A new wave of high-tech, high-performance facials are captivating beauty insiders, thanks to high-tech machines offering bespoke treatments that can target acne, rosacea, uneven skin tone and dark spots, offering truly transformative results in as little as 15 minutes. 

These aren’t facials we know them – there are no prolonged treatment steps and no focus on relaxation; these are no-nonsense, high-impact treatments that promise lasting results.

“While many love a long, luxurious treatment, there is huge demand for quick and effective treatments with instant and lasting results,” says Anna Miller, co-founder of The Ardour Clinic, which has just launched its 30-minute Ardour Express.

Entry-level tech-led facials target mild acne, dullness, congestion and dehydration. One such example, HydraFacial, offers a treatment that is performed in 30 minutes and promises deeper, longer-lasting results and an unrivalled glow.

Dr Ana Mansouri says, “I’ve definitely noticed a shift in the types of treatments patients are requesting, people are prioritising treatments that fit seamlessly into their busy schedules and social plans. Shorter, convenient treatments with minimal downtime—often called ‘lunchtime facials’—are at the top of their wish list.”

For reducing inflammation, promoting healing and boosting skin elasticity – often benefiting skin that’s prone to acne and breakouts – the latest Dermalux Tri-Wave MD LED light therapy is a highly effective option that can be completed in as little as 20 minutes for a standalone facial (or as an add-on to other treatments).

At the top end of the spectrum, powerful state-of-the-art laser treatments, high-energy infrared light and thermal energy devices promise skin quality improvements and whole-skin regeneration, and can significantly reduce acne and help prevent future breakouts – all in under 40 minutes.

If you’re looking for a more powerful facial option in the time it takes to nip out of the office for a lunch break, then read on.

A jam-packed hour that includes an express HydraFacial, a full exfoliation and extraction, then exosomes – tiny, naturally-occurring nanoparticles derived from stem cells that trigger healing, reduce inflammation, and encourage the skin to produce collagen – nano-needled into the skin. The expert team use an advanced microneedling pen that creates millions of fine, vertical fractional channels super fast, then apply an additional exosome serum for maximum impact. This facial is finished up with an LED bath. 

One hour, £120 in January at CULTSKIN

California-born Skin Laundry is a pioneer in advanced skincare and is known for its laser facials. The hero treatment, the Signature Laser Facial, delivers high-energy, infrared light beneath the skin’s surface to precisely and painlessly correct and prevent breakouts, calm redness and rosacea, break up hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production for clearer, firmer and healthier skin. Safe for all skin tones, the benefits of the Signature Laser Facial are both immediate and cumulative. 

15 mins, £50 for first treatment; £250 thereafter at Skin Laundry

The Ardour Express, the latest high-end facial treatment from The Ardour in Marylebone, is designed to tackle dull and dry skin within 30 minutes. The premium facial, with no downtime, gives an immediate glow, combining a professional-grade chemical peel with thorough cleansing and retinol boosters.

Dr Paris Acharya, co-founder of The Ardour Clinic, explains: “Ardour Express has been designed as a speedy transformation for your skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Using the PCA Skin NoPeel Peel formulated with a blend of exfoliating acids and calming ingredients, it’s perfect for a lunchtime facial and provides an instant glow.”

30 mins, £175, at the Ardour Clinic, Marylebone

The Dermalux Tri-Wave MD is the most powerful LED device on the market, delivering unparalleled results with its three light settings. Red light has rejuvenating and anti-inflammatory benefits, near-infrared light penetrates deep into the skin to promote healing, enhance skin elasticity and rejuvenate overall skin health and blue light is used for its antibacterial properties to benefit skin prone to acne and breakouts. 

20–30 minutes, £85 per session at Dr Nina Bal
20 minutes, £60 per session at Boots Beauty

Celebrities, models and beauty editors head to Debbie Thomas’s clinic in Chelsea for a pick ’n’ mix of laser treatments, cold plasma devices, IPL and dedicated peels. 

Thomas and her team of laser skin therapists offer a bespoke approach to addressing each client’s skin concerns. “No two skin concerns are the same, just as no two people are alike. That’s why we take a tailored approach to every treatment,” says Thomas.

The award-winning DNA Laser Complete Grade 2 is the most-coveted hero treatment at the clinic and the sessions start from just 10 minutes. It uses a fusion of state-of-the-art technology, ground-breaking techniques and specially formulated products – a gold-standard treatment in non-invasive skin rejuvenation.

There isn’t much that the DNA Laser Complete Grade 2 cannot treat. It’s ideal for uneven skin tone and pigmentation, damaged and compromised skin barriers, acne and rosacea. 

From £190, D.Thomas Clinic

Facialist Sarah Brown has a residency at Fortnum & Mason, and one of the treatments she is offering is iS Clinical’s Fire and Ice facial, a resurfacing and rejuvenating facial that can be completed in 30 minutes.

The facial is known for its capability to revitalise complexions, with immediate results and zero downtime, making it a go-to treatment for those wanting an intensive but non-invasive skin boost that refines skin texture, reduces the appearance of breakouts and delivers an overall glow. The treatment starts with an Intensive Resurfacing Mask (the fire element), which combines sugar cane extract (glycolic acid) retinol and vitamin B3 to deliver controlled exfoliation. The ‘ice’ element follows this: an intensive rejuvenating mask soothes and hydrates using a blend of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and natural extracts, including aloe vera, green tea and liquorice root to calm inflammation, boost hydration and encourages collagen synthesis for a visibly smoother and plumper complexion.

From £130 at Sarah Brown, Fortnum & Mason London

A groundbreaking, energy-based treatment clinically proven to provide multiple skin quality improvements and whole-skin regeneration, NeoGen Plasma is already the most popular treatment at Dr Karen Doherty’s DR KD clinic and can be completed in under 30 minutes.  

Doherty says: “I absolutely love it. Due to its versatility for targeting a multitude of skin concerns, including fine lines, skin laxity, uneven skin tone and texture improvement, and most recently I’ve been incredibly impressed by its ability to reduce active acne and acne scarring. Unlike laser treatments that penetrate and sometimes damage the deeper layers of skin, NeoGen Plasma is non-invasive. It works by converting nitrogen gas into plasma energy, which then radiates the skin surface and subsurface, promoting significant collagen regeneration without extensive downtime. Paired with the fact that improvements in the skin can continue for months after the treatment as new collagen is formed, it really is a transformative option for anyone looking for total skin rejuvenation.”  

30 minutes, from £500, DR KD Clinic

Skinwork is a slick, no-frills place to seek out tailored skincare. Its signature facials are renowned for deep cleansing and resetting skin, especially if it’s been exposed to the harsh pollutants of city life. The 35-minute Skin Fix Facial is short but effective and includes five treatment steps, including a treatment cleanse, extractions, microdermabrasion and a lactic and mandelic peel. If your skin could do with a detox, this facial has it all – including instant results. 

£35 minutes, £77 at Fenwick Brent Cross and Kingston

Unlike traditional facials, a Hydrafacial is the ultimate skin ‘MOT’—a quick, 30-minute treatment that provides both an instant glow and deep clinical benefits. The technology-driven, rejuvenating skin treatment is performed via device rather than by hand, which helps to create longer-lasting results. 

A high-tech wand tool works like a vacuum to open pores for a deep cleanse and easy extraction of impurities, as well as enabling active ingredients to penetrate deeper for a more effective treatment. Potent and nourishing moisturisers are then applied by the wand, saturating the skin’s surface. 

Hydrafacial’s Signature Facial takes just 30 minutes and focuses on delivering the core benefits of the Hydrafacial – making it ideal for those seeking quick skin rejuvenation without the extensive add-ons. 

30 minutes, from £99 at Therapie Clinics nationwide and £180 at Natali Kelly Clinic.

Founded by Dr Sindhu Siddiqi, the No Filter Clinic offers various non-invasive treatments, including the 30-minute PicoSure Pro facial, an effective pigmentation-solving treatment. PicoSure is one of the strongest lasers on the market, yet its delivery means only a minimal amount of heat is placed on the skin, meaning the risk of hyperpigmentation is very low. Previous lasers on the market relied on higher levels of heat to break down unwanted melanin in the skin, and PicoSure Pro is the safest laser on the market for treating melasma and hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones. It’s also safe for skin all year round and has minimal downtime. 

30 mins, £450 at No Filter Clinic, Kensington

Images: courtesy of brands