In the past, I really never paid attention to my skin and didn't take care of it very well at all. In fact, I often wore a lot of makeup and didn't remove it before going to bed. I know: this is a bit of a sacrilege in the church of beauty enthusiasts, and I have learned from it. For a few years now, I wear little makeup, cleanse my skin well, and invest in skincare. In one area, however, I remained a novice: facial treatments. The options were endless; I simply didn't know where to start.

So I looked for it close to home. Literally: I went to BLOY Institute, which is two minutes away from my house. I had often cycled past it, decided to Google it, and the good reviews convinced me (side note: am I the only one who still reads reviews on Google and avoids places that get bad ratings?). And now I am spoiled for life because I don't want anything else.

Because this was so nice, and the difference it has made in my skin is really bizarre — and that after just one time. I went for The Hollywood Buccal Facial, which uses products from Labareau, a brand I wasn't familiar with but my skin immediately became a fan of. Conveniently, they also sell this brand at BLOY itself.

The Buccal Hollywood Facial is apparently a trend among celebrities (hence the name), and if it's good enough for Hollywood, it's absolutely good enough for me. The Buccal is a type of massage where your face is massaged from the inside out. Yes, that sounds very strange, but it isn't: the massage is done from your mouth, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to create a tighter jawline; another reason why I chose this treatment.

I was advised to continue this once a month, and that will be my plan. To be honest, I didn't necessarily expect to see a difference after one treatment because I am always fairly skeptical about these kinds of treatments, but I really noticed it. Extra nice: the treatment is finished with Labareau products, which are absorbed deeper into the skin with the help of an oxygen device.

In short, this treatment is really 70 minutes of enjoyment. The Buccal massage is not a relaxing variant, but I found it virtually painless and with a truly strikingly beautiful result. I'm already looking forward to this monthly new outing.