Press Room

B&B! Q&A: Michelle Casey and the Super Electric Fountain of Youth

Okay, I’m juuuust a tiny bit excited to talk about my experience of the Viora Reaction Skin Tightening Frequency treatment, which I received at Aqua Beauty, Stillorgan, from the hands of the owner herself, Michelle Casey. The clinic was awarded the Guinot Crown Award for 2014, and has been a leader in the beauty field for fifteen years.

Originally from Galway, Michelle had worked in a family business from an early age, and says, ‘I was aware of all stresses that a business can bring and the enjoyment, too. My Grandmother used to always say, if you own half a counter, own it yourself! So I decided to move from Galway and open my beauty clinic, the first of its type in Ireland at that time and have never looked back.’

First, a few Qs with Michelle, then the verdict on the process (as if you couldn’t already tell how I feel about it, from the headline.)

After all this time, are you still excited to be in the beauty biz?
I look forward to going to work every day, meeting my super team and all my clients. I have a strong passion and absolutely love what I do. I am a people person and love looking after and making my clients feel good!

Has the business changed much in fifteen years? How do you keep everything on the cutting edge?
Absolutely. Clients are more demanding and want immediate results: Irish women and men are very cosmopolitan and travel a lot now. Men are more open and savvy.

I myself travel a lot, and listen to my clients as to the kind of results they are looking for and usually that’s what inspires me. I will then go and source the best available treatment — I did this even through the recession. It’s so important to stay ahead of the game and that’s what I love so much about owning my own business.

Tell us a bit about the procedure you offered to B&B?
It’s called the Viora Reaction Skin Tightening Radio Frequency treatment. My clients are blown away by the results, and by how straightforward the whole process is. It’s pain-free and there’s no downtime required. It can be used on face and on the body and to firm, sculpt and tighten the skin. It’s a fabulous treatment for jowls and sagging skin around the neck area and to contour the body.

What is so appealing about this particular treatment?
The fight against ageing will always be top of the list for women in particular. Your future will be written all over your face, so it’s so important to look after your skin now. Technology is so powerful today when it comes to non invasive anti-ageing treatments. This will go from strength to strength over the next few years. I’m really excited to be a part of that industry and bring these innovations to Ireland.

Any beauty tips for the readers?
My beauty tips are never go to bed with make-up on, and invest in a good cleansing routine. I adore DR Daniello Profound Advanced Performance Glycolic Cleanser, Dermalogica’s Skin Smoothing cream and Guinot’s Instant Radiance Moisturising Mask. A course of customised facials are a fabulous investment that keeps on giving.

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I really had no idea what to expect from this procedure. I’d had laser, and had rather memorably freaked out about it; at this stage in my career I hop up on treatment tables with a high degree of aplomb.

Michelle explained the process: using three different radio frequency channels, Viora stimulates collagen and elsatin production, the slowing down of which is what causes wrinkles and sagging skin. The applicator looks like a laser thingie, and its tiny zaps of current, at the contact point, felt like I imagine a staple gun feels — but, I also imagine, with far less pain. Michelle worked for 45 minutes on each side of my face. Here’s are pictures of that midpoint:

I love the look of delighted shock in my eyes in the second one.

Once I knew what to expect — little blasts of very manageable heat at the contact point on my face — I almost fell asleep during the second half of my face. This is the end result:

I gotta say, four months later, I’m still seeing the benefit. A client is only permitted eight treatments per year, because otherwise the skin overstimulates, and there’s the possibility of an increase in wrinkleage and sagging. No thanks!

Had I needed to, I could have put on makeup straightaway: there was no redness, no pain, and absolutely no downtime.

Also: this works on cellulite, and I’ve seen evidence that it works on bingo wings! Need I say more?

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Face €160: Course of 6 €800 (includes one free)
Neck €150: Course of 6 €750 (includes one free)
Face & Neck €290: Course of 6 €1450 (includes one free)
Cellulite 1 area from €120; 4-6 treatments are recommended

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Aqua Fresh

Bella Hadid, is the model of the moment, especially after she wore ‘that dress’ at Cannes. Michelle Casey, proprietor of Aqua Beauty and Medi Spa in Stillorgan Village, Dublin, see aquabeauty.ie, is the person to see if you fancy getting a supermodel look.

The Skin Breeze Facial, €150, is an unbeatable combination of five technologies in one treatment; they include orbital microdermabrasion; LED light therapy; hyaluronic acid pumped into the skin; oxygen infusion and a super-hydrating masque.

The Shrinking Violet Body Wrap, €75, is just the thing for getting you into that dress that’s just a bit too tight – it uses hydrolised lecithin to shrink cellulite in the targeted areas.