A review by Melanie Anglesey...

There comes a time in life when you feel like a change and for beauty therapist Melanie Tham it was all about finding the right environment to treat her clients to a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments.

The Tang Long - Shaolin Kung Fu and Chinese Culture Centre in Golders Green may seem an unlikely destination for a facial or deep tissue massage but the venue is surprisingly spacious and has a friendly, calming vibe.

As well as housing Melanie's clinic it offers free tai chi sessions for ages 60+ run by martial arts master Shifu Heng Wei on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-11am and a range of classes for ages from four and up.

After being in the industry for more than 16 years, Melanie has made an exhaustive search to find the latest products and techniques that achieve the best results, consequently she has invested in Crystal Clear COMCIT - Cryo-Oxygen Microchannelling Collagen Induction Therapy - a process that firms skin, reduces wrinkles and promotes collagen growth.

If this all sounds a bit scientific - well it is, but here's how it felt.

First Melanie cleansed my skin with a soap-free gel and removed dead skin cells using microdermabrasion.

Then she applied a lotion that smelt like holidays, think marine salt and a fresh breeze through pine woods, followed by a cold sensation as the roller went to work driving the Cellular Active Infusion, a combination of Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid and Argan stem cell extract, down into the layer of the skin where ageing takes place.

The next bit was pretty funny as a small sucking appliance infused oxygen over the skin making a sound a bit like a rampant Donald Duck but afterwards my face felt tingly and looked refreshed.

The final part was a 15-minute specially blended face pack that peels off easily afterward. While it set Melanie gave my hands a soothing massage before spritzing my face with the Cellular Active Infusion.

A couple of days on, the wrinkles around my eyes and forehead are noticeably reduced while those on my neck and around my nose have improved but not as much. Apparently the process carries on for 14 days though so I won't see the full effects just yet.

What I came away feeling most however, was a level of care and a real sense of companionship that will last me a lot longer than that.

Details: melaniethambeauty.co.uk