The Revival of Facials and Skincare Tips from UKs Biggest Beauty Influencer Daily Mail journalists discuss the return of facials and seek advice on skincare from UKs biggest beauty influencer, Caroline Hirons. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more As a beauty editor I could road-test a facial pretty much every day of the week if I were so inclined. But in the past few decades I have refused all but a few offers. First up, Ive been scarred (literally) by some bad early experiences. Vigorous suction, overenthusiastic extraction and abrasive exfoliation left me with permanent blemishes, burst capillaries and sensitised skin. While there are a handful of elite facialists I will always admire (Vaishaly, Sarah Chapman, Nichola Joss, Anastasia Achilleos, Katharine Mackenzie Paterson), there have also been a lot of bang-average offerings out there.Many brands and spas have struggled to maintain quality control and a step-by-step training approach meant every customer, regardless of their skin type, was given the same treatment. Also, because I have rosacea, my dermatologist told me to avoid facials at all costs. She said that steaming, hot-cloth cleansing, unguent creams and oils are kryptonite to my skin.So instead, Ive turned to machines and tweakments that promise to deliver long-term, rather than temporary, results: redness zapped by lasers, lines smoothed by Botox, hydration delivered via injectable skin boosters. Recently there has been a revival in facials and, surprisingly, Im here for it. Back in the 90s and early Noughties, beauty culture was punitive: no pain, no gain - it was all restrictive diets, intensive cardio and pummelling treatments. But there has been a cultural shift.Now we are realising that a gentler approach (yoga, wholefoods, massage) delivers results and that consistency is key. Just as you shouldnt expect visible abs from one gym session, neither should you believe great skin can be achieved in a single treatment. Plus, consumer awareness about skincare has raised expectations and standards. A few weeks ago, I returned to superfacialist Vaishaly, who somehow doesnt look a day older than when I met her 20 years ago.I had her signature facial and it was one hour of bliss. I was nervous about it triggering my rosacea, but she was reassuringly respectful. After a deep cleanse, she did some extractions, very gentle microdermabrasion and craniosacral therapy. When I looked in the mirror, it gave me the same feel-good frisson I get when Ive just cleaned my windows - because everything looked lighter and brighter.I havent realised how full of gunk my pores were (as we get older and lose collagen they stretch out and get bigger, and so accumulate more dirt). To prove the relevance of facials, Caroline Hirons, entrepreneur and arguably the UKs biggest midlife beauty influencer, has entered the space. Hirons says that when she created her skincare line Skin Rocks a few years ago, facials were always in the plan.As a trained therapist, Hirons recognises the value aestheticians have and says it makes her furious that facials are often dismissed by the beauty industry. She says it smacks of sexism (not many men have facials, so theyre not seen as important). I agree and I believe that today, thanks to the surge in interest in skincare, there are many highly trained pros out there who can make a visible difference to your skin.Hirons has set up a Skin Rocks Pro training academy in London, where she only accepts highly qualified therapists to ensure quality. So why go for a facial? Hirons says a good therapist can educate you on products, identify skin conditions from the everyday to the serious and look at your skin objectively. This is important because Hirons says most women she sees have their skin type wrong.Then there is the circulation-boosting, tension-smashing massage, depuffing lymph drainage and radiance-boosting peels and extractions. Youll leave glowing and hydrated, says Hirons. Long term, great skin quality and texture comes from investing in your products and getting professional facials. Im booking in.Skin Rocks facials start from £75; skinrocks.com. Or try the Ruuby app, with bespoke facials from £7