a prickling or tingling sensation that builds as the spicules settle into the upper layers. It is distinctive and it is meant to happen. It is the treatment working, not a sign that something is wrong. Tell your therapist how it feels as you go, because the sensation can be managed.

Treatment actives are then applied. The micro-channels created by the spicules allow those actives to travel further into the skin than they otherwise would, which is a large part of why the treatment works.

The treatment itself takes approximately 30 minutes, and a finishing mask is included. LED can be added if your therapist recommends it.

Your skin will usually feel tight, warm and sensitive immediately afterwards, and may look flushed. The prickling sensation can continue for several hours.

Shedding typically begins around day three and settles by about day seven. This is the point of the treatment rather than a side effect. The skin underneath is newer, clearer and more refined.

While your skin is shedding, do not pick, scrub or peel it, and keep away from active exfoliants and acids. Let it come away on its own. Moisturise as advised and use sun protection every day without exception, because new skin is vulnerable to sun damage.

We recommend leaving the skin bare until the shedding has settled before returning to makeup. Your therapist will give you a timeframe based on your skin.

Depending on your skin and your goals, you are likely to need three to five treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart, to reach the result you are after. We will map that out with you.