By: Justine Stafford
I’ve always been vocal about never wanting Botox, fillers or a facelift. Not because I don’t despair about the wrinkles etching themselves into my skin, but because I feel this weird sense of duty towards my older self. And that means not messing with her face, even as it slackens and sags.
Don’t get me wrong. At almost 48, I look in the mirror and often sigh as I contemplate the inevitable fade of my youth. The smile lines around my eyes have become far too smiley. Spiky, black hairs sprout out of my chin faster than I can tweeze them out, and let’s not even talk about the sudden emigration of my best bits to the far south.
But just when I’m ready to book a quick aesthetic fix, I scroll through Instagram and am reminded of how badly it can all go wrong. Thanks to youth-obsessed celebrities like Madonna and Donatella, to name just a few, I’ve opted to go with old and wrinkly over freakily frozen in time.
So, what’s a girl (erm, I mean, middle-aged woman) like me supposed to do? As much as I support ageing gracefully, it often feels easier said than done.
“I’m booking you in with Veronika for a face-sculpting facial,” Jeannie whispers one day after my latest lament. She’s speaking in the hushed tones of an undercover agent imparting a state secret. When I look confused, she tells me exactly what I want to hear. “It’s like a face-lift without the needles. I promise, you’re going to love it.”
By the time I meet Veronika Hellmann at her salon, Vertex Cosmetology, in Gardens, Cape Town, I’ve done my research and can’t wait to experience her MyoFascial + Buccal massage.
“I wanted to offer my clients a natural alternative to traditional injectables,” Veronika tells me, who travelled all over Europe to learn these holistic, medically-driven, techniques from some of the continent’s most experienced facialists and osteopaths.
As she starts to firmly knead and mould my face and head into a deep state of bliss, she explains that face sculpting works to undo the damage caused by time and tension, deeply toning the complexion, increasing blood circulation, improving lymphatic flow and strengthening the muscles.
“It causes a sudden boost of collagen that results in a natural muscle lift, effectively contouring and depuffing the face and neck, eliminating under-eye bags and eyelid droops, and melting away mimic wrinkles,” Veronika says.
After she gently removes the nourishing DMK Enzyme Mask that follows the massage, Veronika and I critically assess my ‘Before’ and ‘After’ photographs. I’m amazed to see how different I look, especially around the eye area. My brows and lids have visibly lifted, my frown and smile lines have noticeably smoothed and my cheek bones look razor-sharp.
For days after the treatment, I receive numerous compliments, and questions, about how I got my newfound glow. Did I finally give in and get injectables, my friends want to know? It’s good to say “Hell, no!”. It’s even better to know that I’ve discovered the secret to ageing well. My skin feels pampered and happy, and I feel incredible. Like me, only better.
Contact Veronika at Vertex Cosmetology to book your Face Sculpt treatment today.
EXCLUSVE TO NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS:
Veronika is giving away three 45-minute face sculpt massage treatments worth R950 each. Simply follow the prompts in the newsletter to be chosen. Not an email subscriber yet? Subscribe here: Sign Up Now
Terms & Conditions of Competition:
- Only open to Cape Town residents and does not include transport to, or from, the salon.
- Winners will be chosen according to the rules of the competition (first three entries to be received in Jeannieous Inbox win the prize) and that decision is final.
- Winners will be notified via email; that information will not be shared with anybody else without prior consent given.
