We heard rumours that, before walking the red carpet, a clutch of Hollywood beauties including Emma Stone, Jennifer Lopez and Christie Brinkley called on Caci to perk up their skin pre-camera. Several of the Spa Spies have tried different versions of Caci facials while on the road so we thought it was time to cover the 'caci non-surgical facelift’ in depth.
Caci (Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument)
is a system that uses a series of tiny electrical impulses, called micro currents, at ultra-low frequency, to stimulate the 32 muscles in your face. Think of it as a gym workout for your visage or non-surgical facial toning. These work in harmony with the body’s bio-electrical field, to stimulate collagen production and trigger tissue repair and skin rejuvenation.
During the treatment, a therapist will run cotton-covered prongs over your skin to manipulate and train the muscles. Each set of movement will target the muscles that tend to lose tone with age.
The caci microcurrent toning part of the treatment is supported by other therapies. My 90-minute facial included a relatively gentle microdermabrasion, light therapy, needle-like wrinkle comb therapy and a silicon facemask.
My treatment was at the beautiful Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel in London. Step off Piccadilly, ride the lift to the 10th floor and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a cloud of peace and tranquillity above the busy tourist streets. On arrival I was given a pear, mint and ginger drink, a warm eucalyptus hand towel and a consultation form to fill in.
The changing areas are super bright, with large showers, well stocked lockers and as many beauty products as you can use. Inside the thermal area is a quiet hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room. I love waterfall showers, so was very impressed by the pool side shower which seemed to take up the whole of the ceiling.
The pre-treatment relax area has big leather seats and foot stools, a beautifully warm fireplace and dried fruits to snack on. The post-relax areas are dark pods with a full length bed, pillows and a blanket. There were headphones to listen to music and plenty of magazines to read.
My therapist, Tereska, met me in the relaxation room and took me through to the treatment room which had beautiful views over the London skyline. She drew the curtains and asked me to make myself comfortable on the treatment bed before giving me an overview of the treatment.
The Caci Ultimate is the very first treatment system to combine Microcurrent, Facial Toning, Crystal Free Orbital Microdermabrasion and, LED Light Therapy Photo Stimulation.
The Caci treatment isn’t a soft, lingering facial full of beautiful smelling products. It’s much more practical and promises real anti-aging benefits. At no point during the treatment was I uncomfortable, but it didn’t make me want to fall asleep.
My treatment started with a very gentle session of microdermabrasion to really exfoliate my skin. There was a gentle pulling sensation as Tereska ran the wand across my skin, concentrating on wrinkle areas. Next came the wrinkle comb. The comb has five or six needle-like prongs which are even spaced and, when applied, dip into your skin along the areas that fine lines tend to form – for me this is along the my mouth and my eyes. Tereska used the wrinkle comb twice; the first session was relatively low power, for the second she applied numbing cream to prevent the therapy becoming uncomfortable. The wrinkle comb causes very slight trauma to the skin, plumping it up and stimulating collagen growth.
To calm the skin down, Tereska then applied the LED technology - alternating blue (calming) and red (anti-aging lights) over the areas she had really worked on. This helps to improve blemishes, scarring and skin pigmentation. Caci is renowned for the microcurrent lifting and we spent about 45 minutes working my facial muscles. Really targeting my jawline, the lines around my eyes and frown lines, Tereska gently gripped my skin between the prongs holding each movement for maybe 10 or 12 seconds. After the initial phase of holding each movement, she then repeated the same pattern but much faster, reminding my muscles of the movement.
In the final part of the treatment Tereska applied a silicon mask and alternated the current on the electrical prongs to open and close my pores, maximising the effect of the moisturiser.
Firstly – it’s worth saying that I’m still just about in my 20s. My skin is starting to age but it’s really a case of fine lines and a slight lack of definition around my jaw. I work hard to look after my skin so I wasn’t expecting much change.
After the treatment I retreated back to the well-lit changing rooms to examine my skin. It was an odd sensation knowing that I looked slightly different but with no single obvious change. My skin was smoother and plumper, my jaw line more defined, and the frown lines on my forehead were definitely softened. I looked like me… but on a very good day. A day where I wasn’t worried about my to-do list, the pollution levels in the city, or not getting enough sleep the previous night.
The changes were temporary. Three days after the treatment, the only place that still shows signs of improvement are my frown lines. Tereska told me that it would take a course of 10 to really improve my skin condition and muscle tone – and then I would need to have the treatment topped up every couple of months.
The treatment works in different ways for different people. The change to my skin was subtle but most definitely welcome. However, if you speak to Sybaritic Spy (who has just turned 60) about the treatment, she will tell you that it dramatically changes the way her skin looks. Whether you’re in your late 20s or 30s and you want your skin to regain the bounce of youth, or if you’re a little older and want help with the appearance of fine lines, a non surgical jowl lift or eye lift or to target the delicate eye area, the Caci firming skincare will help you along the way. It's also a great alternative to dermal fillers. I think the treatment would also suit men who would like to turn back the signs of ageing. With over 20 years medical research behind it, the Caci facial is a scientific treatment that produces visible results.
This article was updated in November 2018
Summer Spy
9th April 2014
Spy Likes:
Warmth and sunshine; spas which take me away to another country; fruit infused waters; beach-worth pedicures; deep tissue massages.
Spy Dislikes:
High footfalls; treatments that over promise and under deliver; heavy lunches; loungers drapped in used towels.
