Beauty

Fantastic Facials

Walk into any high-street pharmacist, and you immediately face row upon row of beauty treatments promising to knock years off your age. As you sift through the various lotions and potions, trying to make sense of the claims can be a daunting task. It's so much so that, by the time you've finished, you'll feel like you've aged 10 years! A much simpler, and more relaxing, option is to let the professionals advise you.

If you happen to be in Harrods, head up to the fifth floor, where you will find Urban Retreat, the only salon in the world offering the Crème de la Mer facial. Developed by NASA scientists (they must have had a lot of time on their hands), La Mer claims to help rejuvenate the skin with its unique marine extracts. The treatment lasts 90 minutes, and the end result is a glowing complexion - not to mention a seriously happy client.

Equally effective (and no less exclusive) is the cleansing regime of Eve Lom, which many of the world's top female celebrities have adopted. Although she has trained numerous facialists to work with her technique, the lady herself works solely out of her discreet London salon. Expect to wait up to 6 months for an appointment, and book a 90-minute treatment.

Made To Measure Make-Up

If you want to create a bespoke look for your face, call in Cosmetics à la carte. Its trained artists will sift through your make-up bag, ditching the out-of-date and unflattering, and advise you on what to wear and how to wear it. They can even create a unique lipstick designed to suit your individual face.

For Him

The emergence of pretty-boy celebs like David Beckham and Jude Law has opened the doors for men to embrace their feminine side and treat themselves to the occasional beauty treatment. But in actual fact, the concept of men enjoying a facial cleanse isn't new. London barber Geo F Trumper has been providing such treatments since 1875.