Queen Camilla's facialist shares her skincare secrets

Telegraph

2 days ago

How does the Queen maintain good skin at 77? 'It's not down to any injectables, she's a natural beauty and doesn't need much help,' says her facialist of almost two decades, Deborah Mitchell. Instead, it's a result of regular facials and a consistent skincare regime.
Late last year, Mitchell – who takes her massage table to the palace for the Queen's regular appointments – received a royal warrant for her facials and skincare range. She sees most of her clients every two to four weeks for her facials. 'I wouldn't usually disclose what treatments my clients have – however it's public knowledge due to the royal appointment,' she says.
While she 'decides on the day' which treatment the Queen's skin will most benefit from, she sometimes opts for a collagen facial and at other times Mitchell's signature 'bee venom facial', which is 'a natural alternative to Botox as it makes the skin think it's being stung so mimics the tightening effect of some injectables'.
In her treatments with the Queen, Mitchell also often employs a technique called 'Lia therapy' which involves 'reading the body's aura,' she explains. 'It makes you feel like you're floating and you can feel the vibrations in the body, it's a whole different facial. Sometimes the Queen will have a facial and other times, if she's had a hard week, she'll have Lia therapy.'
So popular are Mitchell's treatments with the over-70s, she recently had 82-year-old Dame Arlene Phillips in for Lia therapy. 'We saw a shocking difference with Arlene,' Mitchell tells me. 'We really revived her skin and she was over the moon with the result.'
Of course, while regular facials are great for those who can commit the time and expense, a simple, consistent skincare regime is just as important. 'The Queen is very good with her skincare routine, she buys the products regularly, not just for herself but also for other members of the royal household,' says Mitchell.
So how do we protect our skin as we age?
'What happens to skin in our lifetime is a thing called glycation. Sugars develop in the skin and this is a natural process, but it is exacerbated by being in the sun, a poor diet or overdoing a skincare routine. The skin will respond by hardening and looking thicker,' says Mitchell.
In other words, keep it simple and don't over-exfoliate. 'I see lots of women under 30 years old using harsh acids on the skin,' Mitchell adds. 'Although the skin looks smoother and better to begin with, it will result in a thickened appearance over time.' Instead, she suggests a light exfoliation once a week.
Mitchell is also a big believer in collagen, which has become a real buzzword in beauty over the past few years (as a beauty editor I've seen many new launches in the last year alone). There are drops, powders and juices aplenty, all designed to give you glowing skin and lustrous hair.
Depending on what you take and the bio-availability of the product (which means it can withstand digestive acids), the results vary wildly. Mitchell developed her own marine collagen drops, which came out four years ago and are made in her hometown of Telford. She says Queen Camilla is a fan of the drops (£74 for a month's supply) and takes them 'religiously'.
Collagen drops, £74 (currently on offer for £55), Heaven
The drops claim to help with hair as well as skin, and many of Mitchell's customers are alopecia sufferers or women looking to improve the condition of their hair – which is difficult to achieve given the hair is a non-essential tissue. 'Some of my royal clients have been able to keep their hair looking in great condition even during illness,' adds Mitchell.
Of course, there are many of us who won't want to take supplements or invest in a new skincare routine, so what does Mitchell suggest is the most simple way to keep your skin looking good?
'Sleep well, massage your skin, drink plenty of water and eat all the colours on your plate. This will really help.' That certainly gets our stamp of approval, too.
Three new skin saviours
Beauty Blur Luminous BB/CC Cream
– £33, Vita Liberata
This new product by the tanning brand gives the skin a very subtle blurring effect and a little sheen without looking shiny. It comes in three stretchable shades – light, medium and dark.
Silky Soft Plumping Cream
– £190, Loya
This new Swiss skincare brand focuses its formulas on a cutting-edge peptide formula. The star is this luxurious antioxidant-rich cream, which leaves skin feeling plump and refreshed with a gorgeous glow.
A.G.E. Interrupter Ultra Serum