Illumi Facial treatment London

What the Illumi facial is

The Illumi facial is our advanced combination facial. In one appointment it brings together gentle exfoliation, extraction, active serums chosen for your skin and LED light therapy, to target dullness, congestion, uneven tone and early inflammation. It is designed for people who want a visible improvement with no downtime, and who want more than a maintenance facial.

At our Islington clinic on Essex Road, the Illumi facial is £180 per session. It sits between a standardised facial and a medical skin plan: more tailored than the former, and gentler and quicker to recover from than the treatments we might suggest for deeper concerns.

How the Illumi facial works

Each stage of the facial has a specific job, and the order matters.

1. Skin check. Before we start, we look at your skin, ask about your routine, recent treatments, medicines and sensitivities, and agree what the facial should focus on.
2. Cleanse and gentle exfoliation. The surface is cleansed and dead skin cells are lifted, so that what follows can work on clear skin.
3. Extraction. Congestion is cleared from the pores carefully, without the heavy pressure that can leave skin marked or irritated.
4. Active serums. Serums are selected on the day for your skin, whether the priority is hydration, brightness, clarity or calm.
5. LED light therapy. A longer, targeted LED stage finishes the treatment, aimed at skin that is inflamed, congested or recovering.
6. Protection and aftercare. We finish with protection and talk you through what to do, and what to avoid, over the next few days.

LED light therapy uses low-level light, not heat, and it does not break the skin. It is generally used to calm inflammation and support the skin's own recovery, which is why we place it at the end of the facial, after exfoliation and extraction. You can read more about it on our LED light therapy page.

Illumi facial or HydraFacial?

Both are clinical facials with no downtime. The Illumi facial adds a longer, targeted LED stage for skin that is inflamed, congested or recovering, and uses serums selected for your skin on the day. A HydraFacial is the quicker, standardised three-step option. We will recommend the one that fits your skin.

In practice, the choice often comes down to what your skin is doing at the moment. If it is simply dull and dehydrated, and you want a reliable glow, a HydraFacial is usually enough. If it is reactive, breaking out or recovering from another treatment, the extra LED stage and the more tailored serums of the Illumi facial tend to be the better fit. HydraFacial is from £160 per session; the Illumi facial is £180. For a full breakdown of HydraFacial pricing, see our HydraFacial cost guide.

Why a combination facial

Most facials do one thing well. Exfoliation alone can leave congested skin still congested; extraction alone can leave skin irritated; serums applied to uncleared skin do less than they could. The Illumi facial is built so that each stage prepares the skin for the next, and the LED stage at the end helps the skin settle after the work that came before it. That is why it suits skin with more than one concern at once, such as dullness with breakouts, or congestion with redness.

It is also why we tailor it. The serums and the emphasis of each stage depend on your skin on the day, so a facial for tired, dehydrated skin before an event will look different from one for skin that is breaking out or recovering from another treatment.

Who it suits

• Dull, tired or uneven skin before an event
• Congested skin and enlarged pores
• Mild breakouts or redness-prone skin, alongside skincare
• Skin that needs calming after other treatments

It also suits people who want something more considered than a maintenance facial but are not ready for, or do not need, treatments such as microneedling or injectable skin quality treatments. Our page on dull skin sets out the wider options.

Who it does not suit

The Illumi facial is a surface treatment. It will not lift sagging skin, soften deep lines or treat moderate to severe acne on its own. Where acne is persistent, scarring or painful, we will usually suggest you see your GP or a dermatologist, and we can support that care with an appropriate skin plan. If your main concern is loss of firmness or fine lines, we would talk about options such as Profhilo or skin boosters after a consultation. For firmness, our guide to Morpheus8 alternatives is also worth reading.

Is LED safe for everyone?

LED is not suitable for everyone; we check for light sensitivity, some medicines and eye conditions first. Some medicines make the skin or eyes more sensitive to light, and some conditions are made worse by light exposure. If you have epilepsy triggered by light, a history of light-sensitive skin conditions, or you are taking a medicine that increases sensitivity to light, please tell us at booking. Eye protection is used during the LED stage as standard.

We also ask about recent treatments. Skin that has just had a strong peel, laser or an aggressive exfoliating routine may need time before any further exfoliation, and in that case we adapt the facial or suggest a later date. If you have had laser resurfacing, our laser resurfacing aftercare guide explains the recovery period.

What to expect

The treatment takes about an hour. Skin looks brighter and calmer straight away, and you can wear make-up afterwards. For a lasting change, most people have a course of four to six, around a month apart.

Most people find the Illumi facial comfortable and relaxing. The exfoliation can tingle briefly, and extraction can feel slightly uncomfortable over congested areas, but the LED stage itself is painless. Skin may look a little pink immediately afterwards and usually settles quickly.

Aftercare

• Keep your routine simple for a day or two: a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser and SPF.
• Pause strong acids, retinoids and scrubs for a short time, as we advise for your skin.
• Avoid saunas, steam rooms and very hot exercise for the rest of the day.
• Wear broad-spectrum SPF daily; it protects the result and the health of your skin.

At the clinic we use NeoStrata professional skincare, and through our pharmacy partner we can also supply ZO Skin Health, SkinCeuticals, Obagi, La Roche-Posay and Heliocare. We will only suggest products that suit your skin, and there is no obligation to buy.

Results and how many sessions

One Illumi facial gives an immediate improvement in brightness and calm. Lasting change in congestion, tone and redness comes from a course of four to six facials, around a month apart, supported by a consistent home routine. Results vary from person to person, and we do not promise a particular outcome. We review your skin at each visit and adjust the serums and focus as it changes. For deeper concerns, see our laser rejuvenation page.

How the Illumi facial compares with other treatments

• HydraFacial: quicker and standardised, for hydration and a reliable glow.
• Medical-grade facial: a tailored clinical facial built around professional skincare, for a specific concern.
• Skin peel: for texture, pigmentation and breakouts, as part of a course, with possible flaking.
• Microneedling: for texture, enlarged pores and early scarring, with a short recovery period.

Cost of the Illumi facial

The Illumi facial is £180 per session, including the skin check, the full treatment with LED, and aftercare advice. If you would prefer a fuller assessment before choosing a facial or skin plan, a skin consultation is £65 and is redeemable in full against treatment. Every price is confirmed before you book.

Why have the Illumi facial with us

Every skin plan at the clinic is overseen by Dr Vishal Patel, who has ten years of experience in facial aesthetics and NeoStrata training in clinical skincare. That oversight means we can tell you when the Illumi facial is the right treatment, and when another approach would serve your skin better. We have been on Essex Road in Islington, N1, since 2009, and we are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, by appointment.

The clinic is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and a short ride from Angel, Highbury, Canonbury, Hackney and Stoke Newington. Buses 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 stop on Essex Road. Many patients cycle or use a Lime or Forest e-bike.

Clinically reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry · GDC 103127. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.

Clinical leadDr Vishal Patel, GDC 103127

Experience10 years in facial aesthetics

TrainedIFAAS · IBSA · NeoStrata

Rated4.7★ · 300+ Google reviews

Clinic222 Essex Road, N1 · since 2009

Who treats you

Dr Vishal Patel

Clinical lead · Sole aesthetic prescriber · 10 years in facial aesthetics

BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester) · GDC 103127 · International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science (IFAAS) · Facial anatomy and cadaver course with Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy · IBSA and NeoStrata trained

We will tell you when a treatment is not the right answer. That honesty is part of the treatment.

Read Dr Patel’s profile →