Darlington’s Beauty Lounge is celebrating its fifth birthday with the launch of a new range of super-facials. Jenny Needham reports

It is five years since Sarah-Jane Tipper first renovated a run-down building in Grange Road, Darlington’s designer district, and transformed it into a successful beauty salon. And to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Beauty Lounge, she’s launched a new series of Elemis super-facials.

Elemis is also celebrating an anniversary – its 25th - 25 years during which its particular combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has turned the company into the number one British spa brand.

“I wanted to introduce something new to mark the double anniversary and the amazing Elemis Biotec machine was perfect,” says Sarah-Jane. “There are lots of different applications on the same machine, so instead of you looking at the price guide or chatting to us beforehand and picking a treatment, we can book you in for a Biotec facial and then tailor-make it to suit you on the spot, once we have cleansed your skin and taken a good look at it up close.”

Whether you have signs of ageing, dull and tired, blemish-prone or even sagging skin, Elemis Biotec seems to have it covered. Each facial contains powerful plant actives, peptides, anti-oxidants and essential oils, expertly formulated to penetrate deep into the skin and re-charge the cells’ energy.

There are seven new Biotech facials to choose from - Anti-Wrinkle, Firming, Resurfacing, Radiance, Blemish Control, Sensitive Skin and a Men’s facial. Each uses a specific cocktail of concentrated serums, plus a new five-in-one facial machine that offers a combination of ultrasonic, micro-current, oxygen and light therapy to lift, smooth, brighten or purify your skin, depending on your complexion needs.

“Most treatments are one-dimensional, but the Elemis Biotec machine has five different settings, and that’s what is so exciting about it,” says Sarah-Jane. “In the past there’s been Caci for facial toning, Crystal Clear for microdermabrasion, the this, the that and the other… but this machine offers a series of treatments all in one.”

Ultrasonic deep cleanses the skin and gently exfoliates; the microcurrent firms and tones the skin; galvanic propels high-potency serums deep into the skin; and light therapy rebalances the skin and can be used to zap acne. The technology I liked the best was oxygen infusion. It sounds a bit like a mini pneumatic drill and uses powerful bursts of compressed air to push into the skin a combination of 95 per cent pure oxygen and anti-ageing serums to plump out fine lines and increase skin firmness. When I investigated my face at the end of the treatment, it looked full and fleshy, and the deep lines on my brow and around my mouth looked much less deep. A week later, my skin still looked much improved.

I had chosen the Triple-Tec Anti-Wrinkle Facial, which incorporates three of the technologies, and once it had been treated to these and a succession of serums, Amber Massage Balm and soothing hydragel eye masks, my skin looked fresh and felt thoroughly divested of dirt and old skin cells.

Sarah-Jane, who lives in Sedgefield, has built up her experience in the beauty industry over a number of years, both at home and abroad, first working aboard cruise ships before helping to set up Seaham Hall spa. Her first brush with Elemis was as a regional sales manager for the brand before she decided to open Beauty Lounge.

“I’m not surprised Elemis is still going strong after 25 years,” she says. “The products are all very natural; they use active bases as well as active ingredients and clinical trials prove the products are hugely effective in combating ageing and improving skin tone.”

As well as Elemis facials, the salon offers a full range of treatments, including Caci – which is still very popular, “like taking your face to the gym,” says Sarah-Jane - body sculpting and cellulite treatments, as well as wraps. She does have male clients too, “mainly for back and chest waxing, and the odd one for eyebrow shaping”.

Not one to sit on her laurels, she’s very excited about the latest addition to her stable of treatments. “There really is an Elemis Biotec facial for everyone,” she says, “whether you have ultra-sensitive skin, blemishes, or are getting married or having a fab night out and want your skin to look its best.”

That last one’s the Sonic Skin Resurfacing Facial, by the way.

Win an Elemis Biotec facial

To stand the chance of winning an Elemis gift set worth £25 and free Biotec facial, email name and address and the answer to the following question to info@beautyloungedarlington.co.uk. Put Northern Echo Competition in the subject line of your email. Five runners-up will get a Biotec facial at half price.

Q: How many Elemis Biotec facials are there to choose from?

The Elemis Biotec facials start from £50 and the Beauty Lounge is offering readers 20 per cent off through May.

To book or for more information, call 01325-469305; W: beautyloungedarlington.co.uk