Your skin looks tired. You can see it every morning. Dull, congested, maybe breaking out in places it never used to. You've tried the serums from Boots. You've tried the moisturisers your friend recommended. You've watched the skincare routines on TikTok and bought half the products. Some of them helped for a day or two. Most of them didn't do anything at all.
The problem isn't effort. You're doing the work. The problem is that shop-bought skincare can only reach the surface of your skin. The active ingredients in high street products are formulated at low concentrations because they're designed for anyone to use unsupervised at home. They sit on the outer layer. They can't get where they need to go.
A professional facial uses cosmeceutical-grade products with active ingredients at concentrations you can't buy in a shop. Products that penetrate below the surface and work in the deeper layers where skin health actually starts. Not a relaxation treatment with nice smells and cucumber slices. A clinical skin treatment that changes what's happening in your skin from the inside.
At Aesthete Beauty in Dundee, all facial treatments use CLINICCARE, a Swedish cosmeceutical range built on low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor). These are professional-only products that aren't available in shops or online to the public. Treatments are carried out by Radina Ignatova, a skincare professional with over 11 years of experience and qualifications in chemical peels, micro-needling, and professional facials. Facials from £43. Book online any time or call us on 01382 217888.
You might wonder what a professional facial does that your bathroom routine can't. The answer comes down to three things: product strength, penetration depth, and professional assessment.
Product strength. Cosmeceutical products like CLINICCARE contain active ingredients at concentrations that would need a prescription or professional supervision in a retail setting. The hyaluronic acid in CLINICCARE is low molecular weight, which means the molecules are small enough to pass through the outer skin barrier and reach the dermis. High street hyaluronic acid serums use larger molecules that sit on top and hydrate the surface only.
Penetration depth. Professional-grade treatments can penetrate 20 to 30 percent deeper than over-the-counter products. During a facial, the skin is properly cleansed, exfoliated, and prepped so that when the active ingredients are applied, they can actually reach the layers where cell regeneration happens. Your skin absorbs more because the barriers have been professionally prepared.
Professional assessment. Radina looks at your skin, identifies what's actually going on, and tailors the treatment to what your skin needs right now. Not what the packaging says your skin type might be. Not what a quiz on a website told you. A real assessment by someone who has spent over a decade looking at skin every day.
This is the difference between maintenance and change. Home skincare maintains. Professional facials change.
The treatment room is separate from the nail area. Calm, quiet, and clean. Every facial uses fresh disposable applicators, cloths, and single-use sheet masks, with brushes and extraction tools sterilised between clients. Radina wears gloves throughout the cleansing, exfoliation, and extraction stages. CLINICCARE products are dispensed from sealed containers and nothing is decanted into open pots or reused between clients.
Extractions are the part of a professional facial you can't replicate at home. No cleanser or exfoliant shifts a deep blackhead or milia that's sitting under the surface. They need manual removal by someone who knows how much pressure to use and when to stop. Radina does extractions as part of every full CLINICCARE facial. Clients consistently say it's the single thing that makes the biggest visible difference to their skin after one session.
Aesthete Beauty offers two CLINICCARE facial treatments, each designed for different needs and time commitments.
The full CLINICCARE facial is a thorough skin treatment that takes around an hour. It starts with a professional skin assessment where Radina examines your skin and identifies your specific concerns. From there, the treatment follows a clinical protocol.
Your skin is deep cleansed with CLINICCARE Concentrated Cleansing Foam. A chemical exfoliation is applied using the Instant Painless Peel, which dissolves dead skin cells and unclogs pores without harsh scrubbing. After exfoliation, a CLINICCARE EGF sheet mask is applied and left on for around 30 minutes. This is where the real work happens. The mask delivers low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and Epidermal Growth Factor directly into the skin, stimulating cell regeneration and deep hydration.
The treatment finishes with targeted eye and lip care and SPF protection.
This is the facial for anyone who wants real, visible results. If your skin is dull, dehydrated, congested, ageing, or recovering from damage, this is the treatment that addresses it at a clinical level.
Read more about the CLINICCARE Facial →
The Express Facial is a 30-minute treatment that covers the fundamentals. Cleansing, exfoliation, hydration. It uses the same CLINICCARE professional products as the full facial but in a shorter format.
This is the facial for people who don't have an hour but still want professional-grade skincare that their bathroom routine can't match. It works well as a monthly maintenance treatment between full facials, or as a pick-me-up before an event when your skin needs to look its best quickly.
If you've never had a professional facial before, the Express is also a good starting point. It lets you experience what cosmeceutical products feel like on your skin and see the difference professional application makes, without committing to the longer appointment.
Radina chose CLINICCARE for a reason. There are hundreds of facial product ranges available to salons and clinics. Most of them are fine. CLINICCARE is different because of the science behind the formulations.
Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Most skincare brands use standard hyaluronic acid with large molecules. It hydrates the surface and that's about it. CLINICCARE uses low molecular weight HA, which means the molecules are small enough to penetrate through the skin's outer barrier and deliver hydration to the deeper layers. The difference is like watering the top of the soil versus getting water down to the roots.
EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor). EGF is a protein that stimulates skin cell regeneration and encourages the natural production of hyaluronic acid and collagen within the skin. It's not a cosmetic ingredient that makes skin look temporarily better. It triggers actual biological processes that improve skin health over time.
Swedish cosmeceutical research. CLINICCARE is developed and manufactured in Sweden with a focus on clinical results rather than marketing. The products are professional-only, meaning they're formulated for use by trained practitioners, not diluted for home use.
Professional-only. You can't buy CLINICCARE in Boots or order it online. It's supplied to qualified practitioners who have been trained in its use. When you have a CLINICCARE facial at Aesthete Beauty, you're getting products and application that simply aren't available to you at home.
Enjoyed my chemical face peel and felt l really noticed the difference in my skin. The beautician Radina is a lovely young lady and the surroundings reflect the treatment being given. A very bright modern salon - l would highly recommend
Professional facials aren't just for people with problem skin. They're for anyone who wants their skin to look and feel better than what home skincare alone can achieve.
You might benefit from a professional facial if:
Facials work for all skin types. Whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, or sensitive, the treatment is adapted to what your skin needs. Radina will assess your skin at the start of every appointment and adjust the products and approach accordingly.
You'll get a digital consultation form by email before your first facial appointment. It asks about your skin type, any conditions like rosacea or eczema, medications including retinol and antibiotics, and what you want the facial to address. Radina reads it before you arrive. The skin analysis in the chair is still done but the form gives her a head start so she knows what to look for.
If you're using retinol or any prescription retinoid, mention it when you book. CLINICCARE facials include chemical exfoliation and active ingredients that can interact with retinoids, so Radina will adjust the protocol based on what you're using at home. Not a reason to avoid booking. It just means the treatment gets tailored so your skin responds well rather than reacting badly.
A lovely environment, serene and meticulously tidy. But the best part of the experience was meeting Radina, who was so careful and caring with my manicure, pedicure and facial. I am so relieved to have found her in my new hometown of Dundee!!!
For most people, a professional facial every four to six weeks works well. This aligns with your skin's natural renewal cycle, which takes roughly 28 days. Each facial builds on the previous one, so consistency matters more than frequency.
If your skin has specific concerns like persistent congestion, hyperpigmentation, or visible ageing, Radina may recommend a closer schedule initially to get results faster, then spacing out to maintenance intervals once your skin has improved.
Between appointments, your home skincare routine supports and extends the results of your facial. Radina can advise on what to use at home based on what she sees during your treatment.
I had a facial by Radina and it was fabulous. My skin feel amazing fresh and glowing after my treatment. Very friendly, professional and very knowledgeable approach. I really enjoyed my treatment and will be back for more. If you struggle with skin problems please try skin peel by Radina it's worked wonders for me and I'm sure it will do the same for you. Thank you for your service
A professional facial is a clinical skin treatment carried out by a trained practitioner using cosmeceutical-grade products. It involves deep cleansing, exfoliation, and active ingredient delivery that goes beyond what home skincare can achieve. At Aesthete Beauty, all facials use CLINICCARE products.
Express Facial from £43. Full CLINICCARE Facial from £55. All current pricing is in the online booking system.
The full CLINICCARE Facial takes around an hour and includes skin assessment, deep cleansing, chemical exfoliation, a 30-minute EGF sheet mask, and targeted aftercare. The Express Facial is 30 minutes and covers cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration using the same professional products in a shorter format.
Yes. CLINICCARE products are formulated for professional use on all skin types, including sensitive skin. Radina assesses your skin before every treatment and adjusts the products and approach based on what your skin can handle.
Come with clean skin if possible, but don't worry if you're wearing makeup. Radina will cleanse your skin as part of the treatment. Avoid using retinol or strong exfoliating acids for 24 to 48 hours before your appointment.
Avoid heavy makeup for the rest of the day. Don't use harsh exfoliants or retinol for 24 to 48 hours. Wear SPF if you're going outside. Your skin has been professionally treated and the active ingredients are still working, so let them do their job.
Every four to six weeks for most people. This matches your skin's natural renewal cycle. Radina will recommend a schedule based on your skin's condition and goals.
Yes. If you're not sure which facial is right for you, or if you have specific skin concerns you want to discuss, book a Skin Consultation (£10). Radina will assess your skin and recommend the best treatment plan.
Yes. Many clients book a facial alongside a manicure or pedicure. You can book multiple treatments for the same appointment through the online booking system.
Yes, but mention it when you book. Retinol increases skin sensitivity and changes how your skin reacts to exfoliation and active ingredients. Radina will adjust the CLINICCARE protocol to work with your retinoid rather than against it. If you've recently started a new retinoid or increased your dose, she may recommend waiting a week or two before booking to let your skin settle.
A single facial will leave your skin noticeably cleaner, brighter, and more hydrated. You'll see results straight away. But those results fade within a few weeks as your skin returns to its normal cycle. Regular facials every four to six weeks build on each other and create lasting improvement. One facial is a treat. A course is a strategy. Both are worth it for different reasons.
Spa facials are often relaxation-focused. Scented candles, gentle massage, a nice mask. They feel lovely but the products are usually cosmetic-grade and the results are temporary. CLINICCARE facials at Aesthete Beauty use cosmeceutical-grade active ingredients at concentrations that actually change skin at a cellular level. The relaxation is still there but the purpose is clinical results, not just a pleasant hour.
If your skin isn't responding to what you're doing at home, a professional facial is the next step. Cosmeceutical-grade products, expert assessment, and results you can see and feel.
We serve clients from across Dundee and the surrounding areas including the West End, Broughty Ferry, Newport-on-Tay, Monifieth, Carnoustie, and further afield.
